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Suns knock off Kings

Apr 17, 2014 - 6:38 AM Sacramento, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Suns surpassed all their preseason projections. Unfortunately, it still wasn't enough to earn a playoff spot in the brutal Western Conference.

Archie Goodwin had a career-high 29 points off the bench and the Suns defeated the Sacramento Kings, 104-99, on Wednesday night in the season finale for both teams.

"I fed off my teammates," said Goodwin. "They put me in great positions for me to score. Everything was going my way tonight."

Marcus Morris tallied 22 points and six rebounds, while twin brother Markieff added 15 points for the Suns (48-34), whose record tied the 2008 Golden State Warriors for a team that did not reach the postseason in the 16-team playoff era.

The best team to not make the playoffs was the 1971-72 Suns, who went 49-33, but only the top four teams from each conference qualified.

Phoenix, which went 25-57 a year ago, snapped a three-game skid.

Ben McLemore netted a game-high 31 points for Sacramento (28-54), which closed the year by dropping six of its last seven.

"My challenge to them is simple, we all have to come back better players and better coaches," said Kings coach Michael Malone. "If we all make sacrifices and make improvements and come back better, we will be a better team for that."

The game was tied at 94-94 before Goodwin nailed a jumper and triple on consecutive possessions to stake Phoenix to a 99-94 cushion with 3:13 to play. Quincy Acy's tip-in got the Kings back within three, but Markieff Morris drove in for a layup at the other end and Sacramento never got within a possession again.

Earlier, the Kings led 24-21 after a quarter of play, but the Suns outscored them 26-23 in the second to tie the game at 47-47 heading into the break.

Sacramento led 74-71 after three.

Game Notes

The Suns played without leading scorer Goran Dragic, who sat out with a sore left ankle ... The Kings outrebounded the Suns, 54-40 ... Phoenix shot 46.5 percent (40-of-86) from the floor.