The purpose of pre-season games in the NBA is to learn the offensive and defensive systems plus evaluate how your talent fits into those systems. Winning is definitely a lower priority. In fact, a pre-season win is just icing on the cake.

On Sunday night in Portland, the Trail Blazers won the first half 53-44 after outscoring the Kings 30-19 in the first quarter. Sacramento won the second half 61-56. When you total up the points, the Kings lost to the Blazers 109-105. The Kings pre-season record fell to 3-2.

One important fact to know is forward DeMarcus Cousins did not play in the game. Following the theme of pre-season goals, he did not play in order to rest. The coaching staff knows that Cousins is starter and does not need to be evaluated.

Forward Patrick Patterson was the workhorse for the Kings in the contest. Patterson made 11 field goals, 3 – pointers, 2 free throws for his 27 points in 40:31 minutes of playing time.

Other Kings who scored in double digits were McLemore 23, Thomas 15, and Thornton 10. The Kings shot 41.2% (40-97) from the field including 11 3-pointers. The team shot 70.0% (14-20) from the free throw line.

The Kings posted 40 rebounds (13 OFF/27DEF), 24 assists, 10 steals while committing 7 turn-overs. The team committed 21 personal fouls.

The Sacramento coaching staff will no doubt be emphasizing two areas in practice on Monday. Shooting defense needs to improve. The Blazers shot 48.8% from the field in the game. Rebounding will be another area of the practice. The Blazers out rebounded the Kings 54-40.

Kings Notes: A MRI taken last Monday on Kings Forward Carl Landry revealed a tear in his left hip flexor muscle (rectus femoris). He injured the hip in a training camp practice. Surgery was performed last Tuesday in Philadelphia by Dr. William Meyers. The Kings will be without Landry for three to four months … The Kings next game will be a 7:00 PM tip-off on Wednesday versus the Golden State Warriors at Sleep Train Arena