Category: Sacramento Kings

Clippers Powell leads with 31 pts and 12 rebounds beat Kings 107-98 at Golden One

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Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) drives on the Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) and forward Domantas Sabonis (11) on a pick in first half action at the Golden One Center in Sacramento on Fri Nov 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Friday night. The Kings last played on Wednesday as they defeated the Toronto Raptors. On Friday, they were set to welcome the LA Clippers. The tip-off was set for 7 PM PST on Friday night. The Kings lost the game to the Clippers 107-98.

In the first quarter, the Kings got off to a slow start offensively. At the 6:20 mark of the first, the Kings trailed 19-11. The Kings’ offense couldn’t get into any rhythm to put pressure on the Clippers’ defense. The rest of the quarter, the Kings tried to battle but couldn’t make up much ground.

The quarter ended with the Kings down 34-28. One thing that stood out was the free throw discrepancy: the Kings shot three free throws in the first quarter compared to the Clippers’ 11.

In the second quarter, the Kings continued to play sloppy basketball. The Kings weren’t firing on all cylinders on the defensive end, which led to missed assignments and easy buckets for the Clippers. The Kings’ and the Clippers’ offenses both came to a standstill in the second quarter, with each team scoring 17 points. The Kings trailed the Clippers 51-45 heading into halftime. Norman Powell led the Clippers in the first half with 18 points, while the Kings’ leading scorer was De’Aaron Fox with 12 points.

In the third quarter, it was more of the same uninspiring basketball. The Kings scored 28 points in the third as the Clippers managed 27 points. However, the Kings continued to trail as they couldn’t string together good possessions with any stops. The Kings were shooting an abysmal 2/22 from three through the first three quarters. Could the Kings pick up the offensive end of the floor to come back? They trailed 78-73 going into the fourth.

In the final quarter of action, the Kings failed to mount a comeback. The Kings played hard, but ultimately, some well-timed three-pointers from the LA Clippers sealed the fate of the Kings. The Kings managed to get the game to within four points with a few minutes remaining to show a sign of life.

However, the three-ball started falling for the Clippers as they shut down the run to win 107-98. The Kings’ leading scorer in defeat was Fox, who scored 33 points. Norman Powell led the Clippers in victory as he cooked the Kings with 31 points.

After the game, coach Mike Brown stressed the need to take more three-point shots, regardless of the team’s 3-26 performance. “I would really like our guys to take at least ten more… we left a few shots on the floor we could have taken.”

Up Next: The Kings head on the road to take on the Phoenix Suns on Sunday at 5 PM PST at Footprint Arena in Phoenix.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings host Clippers tonight at Golden One Center

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The Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Abaji (left) defends against the Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray in first half action at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Wed Nov 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Sacramento Kings DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points fired up the Kings with a record setting job in defeating the Toronto Raptors 122-107 on Wednesday night at Golden One Center.

#2 Domantas Sabonis had his third triple double of the season going with 17 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds. Sabonis was six for six from the field and shot a perfect five for five from the free throw line.

#3 Keegan Murray chipped in with 22 points and 12 rebounds and De’Aaron Fox shot for 21 points. DeRozan has scored already 20 points in his first eight games in Sacramento.

#4 Fox played a tough defensive game for the Kings on Wednesday. Fox has been suffering a finger injury going 5 for 17 and was only 2 for 8 on three pointers.

#5 The Kings have won five of their last six games and host the Los Angeles Clippers (4-4) tonight at Golden One in Sacramento. The Clippers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night 110-98. The Clippers after losing three straight loses have won two games in row going into tonight’s game.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the Kings podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings sink Raptors 122-107; DeRozan leads Sac with 27 points

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Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) defends as the Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett (9) reaches for a rebound in the first half at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Wed Nov 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Wednesday night, playing their first game since returning from a four-game road trip. Their trip included stops in Utah, Atlanta, Toronto, and Miami, where they went 3-1, improving their season record to 4-3.

The Kings returned home on Wednesday to face the Toronto Raptors at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, with tip-off set for 7 PM PST. The Kings defeated the Raptors 122-107 Wednesday night.

In the first quarter, the Raptors jumped out to an early lead, scoring 33 points, led by Chris Boucher and RJ Barrett, who combined for 22 points. These two quickly made themselves known as “Kings killers” in Sacramento.

The Kings’ offense managed 30 points in the first quarter, led by Keegan Murray with 12 points. The Kings seemed to start slow in both games they had played against the Raptors to open the 2024 season.

