The Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox (5) goes for the layup against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Dec 14, 2023 (photo by Mauricio Segura/Sports Radio Service & Golden Bay Times)

By Mauricio Segura

SACRAMENTO–The second place Oklahoma City Thunder (15-8), entered the Golden One Center Arena in Sacramento with an unyielding determination to depart in their chartered plane with a triumphant “W” etched into the stat book. After all, they had already lost eight in a row to the Sacramento Kings (14-9), another loss would be unacceptable.

Little did they know that as their plane soared over the downtown area later that night, all they would witness out of their windows would be a vibrant purple beam piercing through the star-filled sky, a radiant reminder that the “W” fell from their grasps once again to the mighty Kings with a score of 128-123.

The court served as the dramatic stage for a clash of titans of sorts, featuring the league’s standout point guards – Sac Town’s De’Aaron Fox and the Thunders Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The duo delivered performances that merited a standing ovation, leaving an indelible mark on the hardwood.

Fox notched an impressive 41 points (marking the third occasion this season with 40+ points), seven assists, three rebounds, and a flurry of five 3-pointers. On the opposing end, Gilgeous-Alexander showcased his own brand of brilliance, culminating in 43 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and a near-perfect 16 for 18 at the free-throw line.

The Thunder thundered into action right from the tip-off, with Gilgeous-Alexander unleashing a torrent of 14 points in the opening quarter, affording his team a slender one-point lead. Yet, the Kings, orchestrating unparalleled teamwork with the likes of Domantas Sabonis, Keon Ellis, and Malik Monk in the second quarter, surged past the 50% shooting mark, claiming a 59-53 lead as halftime buzzer radiated throughout the G1 Center.

This momentum seamlessly continued into the second half, where the Kings maintained their steady flow while Gilgeous-Alexander valiantly attempted to shoulder his team’s fortunes. Jalen Williams struggled, converting only 2 of his 14 attempts, and Chet Holmgren, finding his rhythm with three successful shots in the fourth quarter, added a layer of hope that proved too late in coming.

As the clock dwindled to 2:03 remaining, the Thunder found themselves trailing by a mere four points. Despite Holmgren’s final desperate shot when the outcome was already decided.

On the Kings’ side of the court, the triumph featured Sabonis, contributing 18 points and an impressive 16 rebounds, Monk adding another 18 to his name, and Ellis capping off the night with a career-high and smile-inducing 17 points.

Thursday’s game was the first of six in this current homestand. The Utah Jazz will be in town this Saturday, tip-off will be at 7:00 pm.

Mauricio Segura has been a Bay Area sportswriter & photographer for the past 20 years, covering baseball, soccer, football, and basketball. He’s contributed articles for Area Chica Magazine, The Baseball Analyst Quarterly, and various newspapers. He currently publishes an online sports and entertainment website called Golden Bay Times and is the graphics and art Director for the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame.