Category: Sacramento Kings

Kings lose the final preseason game of the year to Portland, 118-115, but not ugly this time

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

Por vs Sac

By Charlie O. Mallonee

After being blown out 132-93 by the Utah Jazz on Thursday night, the Sacramento Kings needed to bounce back in the second game of a back-to-back in Portland on Friday to prove that they are not a “walk-over team” in the 2018-19 season. The Kings did not win on Friday night, but they did not embarrass themselves either. Sacramento fought to the end but came up short losing to the Trail Blazers 118-115.

Sacramento did not go into the game with positive news. Point guard De’Aaron Fox and head coach Dave Joerger were both pregame scratches because of the stomach flu. That is not the way you want to start a game you need to win–no head coach and down one superstar.

The Kings fell behind 32-20 at the end of the first quarter, and it looked like it might be another ugly loss for Sacramento on the road. The Kings bounced back in the second quarter and outscored the Trail Blazers 35-25.

The Kings kept the game close and had a chance to win the contest right up to the end. With one-tenth of a second remaining, Frank Mason put up a 3-point shot that missed. Had that shot been good–the Kings would have won the game.

Por vs Sac2

Kings Performances

  • Buddy Hield was the Kings co-high scorer in the game with 19 points. Hield went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. He also had four assists.
  • Yogi Ferrell also scored 19 points in the game. Ferrell shot 7-for-15 from the field. He also added five assists.
  • Marvin Bagley III–MBIII5 scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. He shot 7-for-11 from the field.
  • Willie Cauley-Stein and Frank Mason each scored 14 points in the game.
  • Nemanja Bjelica put up 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.

What the Trail Blazers did

  • CJ McCollum led the Trail Blazers scoring attack with 21 points. He also had nine rebounds and six assists.
  • Meyers Leonard added 17 points and nine rebounds.
  • Nik Stauskas (remember him?) recorded 15 points. He hit 4-of-7 from 3-point land.
  • Zach Collins scored 15 points in 31 minutes on the floor. He shot 7-of-12 from the floor.

Por Leonard

Team stats

  • SAC shot 42.2-percent from the floor (38-for-90).
  • The Kings hit 10-of-24 (41.7-percent) from 3-point land.
  • Sacramento went 29-for-33 (87.9-percent) from the free throw line.

Up next

The start of the 2018-19 regular season on Wednesday, October 17 versus the Utah Jazz at 7:00 pm PT inside the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

Three takeaways from the Kings’ preseason loss to the Jazz

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Photo credit: Sports Radio Service

By: Ana Kieu

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings returned to familiar territory at Golden 1 Center, where they hosted a preseason game versus the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.

Did the Kings bounce back? Nope. The Kings barely won their first preseason game 106-102 over the Phoenix Suns at the Talking Stick Resort Arena and then lost their next three preseason games, including their most recent loss–a 132-93 blowout to the Utah Jazz, who went undefeated in the preseason.

Here are three takeaways from the Kings’ loss to the Jazz:

The Kings’ rookie factor
The Kings were the home team in this preseason game, but that didn’t mean the team–and the Golden 1 Center–left a lasting impression on their fanbase.

But if you could look past the low attendance numbers and lack of community spirit, you’ll find a few bright spots like rookie power forward Marvin Bagley III, whom the Kings selected with the second overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Bagley III posted 17 points, eight assists and one assist in 21 minutes of play. Moreover, Bagley III led all Kings in scoring, which was a great sight to see.

The Kings made a slightly controversial move when they initially selected Bagley III, a Duke product, when there was a franchise-changing young man in Deandre Ayton, who was preferred by the Phoenix Suns, but CBS Sports has reported that the Suns should’ve spent a little bit more time looking at him.

Of course, every rookie in NBA history likely has thought that he was the best player in the draft, but Bagley III has told CBS Sports that he’d embark on a long and fruitful NBA career. While it’s too early to predict Bagley III’s future, we can reassure you that he has been making headlines for the right reasons.

