Category: NBA

Overcoming The Heat: Kings survive anxious moments to capture first win, 119-113 over Miami

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By Morris Phillips

SACRAMENTO–Jimmy Butler’s dunk and ensuing free throw with 6:15 remaining had Kings’ fans feeling creepy, and not in a festive, Halloween type of a way.

More like a take off your costume and head home feeling, Golden 1 Center grew tense and weary with the Kings clinging to a 101-100 advantage after leading by 22 points at the half.

Nightmare on L Street? Could have been had not Kevin Huerter and rookie Keegan Murray stepped up with some big baskets to cool the Heat.

The pair combined for 11 of Sacramento’s final 18 points and the Kings reversed their fortunes in a 119-113 win on Saturday afternoon.

“They came in with desperation,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra of the Kings. “They wanted to get that first win.”

Coach Mike Brown exhaled the deepest. His high-energy coaching, seven years experience as an NBA head coach, and four NBA titles as an assistant weren’t going to wear well in an 0-5 start to his tenure in Sacramento. Instead, he was afforded a business-as-usual approach afterwards.

“Doesn’t matter when it comes,” Brown said of his initial win. “Hopefully we can have some carryover going on this road trip.”

The Kings held a lead in the final two minutes on opening night against Portland and couldn’t hold it. A two-point loss to the Clippers and a five-point loss to the Warriors weren’t any easier to digest. Their most recent loss to Memphis brought grumblings that a team thought to be the NBA’s most improved might not be improved at all.

With a win, they have their confidence reinforced.

“It’s big to get the first one,” Huerter said. “Any time you start a year, you get your first win, it’s kind of a big relief. We’ve worked hard, as hard as any other team in training camp. It’s been a long road up to this point. The first four games of the season, we felt like we had opportunities to win. We just couldn’t close the deal.”

The Kings shot 59 percent from the floor in the first quarter and upped that to 63 percent at the half as the Heat’s defense was uncharacteristically absent. That created a 71-49 at halftime that got dismantled in the third.

Domantas Sabonis put up all 18 of his points before halftime, and two quick fouls to start the third quarter. The Kings center fouled out with the game in the balance and less than six minutes remaining in the fourth. But Richaun Holmes came on for Sabonis, and the Kings steadied. That’s when the Heat appeared to run out of gas, a residual effect of their first half struggles.

“We didn’t match that intensity in the first half,” Kyle Lowry said. “They dominated the paint in the first half. We didn’t get back well enough early in the game. They were pushing every time we scored. You could hear their coach saying, Go! Go! Go!”

Huerter led the Kings with 27 points, Murray added 22, and De’Aaron Fox came up gritty with 17 points, 13 rebounds.

The Kings are in Charlotte on Monday to face the Hornets, kicking off a four-game road trip.

Warriors fall to Hornets in overtime 120-113; Golden State’s third loss in last five games

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Golden State Warrior guard Stephen Curry (30) can’t look as the Charlotte Hornets Theo Maledon (9) does his own splash hit with a three pointer at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Sat Oct 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Fall to the Hornets In Overtime 120-113

By Barbara Mason

Saturday evening the Golden State Warriors (3-3) took on the Charlotte Hornets (3-3) and took their third loss 120-113. Friday night the Hornets were soundly beaten by the Orlando Magic 113-93. Golden State was last on the court Thursday against the Magic winning that contest 123-110.

At the end of the first quarter the Warriors were overwhelmed trailing 34-23. After the loss yesterday, the Hornets were an angry bunch and they took it out on the Warriors. After the second quarter, the Hornets took a 62-50 lead into the locker room.

Warrior guard Stephen Curry had 12 points as did Jordan Poole off the bench. Gordon Hayward, P.J. Washington and Kelly Oubre Jr. all had double digits for Charlotte. Golden State had their work cut out for them going into the second half.

Nearly four minutes into the third quarter, the Warriors had not found the basket trailing 67-52. They were shooting around 35% and the Hornets were dominating Golden State offensively and defensively.

The Warriors had no rhythm so far in this game. With 6:53 left in the third the Warriors made their first shot of the quarter. Klay Thompson and Curry hit back to back three’s cutting a fifteen point deficit to seven. The Warriors had trimmed the Hornet lead to five with four minutes left in the quarter.

Every time the Warriors got to within five points, the Hornets responded. The two teams began to trade baskets in a high octane third quarter. With 2:06 left, the Warriors took the lead 80-78. The Warriors dominated in final minutes of the third winning it 33-18. Charlotte took an 85-83 lead into the final quarter.

