Suns Surprise Kings

The Phoenix Suns picked a good time to prove that their interior defense is not so weak after all.

After the Kings dominated the Suns inside during the regular season, Phoenix stole the home-court advantage in Game 1 of their best-of-five first-round Western Conference playoff series, 86-83, Sunday at Sacramento.

Game 2 will be Wednesday.

Forwards Shawn Marion and Cliff Robinson and reserve Rodney Rogers combined for 55 points and 19 rebounds.

More importantly, the Suns’ frontcourt was outstanding on defense. There were few easy baskets for the Kings, who shot 35% and went an ugly six of 28 in the crucial fourth quarter.

Although forward Chris Webber had 28 points and 15 rebounds, he missed 20 of his 32 shots, including 11 of 13 in the fourth quarter.

Faring worst, however, was small forward Peja Stojakovic, the Kings’ most dangerous outside threat. He went five of 17 and scored 13 points, seven below his season average.

“Defense was a very big key for us,” said Rogers, whose 18 points were five more than the entire Kings’ bench. “We were trying not to give them anything easy.”

Marion is always a problem for the Kings, accumulating 21 points and 10 rebounds while also shadowing Stojakovic most of the time.

The Suns’ Jason Kidd had 18 points, 14 assists and six rebounds.

New York 92, Toronto 85--Just like last year, the Knicks turned Game 1 into a miserable experience for Vince Carter.

Kurt Thomas knocked Carter to the floor the first time he went to the basket, setting the tone for a frustrating day for Carter as the Knicks won at New York.

“It is frustrating because we feel we’re capable of winning this series, but you’ve got to get one first,” Carter said.

Carter, who made three of 20 field-goal attempts last year in the first playoff game of his career, finished five of 22 from the field for 13 points. He did not score over the final 8 1/2 minutes.

Thomas had 17 points and 13 rebounds in his first career playoff start. Allan Houston scored 23 for New York.

Game 2 will be Thursday.

Milwaukee 103, Orlando 90--Despite poor shooting by its Big Three, the Bucks beat the Magic for the 10th consecutive time behind Scott Williams’ 19 points and a 59-42 rebounding edge at Milwaukee.

The rebounds led to 25 second-chance points, 18 more than Orlando, which got a career playoff-high 33 points from Tracy McGrady.

The Bucks’ Ray Allen (18 points), Sam Cassell (16 points) and Glenn Robinson (14 points) missed 19 of their first 24 shots and finished 17 of 52 (32%).

Game 2 will be Wednesday.

Around the League

Minnesota guard Terrell Brandon said his minutes could be limited tonight by a sprained left ankle when his Timberwolves face the Spurs in Game 2 of their series at San Antonio. In Saturday’s loss, Brandon reinjured an ankle that has bothered him off and on for years. . . . Milwaukee reserve swingman Tim Thomas left Sunday’s victory over Orlando after straining his back in the fourth quarter.