In the second quarter, the Kings’ defense picked up the pace, holding the Raptors to only 21 points. Meanwhile, the Kings scored 27 points to take a 57-54 lead into halftime. Solid adjustments made in the second quarter raised the question of whether they could continue to limit the Raptors’ offense in the second half. Keegan Murray led the Kings in first-half scoring with 14 points, while RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 14 points.

In the third quarter, the Kings’ defense faltered again, struggling to find rhythm in defensive shifts, allowing the Raptors to retake the lead. The Kings scored a respectable 32 points, but the Raptors scored 39, leading 93-89 going into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings took control. DeMar DeRozan and the Kings’ offense dominated, outscoring the Raptors 33-24 to secure a 122-107 victory and improve to 5-3 on the season. DeRozan led the Kings with 27 points, while RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 23 points in defeat.

Kings head coach Mike Brown had high praise for Keegan Murray, who finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds in the game. “His transformation is all about him and his work ethic. His will and determination to become the best possible player he can be… Look out for Keegan Murray,” Coach Brown said of Murray after the win.

The Kings will aim to keep up the momentum on Friday as they take on the LA Clippers at Golden 1 Center, with tip-off set for 7 PM PST.

Kings Blowup In Third Quarter Hanging On To Beat Miami Heat 111-110

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The Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) defends against the Miami Heat Bam Adebayo (13) in the first half at Miami on Mon Nov 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (4-3) trailed after the first quarter, they trailed at the half in their game with the Miami Heat (3-3). They caught fire in the third quarter outscoring the Heat 37-17 and hung on to win the game 111-110.

De’Aaron Fox led the charge in the third quarter scoring 16 points. Domantas Sabonis had another double double in this amazing win. They have now improved to 4-3 on the season winning three games on this four game road trip.

Game recap: After the first 12 minutes of play, the Kings were trailing by a single basket 22-25. It had been a competitive quarter. The second quarter was not a great one for the Kings and at the half, the Heat had taken a 61-48 lead.

Miami had closed the first half with a 13 to 1 flurry. They outscored the Kings by ten points in the second quarter 36-26. It was a lackluster first half for Sacramento. The Kings were 3 of 14 from downtown while the Heat were 11-20.

They seemed at times that they were having trouble communicating defensively. They did protect the ball well with six turnovers in the half. The huge problem for Sacramento was the 21% accuracy from beyond the arc.

The Heat on the other hand were shooting 55% from downtown. The Kings had hit 3 three’s and the Heat scored 11 of 20. Sacramento had numerous open shots but just couldn’t hit them. The Kings had a bit of an uphill challenge in front of them but they tend to rise to the occasion when they are behind the eight ball.

They needed to play with urgency in the second half but without fouling. The Kings needed someone to get hot in the third quarter and it would not be long before we found out who that someone was.

The Kings came off the critical list at 8:58 going on a 9-0 run and pulling to within six points 57-63. It took nearly three quarters but at 3:09 Sacramento took the lead 77-76. The Kings continued to dominate the quarter going on a 12-0 run taking an 85-77 lead with 24 ticks left on the clock.

Sacramento had outscored the Heat 37-17 in an incredible turnaround. Fox was responsible for this huge third quarter comeback scoring 16 points. They took a 85-78 lead into the fourth quarter. Sabonis kept it clean in the third quarter with the three fouls drawn in the first half as did Malik Monk who had four fouls in the opening half.

The Heat began to creep back into the game cutting the Kings lead to three points 85-82 at 11:26. The game had a wild ending. When it looks as though the Heat would pull this one out, DeMar DeRozan hit a three plus a foul and it was a one point game, the Kings trailing 107-108 with less than a minute left in the game. Sabonis made a 9-foot two point shot with 0.7 giving the Kings the lead 111-110. After this physical brutal game, Sacramento was able to pull this one out.

When the dust had settled on this game four of the Kings starters had four personals along with bench player Monk who also had four but each of them was able to hold on and continue to play a physical game.

The high for the Kings was Fox with 28 points and six rebounds who spurred the Kings climbing back into this game after the first half. DeRozan finished with 26 points. Sabonis had a double double with 16 rebounds and 16 points.

Keegan Murray had 14 points and six rebounds. Monk finished with 14 points and the Kings had a 3-1 record on this road trip. Three road wins on any road trip is no small feat. After being down significantly these guys did not give up, they found a way to win. Everyone on the team had a hand in this game.

Game notes: Monday night the Kings took on the Heat. The Kings had a tough three-point loss in overtime to the Toronto Raptors Saturday night 131-128. Despite some impressive stats, the Kings were off. The turnovers were troublesome with 18 and second and third chance balls would not fall.