With 3:15 left in the game the Warriors continued to trail 101-98. Golden State desperately needed to string some shots together if a win was in their future. With 2:44 remaining the score was tied at 101. With 1:02 left on the clock the Hornets called a time-out now trailing 107-103. Charlotte cut the Warrior lead to 107-105 and Warrior head coach Steve Kerr called a time-out in response. The Hornets tied up the game at 107 and this game went into overtime.

This was the first overtime for the Warriors this season. Both Curry and Draymond Green were operating with five fouls. With 2:01 left in the overtime, the Hornets took a 114-111 lead and the Warriors were climbing uphill yet again. With 1:02 on the clock it was a one score game 116-113 in favor of the Hornets.

One of the culprits in this game was the 31 Warrior fouls to Charlottes 14. You have to give a lot of credit to the Charlotte Hornets who fought hard in the absence of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier.

All five starters for Golden State had double digits but it just wasn’t enough.Curry had the high score for Golden State with 31 points. Off the bench Poole kept the Warriors in this game with 24 points. The Warriors had some great opportunities in the final minutes of the fourth quarter but did not take advantage of them.

There will be no rest for the Warriors as they travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Grizzlies score 31 points in 3 quarters each conquer Kings 125-110

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after a foul call in the first quarter but things were looking up for the Grizzlies defeating the Sacramento Kings at Golden One in Sacramento on Thu Oct 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, The Memphis Grizzlies opened up some offense on the Sacramento Kings scoring 31 points in each of the second, third, and fourth quarters.

#2 Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 31 points and the Kings tried to stop his scoring but trapping someone like Bane is not all that easy.

#3 The Grizzlies Ja Morant followed up with 22 points with five rebounds and six assists.

#4 The Kings De’Aaron Fox led with 27 points with Harrison Barnes followed up with 22 points but the Kings in the end fell short and couldn’t finish.

#5 The Miami Heat (2-4) are coming to Sacramento on Sat 29th. The Heat took a loss on Thursday night to the Golden State Warriors 123-110 and come in two games below .500 just wanted to see how you see the Heat and Kings matching up as the Kings are still looking for their first win.

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

Kings remain winless drop fourth straight game to Grizzlies 125-110

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The Memphis Grizzlies Ja Morant (12) gets a finger roll on a jumper for two against the Sacramento Kings Domantas Sobonis (10) at the Golden One Center in Sacramento on Thu Oct 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Sacramento Kings (0-4) were back in action on Thursday night at Golden one Center. The Kings were set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies (4-1) as Ja Morant came to town. The Kings after struggling early in the season, we’re looking to change the tone. Kings fans would leave the arena disappointed as the Kings lost the game 125–110.

The game wasn’t a blowout by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a steady and slow defeat by most accounts. There wasn’t really any quarter or moment that the Kings lost the game. It was just a compilation throughout the game that ended up, leading to defeat.

In the first quarter of the Grizzlies jumped out to an early lead outscoring the Kings 32–28. The Kings offense didn’t to get off to a good start, and the defense didn’t find a rhythm early either.

In the second quarter it was more of the same. The Kings were outscored 31–28. The game didn’t get out of hand of the Kings were slowly falling behind. In the first half, the Kings got themselves into a 63 to 56 deficit. In the first half the Kings were led by De’Aaron Fox who had 16 points. The Kings needed to bounce back in the second half to win the game.

The third quarter echoed much of the first half of the Kings. The offense wasn’t terrible however, the defense could not get stops. The Kings would be out scored in the third quarter 31–27.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Kings would need to mount a come back if they hoped to get their first win of the season. Unfortunately for King’s fans, the fourth quarter was almost identical to the third. In the fourth quarter the Kings were out scored 31-27 and lost the game.

The Kings were led by De’Aaron Fox, who scored 27 points, followed by Harrison Barnes, who managed 20 points in the contest. The Memphis grizzlies were led by an unlikely figure Desmond Bane, who scored 31 points. Ja Morant the resident star of the Grizzlies had 22 points.

The Kings will need to return to the drawing board to figure out how to get their first win on Saturday.

Up Next: Kings will stay home to take on the Miami Heat at 3PM PST on Saturday.

Heat can’t stop Warriors Curry with 33 pts in 123-110 win

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The Miami Heat Jimmy Butler (left) gets ahead of the Golden State Warriors Andrew Wiggins in first half action at Chase Center in San Francisco on Thu Oct 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Golden State Warrior guard Stephen Curry scored 33 points leading the Warriors on the top of the scoring leaderboard. Curry’s ten crucial points in the fourth quarter help keep the Warriors ahead. Curry also added seven assists and nine rebounds to his total in keeping the Warriors in the contest in the Warriors 123-110 win over the Miami Heat.