The Kings fall flat
Even if you didn’t watch the game, the final score should scream that the Kings fell flat and the Jazz had the upper hand.

Sacramento suffered from a complete lack of defense along with missed field goals, lay-ups and other point-blank attempts. Utah, on the other hand, excelled when it came to field goals. The Jazz converted 60 percent of their field goals, including 14 of their 30 three-point shots. The Jazz jumped out to a 39-10 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

The Kings should take notes on the Jazz, who are an up-and-coming team with rookie shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, who’s arguably the future of the Jazz. Also, Utah’s leading scorer–Ruby Gobert–finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes of play, so keep an eye out for him. In addition, Utah big men Alec Burks, Grayson Allen, Derrick Favors and Jae Crowder deserve parts of your attention for their hard work.

Buddy Buckets
Kings shooting guard Buddy Hield recorded seven points, seven assists and five rebounds in 25 minutes of play. Obviously, those aren’t above average numbers, but Hield proved that he deserves the nickname “Buddy Buckets.”

Hield’s steal and slam in the second half was a noteworthy moment for the Kings, who qualified for a positive moment following the awful first half. Hield’s game has shown marginal improvements over time and Hield will likely become a regular starter again. Hield’s one of the Kings’ best players. Hield may not be the definite cure for the Kings’ issues, but it’s a start.

The Kings have nowhere to go, but up.

Kings Press Row Podcast: October 10, 2018

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

 

press row podcast

Hosts: Jordan “Chape” Chapin & Charlie O

  • Will the Kings make the playoffs?

  • How many games will the Kings win?

  • Is Dave Joerger’s job safe?

  • Is Vlade Divac’s job safe?

  • Will the uptempo style work for the Kings?

  • The answers to these questions and more on in less than 30 minutes!

Are the Kings the NBA’s least appealing team?

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By Morris Phillips

SACRAMENTO — The Kings have the league’s shiniest arena, enthusiastic fans, promising, young talent, and they play a pleasing, break neck pace. What’s not to like?

According to ESPN NBA journalist Zach Lowe, a bunch. Simply based on their youthfulness, and lack of proven NBA performers, most prognosticators have pegged the Kings as the league’s 30th (out of 30) most talented team.  But that doesn’t make them the least appealing to watch as well, does it?

Lowe thinks so, right down to iconic broadcaster Jerry Reynolds stepping away from his position as television color analyst after 20 seasons, replaced by Doug Christie. Sacramento basketball without Reynolds’ folksy analysis? Not good, says Lowe.

In fact, according to Lowe, only one thing can save the Kings from such a lowly distinction: De’Aaron Fox flying up and down the court at warp speed gives Sacramento basketball one, pleasing dimension. And beyond that?

Well, the Kings have the intriguing duo of Marvin Bagley III and Harry Giles, the Duke big men that possess positionless attributes. Play the pair together, Lowe says, and the Kings might have something.

In fact, in the Kings’ 132-100 wipeout of Maccabi Haifa, Giles flashed into the lane, received a pass, and seamlessly laid a no-look, behind the back pass to Bagley for the dunk. The Golden 1 Center roared its approval at the sequence.

Willie Cauley-Stein is another piece the Kings possess with appeal. But could this be tatooed, big man’s last year in Sacramento? As a restricted free agent, Cauley-Stein could be more sought after by another team seeking his size and activity in the lane.

The Kings have committed fully to their youth movement, so George Hill, who often seemed disinterested, isn’t around to drag things down. And Zach Randolph is comfortably set in his player emeritus role, so the Kings’ ball movement among the youthful core should be fluid and in keeping with how the NBA does things these days.

Iman Shumpert hasn’t recovered from injuries that have shelved him since his acquisition from the Cavaliers mid-way through last season. But he’s a welcome presence for no other reason than his wife, Teyana Taylor, is hotter than any other player’s wife. Have you seen the video vixen’s explosive performance in Kanye West’s video for his song “Fade”? Can’t label that unappealing, that’s for sure.

