Category: NBA

Kings’ Defensive Woes Continue in Costly 122-106 Loss to Suns

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Keegan Murray dunks in the game against Phoenix on Friday night (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

PHOENIX — The Sacramento Kings’ season was teetering as their plane landed Friday night. Coming off a brutal 130-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors the night before, they arrived in Phoenix desperate for a win. They had lost four of their last five games, and with the Warriors widening their lead for the sixth seed in the Western Conference and the Suns lurking in 11th, the Kings needed to regroup quickly.

Before the game, I asked Doug Christie about how the team was moving on from tough losses. “That one (the Knicks loss at home) was emotional from a lot of different standpoints, and that’s part of our evolution as a better ball club. You go through a game experience—maybe you don’t play the way you wanted. You process that till about midnight, maybe 2 a.m., but then you have to reset and come back with the right mindset.” However, moving on from bad losses has been a challenge for the Kings this season. Friday in Phoenix was no different. After falling behind early by double digits, they failed to mount a comeback, dropping the game 122-106.

The Kings got off to another rough start in the first quarter, turning the ball over five times and missing multiple easy shots, quickly falling behind 36-22. Digging themselves into early deficits had become a troubling pattern, and Friday was no exception. They needed a shift in intensity heading into the second quarter.

Sacramento responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring Phoenix 35-26 to trim the deficit to five at halftime, trailing 62-57. They cut down on turnovers, and Malik Monk found his rhythm, scoring 12 points in the quarter. Keegan Murray led the Kings at the half with 14 points, while Kevin Durant matched him with 14 of his own. The Kings shot just 21% from three but a respectable 51% overall, while the Suns shot 55% from deep and 52% from the field.

Coming out of halftime, the Kings unraveled again. The Suns dominated the third quarter 35-25, extending their lead to 97-82. Turnovers and poor perimeter defense plagued Sacramento, and they struggled to put together stops.

The fourth quarter was more of the same. Phoenix continued its hot shooting, and Sacramento had no answers outside of some garbage-time scoring from Zach LaVine. The Kings were outscored 25-24 in the final frame, sealing their 122-106 defeat. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant led the Suns with 22 points each, while DeMar DeRozan paced the Kings with 23.

Postgame, the Kings’ locker room was somber, frustration evident after another costly loss in their fight for playoff positioning. Doug Christie didn’t hold back in his press conference. “Disappointing. I expected a way better performance out of our guys… 38 points off turnovers is never going to do it. Defensively, we must be better. We must be better.”

I asked Christie if he still saw effort from his players. “I think these guys want to win badly… but sometimes they get down, and you can’t do that. That has happened here. It’s unacceptable. I don’t care if the guy is open—if he’s shooting it, I want you running at him. If you don’t have it, raise your hand and get the hell out of the game because someone over there does.” His raw honesty made it clear he was searching for answers to spark his team.

Inside the locker room, the sentiment was similar. Malik Monk acknowledged the team’s defensive struggles, saying, “Yeah, I feel that. Drive, kick, swing, and they might be wide open, and we don’t contest. Then we hang our heads, and that’s where we might be down.”

Zach LaVine reiterated a message he’s been repeating recently: “I’m trying to fit in (to the offense) and win games.” Christie, however, emphasized that LaVine needs to be more aggressive from the start.

With the loss, the Kings fell to 33-33, now five games behind the Warriors for the sixth seed. More concerning, they are just one game ahead of the 10th-seeded Dallas Mavericks as their playoff hopes hang in the balance. 

Up Next: The Sacramento Kings will return home for an extended homestand to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. Tip-off is set for 7 PM PST on Monday inside Golden 1 Center. 

Sacramento Kings podcast Jeremiah Salmonson Fri Mar 14, 2025: Kings just can’t overcome Golden State; Curry scores 4000th career point for Warriors

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It takes three Golden State Warriors guards Gary Payton II (0), Stephen Curry (30) and Draymond Green (23) to defend the Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) in the first half at Chase Center on Thu Mar 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 It was a blow out for the Golden State Warriors over the Sacramento Kings 130-104 at Chase Center in San Francisco. For the Warriors their star player Stephen Curry scored his 4,000th career 3 point.