The Heat’s Tyler Herro tried as he might to defend Curry but to avail Curry just came loose on Herro including a move losing Herro and faded back and sank a three point shot with 5:23 remaining in the game to make it 108-100. Curry added some more at 3:15 moving past the Heat defense for a layup and at 2:40 hitting another three pointer, and then a long outside shot at 2:04 as the Warriors never looked back.

During the current four game homestand Curry has 30 or more points and Andrew Wiggins had 18 points and ten rebounds, and had a collection of three pointers five in all scoring 19 points for the night. Warriors Jordan Poole drove and got a pass around the Heat’s defender Bam Adebayo to teammate Ty Jerome who hit a three pointer to make it 100-92 with 9:36 left. Poole also added a jump shot at 8:07 to pull the Warriors with an eight point lead 102-94.

The Heat got scoring from Adebayo who led with 26 points, forward Jimmy Butler 27 points, and Max Strus 14 points, Kyle Lowery scored 12 points and eight assists. The Heat playing on back to back nights having played on Wednesday night in Portland getting a 119-98 win.

The Charlotte Hornets host the Warriors on Saturday night. The Hornets will have come off back to back nights having played in Miami and back to Charlotte to host Warriors for a 4:00pm tip.

Suns Wallop Golden State 134-105; Seven technicals and Thompson first career ejection

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The Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson (right) drives on the Phoenix Suns Mikal Bridges (left) in first half action at Walking Stick Arena in Phoenix on Tue Oct 25, 2022 (AP News photo)

Suns Wallop Golden State 134-105

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the Golden State Warriors (2-2) took on the Phoenix Suns (3-1) at Footprint Center. Both teams are coming off wins, the Warriors beating the Kings Sunday 130-125 and the Suns handling the Clippers 112-95 on Sun Oct 23. Golden State has struggled in transition and will be looking for some improvement against a very tough Phoenix Suns.

The Warriors got a fast start and led through the opening minutes before the Suns got going. With five minutes left in the first quarter the Suns had taken a ten point lead and after the first 12 minutes Phoenix held a 37-29 lead. The Warriors had shot at 46% and the Suns edged them slightly shooting at 48%.

In the Warriors last game, the second unit had struggled but in this outing these young guys were nothing short of terrific. This unit had cut the Suns lead from eight points to a tie game at 39 in the early minutes of the second quarter.

This game remained close with the Suns holding slim leads throughout the quarter. The Warriors Jordan Poole hit a three that was nullified by a shot clock violation in the closing seconds. The Suns Chris Paul hit a three with 0.5 seconds left on the clock and at the half, it was Phoenix with a 72-66 lea

The Suns Devon Booker led the Suns with 16 points scored. Poole had the point high off the bench with 14 points and Warrior guard Stephen Curry led the starting roster with 13 points.

The difference in the first half for the Warriors was points in the paint. James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga would need to step up in the second half. They would need some defensive excellence if they wanted to beat the Suns.

The Suns began to run away with the third quarter. They had an 11-0 run and led 94-77 with four minutes left in the third. A blow for the Warriors was the ejection of Klay Thompson, the first of his career. The Suns were getting to the free throw line in this game while the Warriors were not and that had a lot to do with the score of this game.

The Suns had shot 28 free throws in the first three quarters. At the end of the third quarter the Suns had a considerable lead 105-86. Phoenix had scored 33+ points in the first three quarters; they were in total command of this game.

Things began to get tight in the fourth quarter when the Warriors cut a 19 point Sun lead to 12. The Warriors were on a 7-0 run before the Suns began to push back leading 115-99 with under six minutes left in the game.

The Suns continued to extend their lead for the remainder of the game. Booker was relentless finishing with 34 points. The final was 134-105 in a dominating game by Phoenix. The Sun’s defense was just better than Golden State’s.

The high score for the Warriors was Curry with 21 points. It was a lackluster offensive effort from Golden State. They hung with the Suns in the first half but it all came apart in the second half.

Thursday night the Warriors will play Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat at Chase Center. Tipoff will be at 7:00 PM.

Warriors hold down Kings 130-125 in tale of two halves

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First half action the Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox (5) takes a jump shot against the Golden State Warriors Jordan Poole (left) at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sun Oct 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

It was a tale of two halves as the Golden State Warriors (2-1) downed the Sacramento Kings (0-3) 130-125 Sunday night at the Chase Center. The Kings, coached by former Warrior assistant Mike Brown, gave the Warriors quite a tussle.

