The Phoenix Suns play host to the Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns Arena on Thursday.

The Kings (22-33) enter this matchup in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, disintegrating any hopes that had to reach the postseason. The most recent loss was particularly telling, being beaten by the Washington Wizards, 123-111 on Wednesday. They allowed the Wizards to shoot over 50 percent from the field, and it's really no surprise when you see that the Kings rank dead-last in total defense. What really made that loss even more embarrassing is the fact that they forced 24 turnovers from Washington. That alone should get you a guaranteed win but being outrebounded by nearly 25 boards is yet another telling sign of where this team is at right now.

The Suns (39-15) continue to scorch their opponents, owning one of the best records in the NBA over the last two months. In fact, they started with an 8-8 record and have gone on to win 31 of 38 games since then. That's a truly absurd stretch, and it shows just how much this organization has grown in one year. It all started with a perfect 8-0 bubble run, which got Chris Paul to join this team in the offseason. His acquisition has really changed the culture of this club, and he's added a dynamic they haven't had since the Steve Nash era. The thing he's really brought is a defensive presence, with Phoenix ranked Top-10 in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.

These teams played a back-to-back set on December 26-27, splitting those two meetings. They actually split their four-game season series last year as well, but Phoenix enters as a big favorite here.