clarinews@clarinet.com (01/13/90)
PHOENIX (UPI) -- Tom Chambers with 27 points topped six Phoenix players in double figures Friday night as the Suns coasted to an easy 111-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Guard Kevin Johnson, who finished with 16 points, keyed the victory by single-handedly outscoring the Kings, 7-0, in the final 1:43 of the first quarter. Johnson's outburst took the Suns from a 25-19 lead to a 32-19 advantage at the end of the opening period. Phoenix led 55-40 at halftime and 92-66 at the end of three quarters. The Suns' largest margin was 27 points midway in the fourth quarter. Phoenix coach Cotton Fitzsimmons then sent in the reserves. The loss was Sacramento's fourth in five games since Dick Motta took over as head coach. Danny Ainge was high scorer for Sacramento with 16. Wayman Tisdale had 15, Rodney McCray 15 and Kenny Smith 12. Chambers, who played 34 minutes, was 6 of 13 from the field and 14 of 14 from the free throw line. Johnson had 12 assists for the Suns while Mark West grabbed 10 rebounds and Dan Majerle 9 to give Phoenix a 53-36 advantage on the boards. Sacramento hit five of its first six field goal attempts and led, 14-8, less than five minutes into the game. The Suns fought back to tie the score at 14-14 and went ahead to stay 16-14 on a jump shot by Jeff Hornacek with 4:25 remaining in the first quarter. Ralph Sampson, hampered by bad knees throughout the season, played 18 minutes for the Kings, but made only 1 of 7 field goal attempts. Each team had 38 field goals. Phoenix won the game by converting 32 of 37 from the free throw line, where Sacramento was 18 of 24.