The Kings scored 71 points in the first half. Normally, a team that scores that many points would win the game. The Warriors didn’t even blink as they put 89 points on the scoreboard in the first half to finish the half with an 18-point advantage, 89-71.

It was the most points in a half witnessed by this reporter ever. It was the third most points in franchise history in any half and the second most in the first half. The Warriors set a franchise record by scoring 50 points in the second quarter.

The second half was a different story. The Warriors outscored the Kings 24-23 in the third quarter to lead by 19, 113-95. The Kings knew they could break down the Warriors defense. They erased most of the deficit but could not quite catch the Warriors. Sacramento put 31 points on the board and held the Warriors to 17.

The first half was something to see. The Warriors got off to an early 10-0 lead. Sacramento tied the game at 15 all. The Warriors never trailed in the first 12 minutes of play. The Kings tied the game at 17 all, 21 all, 25, and 30. The Warriors finished the quarter with a three-point lead, 39-36. 

The Warriors turned on the gas in the second quarter. Guard Stephen Curry got hot. Curry scored 21 points in the quarter and made five threes. Curry finished the first half with 28 points. Jordan Poole and James Wiseman each scored 12 points in the first half. Andrew Wiggins had 18. The Kings’ offense was paced by Domantis Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk. 

As mentioned above, Sacramento won the second quarter 54-41. The Kings served notice that they would have quite a bit of offensive firepower. Former Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown is trying to instill the Warriors’ winning ways into his new team.

The Kings are 0-3 to start the season, but they appear to be on the right track. Steve Kerr had this to say about Mike: “We played at times brilliantly, and we couldn’t sustain it,” coach Steve Kerr said. “It was closer than it should have been, but I give Sacramento a lot of credit. Mike’s doing a great job with those guys. They’re fighting, and they’re competing. They’ve had three close losses now to start the year. We let our guard down and they took advantage of it.”

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the Warriors are 2-1. The Kings are 0-3. 

Curry finished the night with 33 points. It was his third-straight 30-point game. Curry was 11 for 22 from the floor and knocked down six threes. Wiggins tallied 24 with five rebounds and one assist. Klay Thompson had eight. Poole had 24, and Wiseman had 14.

The Kings had five players in double figures. Fox had a double-double with 26 points and ten assists. Sabonis had 19, Murray 16, and Monk 16. and Richaun Holmes 15. 

The Warriors play the Suns in Phoenix Tuesday night. The game will start at 7 pm.

Point Parade: Kings allow Warriors’ 50-point quarter in 130-125 loss

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By Morris Phillips

That familiar, streetball taunt, “You can’t guard me!” took on a broader context Sunday night at the Chase Center.

As in, nobody in a white Kings’ uniform can guard anyone in a blue Warriors uniform for the next 12 minutes… or so it seemed.

The Warriors’ 50-point, second quarter laid the Kings to waste in Sacramento’s 130-125 loss that dropped them to 0-3 to start the season. Even the Kings’ late push that saw them down 126-122 with 1:04 remaining was more about the hosts than the Kings, as the Warriors missed 12 consecutive shots in the fourth. That drought prompted Coach Steve Kerr to get his starters back in the game.

The Kings trailed 89-71 at halftime, and that set a record for the most points a Sacramento Kings team has allowed in a half.

“We can’t give up 50 points in the second quarter, or no quarters,” Malik Monk said. “It’s hard to win an NBA game like that.”

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 33 points. Nineteen of those came in the last, seven minutes before halftime as the superstar hit his all-too-familar boiling point. Andrew Wiggins kicked in 24 for Golden State

The Kings first three opponents have dropped 34 made threes while shooting better than 38 percent from distance. An even more troubling trend is found in the Kings’ frequent fouling. The Warriors attempted 36 free throws (making 26) bringing the total for the Kings’ opponents to 91 attempts in just three games.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 26 points, but he missed five of six from three. Fox’s backcourt mate, Kevin Huerter had accuracy issues as well missing 11 of his 14 shots and finished with nine points.

Domantas Sabonis unfortunately was on the floor for the densest portions of Golden State’s onslaught. The Kings power forward collected 19 points, 14 rebounds but was an unsightly -25 on the plus/minus meter in just 22 minutes on the floor.

The Kings’ seven reserves that played were fantastic, combing for 26 made baskets on 54 shot attempts. That production allowed the Kings to turn a 26-point, third quarter deficit into a more palatable 5-point loss.

