Phoenix, winless in three previous games against the Kings this season, knocked Sacramento from the top of the Pacific Division and remained on course to meet the Kings in the playoff's opening round.

"The main thing is we know we can play this team, we can beat this team," Phoenix forward Rodney Rogers said.

The Suns got the big win by shutting down the Kings big star, Chris Webber, in the second half. Webber scored 22, but none in the fourth quarter, missing all three of his fourth-quarter shots, including a short hook in traffic that would have tied the game with less than a second to play

He scored just four points in the second half, and spent much of the time complaining to the officials.

"They did so much crying, I thought," Suns forward Cliff Robinson said. "An MVP candidate, you'd think they'd just play and not cry so much."

On the Kings' last possession they got the ball inside to Webber, but the defense collapsed and contested the shot.

"We knew he was going to try to get it to (Peja) Stojakovic some way, and if he couldn't get it to him, he had to make a quick move," Robinson said. "That's not what he's really all about - making quick moves."

Ah, some postseason fighting words.

The Suns became the seventh team in the West to win 50, the first time so many have reached that mark.

"We're going on a nice little stretch right now," said Suns coach Scott Skiles, whose team blew a 26-point lead the last time Sacramento came to town. "We've had several games where we've really been active on the offensive boards. It seemed like in the second half, when they closed the gap, we got a key offensive rebound or tip-in."

QUICK STUFF: The Suns were without center Jake Tsakalidis for the second game in a row because of a strained left arch. ... The Suns have won at least 50 games 10 of the last 13 seasons.

Personnel File

WHAT'S TO FEAR? The Suns rollercoaster ride to the playoffs was punctuated by an angry remark from the usually stoic Jason Kidd. He expressed his frustration at teammates after the Suns were routed, 106-80, by the Los Angeles Lakers, who might be their first-round opponent.

"We were weak-minded," said Kidd, who watched his team collapse after he went to the bench with two fouls and the Suns leading, 14-7, in the first quarter.

In part, Kidd's rip of his teammates was a psychological jab at the Suns evident lack of confidence against the Lakers. The Suns chances at getting beyond the first round are small anyway. Against the Lakers, they appear to be overwhelming, especially considering the 4-1 beating the L.A. boys put on the Suns in the West semis last spring.

Kidd blames it on "a sense of self-doubt."

Translation: The Suns are intimidated by the Lakers.

"You can't let that happen," Kidd said. "This is basketball. Anything can happen. You've got to continue playing."

GOOGS JINXED: Tom Gugliotta's string of bad luck continues. He was forced to the sideline in a 111-106 victory over Dallas last week because of an injury to his left wrist. An old fracture was found near the thumb.

"I don't ever recall the fracture at any time in my career," said Gugliotta, who has struggled to come back from major knee surgery after suffering a life-threatening seizure last year. "They say it's healed, but it hurts."

PENNY MYSTERY: Penny Hardaway has been cleared to work in 3-on-3 drills, but the Suns aren't saying whether he will be added to the playoff roster at next week's deadline.

"Until next week, that's the last thing I'm thinking about," Suns coach Scott Skiles said when asked about the guard, who has appeared in only four games this year. "We've got too many important games to worry about first."

STAT CORNER: Over a six-game stretch that ended last Tuesday night, including his career-tying high 38 points Wednesday night against Dallas, Shawn Marion averaged 23.3 points.

Noteworthy

HE'S GOT RANGE: Marion is surprised that his shooting range has been questioned.

"I've always been able to shoot," said the second-year forward, who has developed an accurate jumper from 15 feet. "I've always been able to shoot. I could shoot in high school, college and now the pros. I've been able to shoot at every level."

Suns President and general manager Bryan Colangelo has joined the USA Basketball committee that selects national teams. The first team will be for the upcoming Goodwill Games. Marion said he is already on the team.

A TEASE T: Skiles couldn't be sure in the first half of the Suns victory over Dallas. Referee Scott Foster called a technical on Skiles for something he thought he heard while the Suns coach was yelling out a play to Kidd. When he reversed it, Skiles turned on his heels and said a lot of things that would have merited a real T.

SYMPATHY FOR KEMP: Skiles grew up in Indiana, 20 miles from Shawn Kemp. He was saddened by news from Portland that Kemp had entered drug rehab for cocaine abuse.

"I've know Shawn since he was 12 years old," Skiles said. "He used to hang around my summer-league team. I hope he can get the help he needs."

QUOTEWORTHY: Clifford Robinson will appear in the playoffs for the 12th straight year, one more than Mario Elie. But Elie has championship rings from Houston and San Antonio. "I thanked the guys for keeping my playoff streak alive, but Cliff doesn't have any championships and I have more total playoff games," Elie said. So there.