#2 The Kings pretty much couldn’t stop the Warriors offensive attack in the first quarter the Kings could only muster 18 points and the Warriors came up with a crushing 30 points.

#3 The Kings double teamed Curry who had only 11 points and finished tied for fifth in scoring but got his 4000th career 3 points for his efforts.

#4 The Kings in the fourth quarter scored only 21 points to the Warriors 34 points. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 23 points. It was a lead the Kings just couldn’t overcome.

#5 The Kings in ninth place now have lost two in a row with the loss to Golden State and head to Phoenix against the Suns on Friday night. The Suns are 11th in the Western Conference at 30-36 and have likewise lost two in a row as well. How do you see this one tonight in the Valley of the Sun.

Join Jeremiah for the Kings podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors Dominate Kings Behind Draymond Green’s Big Night

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DeMar DeRozan shoots in game against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SAN FRANCISCO — The Sacramento Kings were back in action Thursday night as they traveled up I-80 to take on the Golden State Warriors. The two teams entered the game on opposite trajectories. The Kings had lost three of their last four games, slipping toward the 10th seed in the Western Conference, while the Warriors had won five straight and nine of their last ten. Golden State played with the addition of the recently injured Andrew Wiggins, while the Kings continued to weather the absence of Domantas Sabonis, who remained sidelined with a hamstring strain. In the end, the Kings couldn’t keep up, falling to the Warriors 130-104.

The Warriors jumped out to a quick lead in the first quarter, outscoring the Kings 30-18. Draymond Green got the Warriors rolling with two early three-pointers, helping set the tone. Meanwhile, the Kings struggled offensively, managing just 25% shooting from beyond the arc and 36% overall from the field. Green led the way for Golden State in the first quarter with eight points, while Zach LaVine paced the Kings with five.

Opening the second quarter, the Warriors continued to apply pressure, with Green and Quinten Post each hitting threes to extend Golden State’s lead to 39-24. Kings interim head coach Doug Christie quickly called a timeout with 10:29 left to play in the quarter, hoping to slow the Warriors’ momentum. Out of the timeout, Jake LaRavia provided a much-needed spark for Sacramento, hitting back-to-back threes to trim the deficit to 11. However, Golden State wasted no time regaining control, ballooning their lead to 50-30 with 6:43 remaining in the half. The Kings put together a late run to close out the quarter, outscoring the Warriors 33-31 in the second frame. Heading into halftime, Sacramento trailed 61-51. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 11 first-half points, while Green paced all scorers with 16.

The Kings held their own in the third quarter but failed to make up any ground, as the Warriors outscored them 35-32. Though Sacramento had stopped the bleeding, the early hole they had dug themselves remained too deep to overcome, as they entered the fourth quarter trailing 96-83.

During the third quarter, Stephen Curry made NBA history, becoming the first player to ever make 4,000 career three-pointers. The moment was acknowledged with a tribute video during a timeout, as the home crowd at Chase Center gave Curry a well-deserved ovation.

In the final quarter, the Kings faltered, failing to mount any sort of comeback. Golden State outscored Sacramento 34-21 in the final frame, pulling away for the 130-104 victory. Draymond Green led the Warriors with 23 points in the win, while DeRozan finished with 23 points of his own to lead the Kings.

The loss was a tough blow for Sacramento, as they now trail the Warriors in the standings and finish the season 2-2 in their head-to-head matchups. Golden State improved to 38-28 on the season, boasting an impressive 16-2 record since acquiring Jimmy Butler. Meanwhile, the Kings dropped to 33-32, now sitting 4.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Warriors and 3.5 games ahead of the 11th-seeded Phoenix Suns.

Postgame, Doug Christie addressed Zach LaVine’s limited shot attempts, as he finished the game with only six field goal attempts. “I would like to see him getting 16 or even 26 points in a game,” Christie said. LaVine, responding to the topic, stated, “If you guys want me to play isolation basketball, I can do that… I’m not going to take bad shots.”

The Kings continue to struggle with consistency, as injuries have led to frequent lineup changes. However, with the season winding down, they don’t have the luxury of waiting for things to click.

Up next, the Kings will travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns on Friday night at 7 PM PST at Footprint Center.