A lot of credit goes to the Raptors who did play a very impressive game with RJ Barrett going off for 31 points. The Kings did not get a lot of stops which hurt them throughout the game. The Raptors dictated play from the get go and it was not the case in Monday night’s game.

The Heat have a deep starting roster with Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier and Nikola Jovic. Saturday night Bam Adebayo was the top guy scoring 32 points, last Wednesday it was Tyler Herro with 34 points and last Monday it was Jimmy Butler who had the high score for the team with 23 points.

The Kings have now won three of their last four games. Unfortunately Kevin Huerter missed his second game of the season for the Kings due to a non-covid related illness. The Kings arrived in Miami three hours late Sunday due to various issues on the tarmac but they did get Sunday off and were rested and won Monday night.

The Kings will now return home getting another crack at the Toronto Raptors looking for a little payback on Wednesday night. That game will take place at Golden 1 Center with tipoff scheduled for Wednesday at 7:00 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings tip off against Heat tonight in Miami

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The Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis scored his 60th career triple double against the Toronto Raptors on Mon Nov 4, 2024 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto (Sacramento Kings X photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Toronto Raptors RJ Barrett was the top scorer with 31 points as the Sacramento Kings were defeated 131-128. The Kings just couldn’t keep Barrett down he was just hitting his shot on Saturday night.

#2 Barrett’s teammates were also able to connect with the bucket Ochai Agbaji scored a season high of 22 points and teammate Grady Dick had 22 points as well and it was challenging for the Kings who kept up with the Raptors.

#3 In spite of the loss the Kings Domantas Sabonis chalked up his 60th triple double had 17 points, 20 rebounds, and ten assists but the Kings fell short and ended their three game win streak.

#4 Former Raptor DeMar DeRozan missed two three pointers in the last minute of the game but scored 33 points.

#5 The Kings take on the Miami Heat on Monday night in Miami with a 5:15pm PST. The Heat have won three of their last four games including their last game Monday night defeating the Washington Wizards 118-98. Talk about how you see the Kings and Heat match tonight?

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

Kings Lose Thriller In Overtime to Raptors 131-128; Sac ends 3 game win streak

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Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji (30) drives on the Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) in first half action at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Sat Nov 2, 2024. (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (3-3) had a slow start as they took on the Toronto Raptors (2-5) losing in overtime 131-128. The Raptors led for most of the game but Sacramento was able to tie up the game in the fourth quarter as the clock ran out.

They had so many opportunities throughout this game as well as in the overtime but just couldn’t cash in. DeMar DeRozan had a season high of 33 points. Domantas Sabonis had a triple double and Keegan Murray finished with a double double before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Game recap: It was a most entertaining first quarter with a multitude of lead changes. This game could not have been closer and the game was tied with 2:28 at 24. The Raptors were having some success off the bench with ten points scored.

As the first 12 minutes expired Toronto had dictated the pace of the game and had taken a 37-29 lead. The Raptors bench player Chris Boucher was the only player on the court with double digits .

He had hit most of the final 17 points scored by the Raptors in the quarter finishing with 12 points. Sacramento had poor ball protection in the quarter with five turnovers. Trailing by eight points, the Kings had some work to do.

The Raptors continued to extend their lead going into the second quarter. Injuries to the versatile wing Scottie Barnes and multi-faceted Kelly Olynyk had not hurt the Raptors so far in the game.

The Kings continued to bring up the rear trailing 59-49 with 4:50 left in the first half of play. Sacramento needed some sort of rally in the worst way and they did close a 12 point deficit significantly, cutting the Raptor lead to three points trailing at the half 63-66.

Sacramento had gone on an eight point run. Keegan Murray and De’Aaron Fox had begun to heat up and Malik Monk off the bench was the high score for the team with 15 points.

There was a special event on the floor at halftime. Vince Carter was honored for a remarkable career as he became the first Raptor to have his number 15 jersey retired. The entire arena celebrated this legend, this icon with thunderous applause. An emotional Carter fought back tears as he was introduced in this milestone moment in Raptor history. Canada finally had their very own Superstar when Carter came on the scene.

After the ceremony the third quarter got underway. The start of the quarter was a see-saw until the Raptors went on a run taking a ten-point lead to finish the quarter leading 96-86. They continued to control the pace going into the fourth quarter. Sacramento did pull to within two points but the Raptors went on yet another run and trailing by ten points, the Kings were unable to get over the top in this game.

The Raptors were out-rebounding the Kings, killing them from outside and also barely winning the battle from the field. This young Toronto team was giving the Kings all kinds of trouble and their record hardly indicates the talent that this team has.

