Improving Suns head home to oppose stumbling Kings

The Suns, coming off a successful road trip, can clinch their season series against the Sacramento Kings when the teams meet on Friday in Phoenix.

The Suns had a four-game winning streak snapped the last time out, a 129-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on New Year's Eve that completed a 3-1 trip. Still, Phoenix has won five of its past seven games and is 18-10 since a 1-4 start to the season.

"To me, the Suns are the hardest-playing team in the league," Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said before the Cavaliers beat the Suns.