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor: Warriors on five game win streak host Kings Thursday at Chase Center

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Who was that masked man? Golden State Warriors Gary Payton II (0) raises an arm after scoring on the Portland Trail Blazers and Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) in first half action at Chase Center in San Francisco on Mon Mar 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor:

#1 Dave, the Golden State Warriors (37-28) rolled to their fifth straight win against the Portland Trail Blazers (28-38) on Monday night at Chase Center in San Francisco with a 130-120 win. Dave what would you attribute to the key to the success of this five game win streak?

#2 The Warriors had six players in double figures the top three Gary Payton II 26 points, Stephen Curry 24 points, Moses Moody and Buddy Hield both with 20 points quite an offensive evening for Golden State in picking up that fifth straight win.

#3 Warriors host the Sacramento Kings Thursday night. The Kings are 33-31, the Kings have won five of their last ten games, are 17-16 on the road this season and are ninth in the Western Conference. How do you see this match up?

Join David Zizmor for the Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Knicks Anthony-Townes leads with 26 points past Kings 133-104

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The New York Knicks dominated on offense against the Sacramento Kings on Mon Mar 10, 2025 at Golden 1 Center Sacramento (Getty photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony R:

#1 Tony, New York Knicks Karl Anthony Townes led the New York Knicks with 26 points with eight assists, seven rebounds as the Knicks defeated the Sacramento Kings 133-104.

#2 After the Knicks dominated the Kings after the first quarter 37-22 the Kings did have an improved second quarter with a tying 29-29 score.

#3 The Knicks OG Anunoby scored 24 points, with eight assists and seven rebounds finishing second in scoring for the Knicks.

#4 The Kings had five players in double figures with center Malik Monk leading with 21 points it wasn’t enough as the Kings lost by 29 points.

#5 Up next for the Kings their off to Golden State for a match against Jimmy Butler and the Warriors on Thu Mar 13th at Chase Center.

Join Tony Renteria does the Sacramento Kings podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Struggle at Home, Blown Out by Knicks in 133-104 Loss

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Zach LaVine in a recent game at Golden 1 Center (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO CA — The Sacramento Kings played the second night of a back-to-back on Monday, following a loss to the LA Clippers on Sunday. Returning home to face the New York Knicks at Golden 1 Center, the Kings tipped off at 7:30 PM PST in front of a national NBA TV audience. Unfortunately, they suffered a lopsided 133-104 defeat.

The Knicks dominated from the start, overwhelming the Kings with their physicality. New York outscored Sacramento 37-22 in the first quarter, setting the tone early. The Kings struggled offensively, shooting just 31.8% from the field, while Miles McBride torched them for 15 points in the opening frame. No Kings player managed more than five points in the first quarter as they searched for answers.

Sacramento’s struggles continued in the second quarter. While their shooting slightly improved, their energy level remained low. Both teams scored 29 points in the period, leaving the Kings trailing 66-51 at halftime. McBride led all scorers with 16 points at the break, while Malik Monk paced Sacramento with 13. The Kings needed a significant shift in intensity to mount a comeback in the second half.

However, the Kings never found their rhythm after halftime. The third quarter saw New York extend its lead, outscoring Sacramento 37-26. The Kings failed to generate any consistent offense and lacked defensive effort. By the fourth quarter, the outcome was clear as the Knicks once again outscored the Kings, 30-27, sealing a blowout victory 133-104.

Monk led Sacramento with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough. The Knicks were powered by strong performances from Karl-Anthony Towns (26 points), OG Anunoby (24 points), and McBride (21 points).

For the Kings, this loss marked a concerning regression. Getting dominated on their home floor is something head coach Doug Christie has tried to drill into his players.

“That’s not us,” Christie said postgame. “There are absolutely no excuses in this league. The league doesn’t care about back-to-backs, injuries—nothing. That was brutal from a physicality standpoint. They didn’t feel us at all, and our guys know that is totally unacceptable.”

Center Jonas Valančiūnas echoed similar frustration: “We have to be ready. We weren’t ready today. I don’t know what happened. Yeah, we can find lots of excuses, but that ain’t going to cut it.”

With the loss, the Kings remain in the 9th seed in the Western Conference, just one game ahead of the 10th-seeded Mavericks. They trail the 8th-seeded Clippers by two games and sit 3.5 games behind the 6th-seeded Warriors.