They had been very impressive through three quarters. With 2:58 left in the game, the score was 111-110 in favor of the Raptors. The Kings had made their run and needed to sustain their effort and finally take the lead.

Toronto refused to back down taking their lead back to 113-110. Sacramento pushed back trailing by a single point 112-113. When it all was looking good for the Kings, Toronto hit another three, their 16th of the game.

This game was going down to the wire with Sacramento continuing to play catchup as Toronto hit their 17th three. With 28 ticks left on the clock it was a one-point game. Domantas Sabonis made a tip shot to tie up this game at 120 when the clock ran out. The game went into overtime and unfortunately, Keegan Murray had fouled out of the game at the end of the fourth quarter.

The Raptors got a solid start in overtime scoring a couple of buckets taking a 124-120 lead. With nine seconds left on the clock, Toronto’s RJ Barrett missed two free throws and the door was open for the Kings to tie up this game trailing 128-131. De’Aaron Fox closed the door missing a 27-foot jumper and the final score was 131-128 in favor of the Raptors.

This was a tough loss for the Kings. They had 18 turnovers and at times disappointing rebounding coupled with missed shots. DeMar DeRozan bettered his season high of 27 last night finishing with 33 points in this game. De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points and unfortunately missed the shot that counted the most in the final seconds. Malik Monk had 21 points off the bench

Game notes: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto Friday night the Kings hung on for their third win in a row beating the Atlanta Hawks 123-115 and couldn’t win their their fourth win in a row. They took to the court without Kevin Huerter who will be replaced by Doug McDermott in the starting lineup.

Huerter is out of the lineup missing his first game of the season with a non-covid illness. DeMar DeRozan received huge applause from fans in attendance welcoming him back on his former home court. He was a member of the Raptors from 2009-2018.

He had a special moment with former Toronto superstar Vince Carter who played for the Raptors from 1998-2004 and was the first Raptor to have his number retired. That jersey retirement ceremony took place at halftime. As far as the Raptor injury list, Scottie Barnes and Kelly Olynyk did not take the court. Bruce Brown and defender Immanuel Quickley rounded out the list for Toronto.

Monday night, the Kings will be in Miami taking on the Heat. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 5:15 PM.

Kings Win Third In a Row Beating the Hawks 123-115

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Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) battles for the basketball with the Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Fri Oct 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (3-2) led throughout the first three quarters in their game with the Atlanta Hawks (2-4). They led by double digits through much of those three quarters. Atlanta’s Trae Young got a major slow start but caught fire in the second half and finished with 25 points.

Game recap: The Hawks tied up the game 109 apiece with six minutes left in the game but De’Aaron Fox more than matched Young shot for shot scoring 11 points. He finished the game with 31 points and DeMar DeRozan had 27 points. Domantas Sabonis had a double double with 14 rebounds and 15 points. Sacramento stubbornly hung on to win this hard fought game.

The Kings got a fast start in the opening quarter leading by as much as 14 points but the Hawks hung around as the quarter ran out. Atlanta cut the Kings lead in half after the first 12 minutes as Sacramento hung onto a 33-26 lead.

Shots from the field were fairly even with the Kings shooting around 45% while the Hawks shot at almost 42% in a close matchup. The Kings hit five three’s in the first quarter with only three turnovers. This was a great start for the team although they would be aiming to push their lead back out.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Sacramento did indeed push their lead back out taking a 45-28 lead at 9:15. Both De’Aaron Fox and bench player Keon Ellis had ten points apiece in the first quarter and would be looking for more as the first half of play went deeper.

Atlanta continued to challenge pushing back getting some solid play from their bench but unable to keep pace with the Kings. Again the Hawks erased the Kings double digit lead although Sacramento pushed it back out to double digits at the half 69-59. Sacramento had barely outscored the Hawks in the second quarter 36-33.

Sacramento led after three quarters 102-90 but the fourth quarter got very interesting. After trailing by as much as 18 points in this game, the Hawks made a huge push tying up this game at 5:51, 109 apiece. The Kings took a 118-112 lead with under three minutes left in the game and Sacramento would have to fight for this game.

Kevin Huerter had missed far too many buckets under the basket, too many easy layups. With under a minute left in the game, the Kings were hanging onto a 122-115 lead. The Hawks kept threatening answering the Kings basket for basket as this game went down to the wire. With 26 ticks left on the clock the Kings had a 123-115 lead which would be the final score.

Every Sacramento starter had double digits along with bench player Keon Ellis who finished with 12 points. The Kings had 11 three’s but the Hawks had a great second half hitting 19 shots from downtown.