Keegan Murray and Richaun Holmes each scored 16 points, and Monk added 15.

“Mike’s doing a great job with those guys,” coach Steve Kerr said. “They’re fighting, they’re competing. They’ve had three close losses now to start the year.

“We let our guard down and they took advantage of it.”

The Kings host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday at Golden 1 Center.

KINGS GET RINGS: Coach Mike Brown and his assistant coach Leandro Barbosa received championship rings in a ceremony before the game in recognition of their contributions to the Warriors’ coaching staff in 2021-22.

Brown spent six seasons with the Warriors, almost all of that time as Kerr’s lead assistant.

“Fantastic friends there,” Brown said when asked about the occasion on Saturday. “Still got my place a block and a half from the arena and all that stuff, but I’m locked in on this game tomorrow.”

Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings can’t hold back Curry as Warriors win it 130-125

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) has his arms raised up in hopes of scoring a three pointer against the Sacramento Kings on Sun Oct 23, 2022 at Chase Center in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Barbara:

#1 Golden State Warrior (2-1) guard Stephen Curry was lights out and the Sacramento Kings (0-3) couldn’t contain him. Curry scored 33 points for Curry’s third 30 point game.

#2 The Warriors were unstoppable scoring 89 points first half in a five point win over the Sacramento Kings.

#3 The Kings although they’ve now lost three in a row have been playing some close basketball games. The Kings cut the Warriors 26 point lead down to four points with 1:04 left in the game.

#4 De’Aaron Fox lead with 26 points he was doing everything he could to keep the Kings in it and worked on cutting down that Warrior lead.

#5 The Warriors head to Phoenix for a game there on Tuesday night the Suns have won two of their last four games how do you see the Warriors faring in this contest?

Join Barbara Mason for the Warriors podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Fall Short In Loss To Clippers 111-109; George lead LA with 40 pts

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The Los Angeles Clippers Paul George (13) drives on the Sacramento Kings KZ Okpala (40) at Golden One Arena in Sacramento on Sat Oct 22, 2022 (AP News photo)

Kings Fall Short In Loss To Clippers 111-109

By Barbara Mason

After sailing through the pre-season the Sacramento Kings (0-2) have stumbled in the early regular season falling to Portland Wednesday night 115-108. Saturday night the Kings took on the Los Angeles Clippers (2-0) who look to be a legitimate contender this season. The Kings ended up dropping their second straight game in a row 111-109 to the Clippers at Golden One Arena in Sacramento. There is so much Clipper talent but as the Kings have seen season after season injuries has so much to do with any team’s success.

The Kings led through much of the first quarter but with 4:45 left in the quarter the Clippers took their first lead of the game. Los Angeles led 29-26 after the first 12 minutes of play.

The Kings outscored the Clippers in the second quarter 29-23. The Kings led at halftime 55-52 with a much improved defensive and offensive effort over Wednesday night. They had four turnovers in the half and were shooting right around 43%. As expected the Kings had their hands full defending Paul George who finished the first two quarters with 19 points, the only Clipper in double digits.

The Kings De’Aaron Fox had 15 points at the half and off the bench Keegan Murray had 10 points.

The Kings had two turnovers in the opening minutes of the third quarter allowing the Clippers to take the lead 60-58 with a long ways to go in this game. Paul George had begun to take over this game with 26 points.

The Kings were struggling from the free throw line shooting around 50%. With three minutes left in the quarter the Clippers had taken a six point lead 79-73, their largest of the game.

After three quarters, the Clippers led 86-80. Los Angeles had outscored the Kings in the quarter 34-25. Missed shots from the line were hurting Sacramento leaving ten points on the board, something that does not want to become a trend this season for Sacramento.

After an unfortunate questionable foul on the Kings the Clippers Reggie Jackson sank three free throws giving the Kings a 89-83 lead. Los Angeles got really fired up taking a ten-point lead and the Kings were simply fading away unable to slow down the Clippers.

With four minutes left in the game the officials took what seemed like an eternity to determine a Mike Brown challenge which was successful. The Kings desperately needed stops if they wanted to make any kind of a move in the final minutes. The Kings were able to get some stops but the offensive effort fell just short.

There were some great moments in this game for the Kings but there were a lot of things to clean up as well. Suffice to say this team has a lot of promise as this season gets underway. De’Aaron Fox had back-to- back 33 plus point games. They also had some great defensive moments. Off the bench Keegan Murray was amazing with 19 points.

The Kings will be back in action Sunday night against a formidable opponent, the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Tipoff is at 5:30.