Ultimately, what will make the Kings appealing is winning ballgames. Too often, last season, Sacramento games played out like exhibitions with the Kings falling behind, and playing little or no defense. Close, competitive games will make the Kings watchable without a doubt.

GAME NOTES: Buddy Hield led the Kings with 22 points in 27 minutes in their win over Maccabi Haifa. Seven Kings finished in double figures with Giles (16 points, seven rebounds) and Justin Jackson (18 points) the next, most prolific performers. The Kings’ issues with opponents’ physicality disappeared for a night as Sacramento outrebounded Maccabi Haifa 47-36 while totaling a whopping 64 points in the paint.

Maccabi Haifa was paced by former Stanford star and Atlanta Hawk Josh Childress, who had 18 points. Kennedy Meeks (North Carolina) and Scott Machado (Iona) chipped in 17 and 15 points, respectively.

UP NEXT: The Kings wrap up pre-season action with Thursday’s home game against the Utah Jazz at 7:00 pm PT followed by a trip to Portland to face the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on Friday at 7:00 pm PT.

Th Kings’ regular season opener is set for October 17 at 7:00 pm PT against the Jazz at the Golden 1 Center.

Kings get crushed by the Warriors in Seattle 122-94

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SEA BUDDY
Hield moves the ball while KD can only watch Photo: @SacramentoKings

By Charlie O. Mallonee

There are many things that can be said about the Kings’ 122-94 loss to the Warriors on Friday night in Seattle. It was the second game of a back-to-back schedule on the road. Sacramento went from playing “King James” and the Lakers on Thursday to having to face the World Champion Golden State Warriors on Friday night. The team didn’t even get to check into the hotel in Seattle until 3:00 AM on Friday morning.

That is a rough schedule. Welcome to the NBA, men. None of that is an excuse for losing–let alone for getting blown out and having the game’s outcome be decided by the end of the first half.

Klay Thompson was the slayer of the Kings in the game. Thompson put up 19 points on Sacramento in the first quarter. He connected on 5-of-8 shots from behind the arc. He  would finish with 30 points for the game.

Preseason games are never known for their defense but giving up 74 points in the first half is unacceptable no matter when it happens. The Warriors shot 51.6-percent (47/91) for the game. The Warriors’ 3-point shooting did slow down and they finished with a 35.5-shooting percentage.

The Kings next practice will no doubt emphasize the defensive elements of the game.

How did they perform?

  • Harry Giles III lead the Kings in scoring with 17 points in just over 20 minutes of playing time. He also pulled down five rebounds.
  • Skal Labissiere had a better game on Friday night. He scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added two assists in his 26-plus minutes on the floor.
  • Willie Cauley-Stein also dropped in 10 points and cleaned seven rebounds off the glass.
  • Frank Mason scored 10 points and added seven assists in his 19 minutes of action.
  • Justin Jackson had a better night on offense as he recorded eight points. Marvin Bagley III also added eight points plus nine rebounds.
  • Buddy Hield, De’Aaron Fox and Ben McLemore scored seven points apiece.
  • The Kings shot 34.7-percent (34/98) from the field for the game. They did shoot a very decent 45.8-percent (11/24) from 3-point range. Sacramento went to the free throw line 21 times and converted 15 of those opportunities.

Up Next

The Kings will return to action on Monday night in Sacramento when they will play their annual preseason game with Maccabi Haifa. That game is scheduled for a 7:00 PM tipoff.

SEA
Key Arena will be gutted and completely remodeled Photo: @SacramentoKings

Warriors rout the Kings 122-94 for preseason win in Seattle

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Photo credit: @warriors

By: Ana Kieu

The Golden State Warriors returned to the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington for the first time since 2007. It was a long time coming for the Warriors, who took on the Sacramento Kings in a preseason game in the Emerald City. There was a sellout crowd, and that wasn’t the only thing that got the Warriors fired up. Warriors star Kevin Durant recently said that Seattle is a basketball city that deserves an NBA team. In case you need a refresher, Durant was selected second overall by the ex-Seattle SuperSonics and spent the 2007-08 NBA season with the SuperSonics.