Up Next:

The Kings will head to San Francisco to face the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Tip-off is set for 7 PM PST.

Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason: Kings host Knicks tonight; Sacramento returns from LA playing on back to back nights

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Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (left) takes a shot against the Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) at Intuit Dome Arena in Inglewood on Sun Mar 9, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard hit a buzzer beater shot on a hook shook that beat the Sacramento Kings 111-110 in a nail biter on Sunday night in Inglewood in the battle of eighth place teams.

#2 Leonard’s shot took him to the top of the key with 21.6 seconds and let the clock run down and drove the by past the Kings defenders for a shot that bounced on the rim that went in. Leonard scored 17 points.

#3 The Kings had a tough time defending the Clippers James Harden who scored 29 points and the Clippers wound up winning their third straight game. Ivica Zubac hand a hot had for the Clippers scoring 22 points while grabbing 14 rebounds.

#4 DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points with ten assists, Zach LaVine had 30 points in spite of their hard efforts the Kings lost by just one point in the end of the game. The Kings continue to be winless against the Clippers with a season 0-3 record.

#5 The Eastern Conference third place New York Knicks come calling tonight at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The Knicks have lost their last three games and are 19-12 on the road this season. The Knicks are struggling can the Kings get this won tonight with the home court advantage?

Join Barbara Mason for the Sacramento Kings podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Fall to Clippers in Overtime Heartbreaker, 111-110

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Zach LaVine shoots in the Kings matchup vs the Clippers on Sunday night in LA (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

INGLEWOOD CA — The Kings had been moving with a different aura recently. Sacramento was displaying a confidence that I felt had been lacking for much of the season. On Sunday night, the Kings were back in action in Los Angeles against the Clippers, carrying what felt like a sense of belonging in the crowded Western Conference playoff race.

The message of “playing with joy,” which Doug Christie had preached since taking over head coaching duties, seemed to be taking hold. Heading into Sunday’s matchup, the Kings had won five of their last six games and were looking to build on that momentum before heading back home. The Kings and Clippers tipped off at 6:30 PM PST at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The Clippers defeated the Kings 111-110 in overtime.

In the first quarter, neither the Kings nor the Clippers found much offensive rhythm, as both teams played solid defense. However, Zach LaVine started the game hot, scoring nine points in the opening quarter to lead all scorers. The Clippers’ Ivica Zubac established himself early in the paint, leading his team with eight first-quarter points. The Kings outscored the Clippers 23-20 in the opening period, taking a narrow lead.

The second quarter remained highly competitive. The Kings briefly built an eight-point advantage, but the Clippers fought back to erase the deficit before halftime. The Clippers outscored the Kings 31-26 in the quarter, taking a 51-49 lead into the break.

Both teams played disciplined basketball in the first half, with Sacramento committing only four turnovers and Los Angeles just three. Zach LaVine led the Kings with 13 first-half points, while James Harden paced the Clippers with 11.

In the third quarter, the Kings reclaimed a slim lead. They outscored the Clippers 26-21 in the period, heading into the final frame with a 75-72 advantage. Defensive intensity remained high, as neither team was interested in letting up. 

The fourth quarter felt like a battle of defensive resilience—whichever team blinked first would likely lose. However, neither side backed down, and the game remained tied at 97, forcing overtime.

In the extra period, the Kings suffered a heartbreaking defeat on a left-handed hook shot by Kawhi Leonard. The ball bounced around the rim before improbably falling through the net, sending Intuit Dome into a frenzy as the Clippers secured the 111-110 victory. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine led the Kings in defeat, scoring 31 and 30 points, respectively. James Harden delivered the Clippers’ best performance with 29 points.

This marked the Kings’ second loss in three games where they had played well throughout but fell short late. They suffered a similar defeat against Denver last week. After the game, head coach Doug Christie praised his team’s effort, saying, “I thought the guys did a good job… all in all, the byproduct of playing hard like this is ultimately going to be winning. Super proud of how the guys continue to build. We want to win every game, so this sucks and it hurts… but defensively, I think it was a fantastic effort out there.”

Keon Ellis shared his thoughts on the team’s progress following the trade deadline, stating, “We know that we are trending in the right direction… just gotta keep at it day by day.”

