Photo credit: @SacramentoKings

By: Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — The Kings came into the game Friday night’s game against the Orlando Magic coming off a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. The same was true for the Magic who suffered a loss in their last game falling to the Lakers. The Kings and the Magic come into the game with a identical record of 20-45.

The first quarter would start with the Kings jumping out ahead in force. The Kings would lead the Magic 9-3. The Kings would continue to score on the Magic extending the lead to 18-10 with 2:51 to play in the first. The Magic would only be able to add a two before the end of the quarter. That two was made by Shelvin Mack to make it 14-22 Kings going into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, the Kings would continue to build their lead. With 9:24 to play in the second, the Kings would lead 26-16. However, both teams would be sloppy with the ball. Having played about two-thirds of the second quarter the number of turnovers for both teams would sit at 18. The Kings committed 11 turnovers, which led to seven points.

The Magic committed seven turnovers, but they only led to two points. The game would continue to go back-and-forth, and with 1:20 to go in the second quarter, the Kings led 36-33. Frank Mason would attempt a layup with 38.9 seconds to go. He drained it, and was fouled on the way up making it a three-point play and a 41-33 Kings lead. Vince Carter would attempt a long three at the buzzer, but it was no good. The half ended 41-36 with the Kings on top.

Coming into the third quarter, the Kings had the lead 41-36. Garrett Temple drained seven points in the three minutes to put the Kings up 50-39. The Kings and Magic both appeared to need a go-to scorer in the third.

For the Kings, that would be Garrett Temple and Kosta Koufos. Temple would finish the third with 23 points and Koufos with 16. The Kings would put up 33 points in the third compared to the Magic’s 26. Both teams upped the ante, but Sacramento came out on top. After three quarters, the Kings led the Magic 74-62.

The Kings came out onto the court in the fourth and final quarter with what seemed to be a higher enthusiasm. The crowd was into it, and so were the Kings. Jack Cooley would come out strong in the fourth quarter, proving to be a valuable scorer. After only four minutes, he had accumulated six points.

The game would stay at a 11 point spread as play stopped with 8:05 to go. At the 4:37 mark in the fourth the Kings led 88-76. The Magic would need to get some major work done in the final four minutes to have a shot. In the end, the Magic would be unable to muster enough and the Kings would be victorious 94-88.

Notable Performances: Kosta Koufos (18 points), Garrett Temple (23 points), Vince Carter (15 points), Jonathon Simmons (25 points) and Nikola Vucevic (13 Points).

Up Next: The Kings go on the road to face the Nuggets on Sunday. The Magic continue the road trip and head to Los Angeles, Calif., for a matchup against the Lakers on Saturday.