The Warriors tweaked their starters with Tyler Ulis, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Marcus Derrickson and Damian Jones. All these five starters made a positive impact on the court.

Just moments after the tip-off, Thompson opened the scoring with a 3-pointer that sparked Golden State’s 10-0 run early in the first quarter. Durant picked up where he left off. Other players like Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell added some points to the scoreboard. The Warriors led the Kings 39-18 at the end of the first.

Golden State resumed their 3-pointer streak in the second quarter. In other news, Shaun Livingston picked up a dime and handed it to Jonas Jerebko, who threw it down, late in the second. Durant then got the slam before the buzzer to close out the first half. The Warriors brought a 74-44 lead to the locker room at halftime.

Thompson and Durant continued to dominate to kick things off in the third quarter. Durant also notched the alley and Damian Jones collected the oop. Durant later knocked down yet another 3-pointer to give himself 26 points on the night, The Warriors put the game out of reach with a 102-69 lead over the Kings at the end of the third.

Bell made plenty of jumpers in the fourth quarter. Also, Thompson refused to back down as he threw down more 3-pointers late in the fourth. The Warriors had this preseason game from start to finish and downed the Kings 122-94.

Durant proved to the critics that he was still a big deal in Seattle. Durant finished with 26 points, six rebounds ans assists. Moreover, Thompson was just as a big deal as he recorded 30 points, 10-for-15 field goals and 6-for-10 3-point field goals.

Notes
According to the NBA GMs, the title of best pure shooter in the league came down to four NBA players. Three of them were Warriors players.

Up Next
The Warriors return home to host the Phoenix Suns in a preseason game on Monday, October 8 at 7:30 pm PT on NBA TV.

Lakers pull away in the final minute to beat the Kings 128-123 Thursday night

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Swipa vs LA
Mr. Fox put up a quick 18 points in the game Photo: @SacramentoKings

By Charlie O. Mallonee

Thursday night was an exciting night for NBA starved basketball fans in Sacramento. The Kings traveled to Los Angeles to take on King James and the Lakers in a preseason affair. The keyword in that sentence is “preseason.”

The number one goal in a preseason game is not to win. Now, these are professional athletes, and they hate to lose at anything, anytime. However, the preseason is about getting players working together, learning the playbook, seeing how different combinations play as a unit, and deciding who make the open spots on the roster.

Understanding those parameters explains the final score of 128-123 with the Lakers coming out on top. There were moments where defense came into play, but it certainly did not look like the type of defense you will see in the regular season. No one wants to go into the regular season battered and bruised.

Kings

  • Marvin Bagley III led the Kings with 19 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes on the floor.
  • De’Aaron Fox put on quite a show, scoring 18 points and dishing five assists in just 18 minutes of playing time.
  • Buddy Hield recorded 16 points in just 20 minutes of PT. Hield hit 4-of-8 from 3-point range.
  • Harry Giles III posted 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 24-plus minutes.
  • Wenyen Gabriel was the Kings’ other double-digit scorer with 10 points.
  • Sacramento shot 45.5-percent (45/99) from the field; 41.9-percent (13/31) from beyond the arc and hauled in 41 rebounds (9 offensive boards). The had 27 assists and turned the ball over 15 times.
MBIII vs LA
MBIII5 led Kings in scoring Photo: @SacramentoKings

Lakers

  • Brandon Ingram led the Lakers scoring attack with 31 points and nine rebounds. After the game, King James praised Ingram for his performance and effort.
  • Speaking of the King, he put in 18 points in just over 15 minutes on the court. James played some time at the five spot for the Lakers in the game.
  • Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart scored 17 points each.
  • Los Angeles shot 52.6-percent (41/78) from the floor and 30-percent (6/30) from long-range. The pulled down 48 rebounds, had 19 assists and turned the ball over 18 times.

In typical preseason fashion, there were 24 lead changes in the contest and the game was tied 12 times.

