The Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) leads the way with a drive on Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) in first half action at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Mon Feb 15, 2021 (AP News photo)

Nets Dominate in a Route of the Kings 136-125

By Barbara Mason

Monday night the Sacramento Kings took on the Brooklyn Nets at Golden 1 Arena. The Nets came into this game playing red hot ball while the Kings have lost three games in a row. Prior to their losing streak the Kings were the red hot team winning seven of eight games. The one game they lost during those eight games came at the hands of the Miami Heat and it was by a single point. The Kings played well during that stretch and they hope to find that winning formula tonight against the Nets.

The Nets came into this game with both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant being the difference maker for the team along with James Harden. Irving and Durant were responsible for 43 points in their last game but the bad news for the Nets was that Durant was out for this game with a hamstring injury. He will also miss tomorrow’s game which is bad news for the Nets since they have struggled without Durant on the floor but without Durant the Nets handled the Kings for a 136-125 victory at Golden One Center.

When the first half came to an end the Nets were leading by the score of 74-68. The Kings lead by a single point after one quarter 37-36 and were keeping pace with the Nets. They began to slip through the second quarter falling behind by six points at the half. They would have some ground to make up in the second half.

The third quarter was a great one for the Nets as Sacramento failed to keep up with Brooklyn at all. The Nets Kyrie Irving came unhinged in the third quarter scoring 37 points and James Harden also playing some great ball and contributing 26 points.

At the end of the third quarter the score was 107-88 in favor of the Nets. A fourth straight loss for the Kings was looking more and more inevitable. Buddy Hield was leading Sacramento scoring with 21 points and was 6 of 8 outside the arc. Fox and company could only muster 2 three pointers outside of Hield’s. Fox had a disappointing 13 points after three quarters. Off the bench for Sacramento Hassan Whiteside had a nice 16 point effort.

Trailing by 20 plus became the trend through the fourth quarter for the Kings although they surged in the latter minutes of the quarter. Sacramento had cut what had once been a 25 point Net lead to 11 but it was to little to late. The Kings Hassan Whiteside was great off the bench with 26 points scoring more points than any of their starters.

The Kings continue their struggles with outside shooting and defensive effort losing their fourth game in a row. This game was a close one in the first half but it was all Nets in the second. The Kings now drop to 12-15, three games under .500.

The Kings will be back on the court Thursday at Golden One to take on the Heat. Tipoff is 7:00.