With the loss, the Kings fell to 33-30 on the season and now sit 1.5 games behind the Clippers for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They currently hold the ninth seed, two games ahead of the Dallas Mavericks.

Up Next: The Kings return home to face the New York Knicks on Monday at 7:30 PM PST at Golden 1 Center. It will mark the second night of a road-home back-to-back.

Kings Bounce Back with Convincing Win Over Spurs, Close the Book on Fox Era

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Zach LaVine shoots in the win over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday (Photo Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–As Doug Christie walked into the press conference room in Denver after Wednesday’s loss to the Nuggets, the frustration was palpable. He described a game that was going to “sting for a bit.” The Kings outplayed the Nuggets for most of the night but collapsed in the fourth quarter, ultimately losing 116-110. They also took issue with the officiating, as their free-throw attempts dried up in the second half.

On Friday, the Kings had an opportunity to bounce back at home following their tough loss in Denver. They welcomed the San Antonio Spurs, marking the return of De’Aaron Fox. Fox had spent nearly eight years with the Kings before being traded to San Antonio on February 3rd in a three-team deal that sent Zach LaVine to Sacramento. Fox received an ovation during his tribute video but was booed every other time he touched the ball. The Kings went on to defeat the Spurs 127-109.

The Kings’ offense started slowly in the first quarter, appearing disjointed and out of sync as the Spurs outscored them 26-20. Stephon Castle led all scorers in the quarter with nine points, while DeMar DeRozan paced the Kings with seven.

In the second quarter, the Kings flipped the script with an offensive outburst, outscoring the Spurs 36-16 to take a commanding 56-42 halftime lead. Zach LaVine fueled the surge with 16 points in the period, while Jonas Valančiūnas added eight. LaVine led all scorers at halftime with 18 points, while De’Aaron Fox had an underwhelming first half, managing just six points on 3-of-10 shooting.

The Kings continued to dominate in the third quarter, outscoring the Spurs 39-35 to extend their lead to 95-77 heading into the final period. With the game firmly in their hands, they only needed to stave off any comeback attempt from San Antonio.

Early in the fourth, the Spurs made a brief push, but the Kings quickly countered, securing a 127-109 victory. LaVine led Sacramento with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting. Castle paced the Spurs with 25 points in the loss, while Fox struggled in his return to Sacramento, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting.

In many ways, the Kings’ win over the Spurs felt like the final chapter of the De’Aaron Fox era in Sacramento. While he had already been gone for weeks following the February 3 trade, seeing him score in an opposing uniform at Golden 1 Center made it feel definitive.

Postgame, Fox spoke with reporters in a crowded visiting press conference area just outside the Spurs’ locker room. He reflected fondly on his time in Sacramento, despite the chaos surrounding his departure. When I asked if he hoped the city would remember him more favorably in the future, he replied, “I’ve said my peace, and I’m not really worried about anything else.”

Up Next: The Kings travel to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers at Intuit Dome on Sunday night.

Sacramento Kings podcast Jeremiah Salmonson Fri Mar 7, 2025: Kings need to line up wins if they’re going to make post season

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Sacramento King forward Keegan Murray center tries to squeeze between Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (left) and forward Michael Porter Jr (right) in the first half at Ball Arena in Denver on Wed Mar 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic scored 22 points and had 14 rebound and teammate Russell Westbrook had 25 points and the Nuggets came back from behind to overcome the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at Ball Arena 116-110.

#2 The Kings defense had a tough time defending the Nuggets Jamal Murray who scored 24 point and the Nuggets with the win had won the first three games against the Kings this season.

#3 Sacramento Kings DeMar DeRozan had scored 18 of 35 points that help give the Kings a 93-84 lead towards the end of the third quarter. Westbrook however beat back the tide scoring seven points in a row.

#4 The Kings Zach LaVine scored 12 of 20 points and had two 3 pointers that were deep outside shots, and it kept the Kings in the game by three points.

#5 The Kings are now ninth in the Western Conference behind the Clippers, Minnesota and Golden State for a shot at a playoff spot. The Kings tip off against the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 in Sacramento on tonight at 7:00pm PST. The Spurs are 13th in the Western Conference and lost four of their last ten games. Crucial game for the Kings if they plan to make that climb to sixth place for that last playoff spot.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the Sacramento Kings podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com