Up Next

The Kings will be back on the floor Friday night in Seattle to take on the Golden State Warriors. The Seattle fans will be anxious to see Kevin Durant. They will also have a chance to see a Kings team that almost moved to Seattle.

The Lakers host the Clippers on Saturday night.

Harry meet the King
Mr. Giles meets the Kings Photo: @SacramentoKings

This Yogi knows when it’s over as Kings get 106-102 victory over Suns

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sacramentobee.com photo: The Sacramento Kings Yogi Ferrell leads the way with 26 points in the Kings first preseason victory in Phoenix against the Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Monday night

By Jerry Feitelberg and Morris Phillips

The Sacramento Kings Yogi Ferrell found his way to the bucket enough times to help get a preseason win for the Kings with 26 points. Ferrell, who played two seasons for the Dallas Mavericks, was signed by the Kings as a free agent in the offseason.

The Kings’ three-pointers were also falling, hitting 11-of-25 for 44 percent. The Kings were glad to notch this victory at Talking Stick Resort Arena for their first road victory and first game of the preseason 106-102. On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns were lacking with the three-point attempts, going 3-for-22.

Ferrell came off the bench in this contes,  but with the most minutes of any Kings player of the night, he shined with his intensive ability to find the hoop inside and out staying in the contest with the hot hand at 30 minutes. The Kings’ Willie Cauley-Stein also contributed huge with double digits in both the first and second halves of the game.

Stein went 7-for-11 and finished with 14 points, hitting baskets from the mid-range and in the inside, his 12 rebounds was the team-high for the contest. Head coach Dave Joerger had 15 players ready to play with Bogdan Bogdanovic and three players sat out.

The King opted not to use Zach Randolph, who out of the 11 players who got time, Randolph is a regular and a veteran and is expected to make the team. Of the 11 players used, they averaged 19 minutes with the exception of Wenyen Gabriel, who played for only two minutes.

Morris Phillips and Jerry Feitelberg cover the NBA for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings: Bogdanovic left knee procedure goes well; back in four to six weeks

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Serbia vs Greece
Bogdanovic goes to the hoop versus Greece in the World Cup Qualifier

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Sacramento Kings second-year guard Bogdan Bogdanovic underwent what the team called a “minor” arthroscopic procedure on his left knee Thursday in New York City. The procedure was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery by Dr. Riley Williams. The reports are the procedure was successful and Bogdanovic should be able to return to game action in four to six weeks.

Based on the four to six weeks estimate, that means Bogdanovic would miss all of the preseason games and the season opener with the Jazz. If he were to need the full six weeks to recover and rehab, the Kings star guard might not be available until November 4th versus the Hawks on the road in Atlanta.

Bogdanovic injured the knee in a game on September 17th while playing for the Serbian National team versus Estonia in a World Cup Qualifying game. Bogdanovic reported experiencing discomfort in his left knee early in the first quarter of that game, which Serbia won 91-65.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Raiders open up regular season on MNF; The shock waves of the Khalil Mack trade; plus more

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Photo credit: @steverosenbloom

On the Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 The Oakland Raiders open up their regular season this Monday night September 10th at the Oakland Coliseum. There are lots of expectations for the Raiders on the primetime show.

#2 The talk throughout the NFL is the Khalil Mack trade to the Chicago Bears and getting a record $114 million deal. London discusses how this will work out for the Bears.

#3 Trump says that Nike is sending a “terrible message” with the Colin Kaepernick ad. Trump still doesn’t see unequal treatment and police brutality going on in the African American and Latino/Hispanic communities.

#4 The San Jose Earthquakes, who took a tough 2-1 loss last Saturday in Vancouver, have another two months worth of soccer left with only three wins for the season. Can they make the best of it or will they just go through the motions and suffer through it?

#5 After former Sacramento Kings player DeMarcus Cousins left Sacramento, who will carry the Kings this season? Willie Cauley-Stein, Skal Labissiere, Bogdan Bogdanovic, D’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, or another player to be named later?

London Marq does the Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com