Garrison Matthews hit 7 of 13 and Keaton Wallace was 50% from downtown going 4 of 8. They had a great second half of basketball but the Kings set the pace early in the game and hung on for the win.

Game notes: Friday evening, the Kings took on the Hawks at State Farm Arena. After a bit of a slow start on the season, the Kings won their last two games against the Trail Blazers last Monday 111-98 followed by a win over the Utah Jazz Tuesday 113-96 to even their season record at 2-2.

Friday night the Kings extended their game winning streak to three games. Although being favored in this contest, the Kings went into this game with determination and purpose, not taking any team lightly. The good news for Sacramento was that there were no injured players on their injury report.

Saturday night the Kings continue their road trip taking on the Toronto Raptors. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 4:30pm PT. Scottie Banks is the threat for Toronto averaging 19 points per game. Sacramento will be hungry for their fourth straight win.

Kings Clock First Road Win At the Expense of the Jazz 113-96

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Utah Jazz guard Patty Mills (8) reaches for the basketball with the Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) and forward Trey Lyles (41) defending, and the Jazz forward John Collins (20) in foreground at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Tue Oct 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings got going early and they continued to compete at a high level for the entire game. They outscored the Jazz in the first three quarters with the final score 113-96.

The bench got to play the final four minutes of the game with the exception of Malik Monk, Keon Ellis and Trey Lyles who played extended minutes. Domantas Sabonis turned in another double double with 28 points and 11 rebounds. This was the Kings first road win and the win leveled their season to 2-2.

Game recap: The Kings got a jump start on the Jazz in the first quarter of play leading 34-22 after the opening 12 minutes. Utah challenged the Kings in the second quarter of play outscoring Sacramento 30-27. The Kings took a 61-52 lead into the locker room at the half.

Sacramento came into the second half extending their lead 75-60 mid-way through the quarter. The Kings had their entire starting roster already at double digits with 1 1/2 quarters left in the game.

Domantas Sabonis was leading the way through 2 1/2 quarters with another double double, 22 points and ten rebounds. With under one minute left in the third quarter Sacramento had taken a 24 point lead.

The Kings kept the pressure on Utah the entire quarter outscoring the Jazz in the quarter 29-14 shooting at 52% from the field to the Jazz’s 34% and leading going into the fourth quarter 90-66. Through three quarters the Kings had protected the ball well with only ten turnovers.

Sacramento really poured it on in the fourth quarter taking as much as a 27 point lead. The last few minutes saw the Kings bench take the court to finish off Utah. Sacramento had 24 second chance points to the Jazz’s 12.

The Jazz did win the final quarter 30-23 but the Kings had such a huge lead it made little difference. The game final was 113-96 as Sacramento picked up their first road win and leveled their season record to 2-2.

Sacramento was shooting lights out in this game. Domantas Sabonis shot the high for the Kings with a double double, 28 points and 11 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan finished with 20 points closely followed by De’Aaron Fox with 19 points.

Every starter finished with double digits in a well-played game . The Kings dominated the entire night against a young Utah team. After such a rough pre-season and losing the first two games of the regular season, the wins Tuesday night and last night were signs of the turnaround this team is experiencing. This was not unexpected; it was just a matter of time.

The high for the Jazz was Jordan Clarkson who scored 21 points. The Jazz lost ace Lauri Markkanen who had to leave the floor at halftime with lower back spasms, a crushing blow for Utah when he was unable to return in the second half. Utah is still looking for their first win of the season after losing their first four starts.

Game notes: Tuesday night the Kings defeated the Jazz in Utah after winning their first game of the season Monday night beating the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98. De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan both had productive games as DeRozan seems to be settling into the starting lineup very nicely. The Jazz dropped their third game in a row losing to the Dallas Mavericks 110-102 Monday night. Sacramento handed Utah their fifth loss in a row Monday night.

Sacramento will have a few days off before returning to the court on Friday night taking on the Hawks in Atlanta. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM.

Kings Dominate Trail Blazers in first win of season, Flexing Their Potential 111-98

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Photo: Kings Forward #10 DeMar SeRozan taking a shot over Trail Blazer Guard #1 Anfernee Simons (by Mauricio Segura Golden Bay Times/Sports Radio Service)

By Mauricio Segura

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings kicked off their first season win with flair, cruising to a commanding 111-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Golden 1 Center on Monday night.

From tip-off to the final buzzer, the Kings ran the show, never trailing and making an early statement that they’re a team to keep on your radar this season. With a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, Sacramento gave fans a preview of the exciting potential that lies ahead.

The Kings came out strong in the first quarter, outpacing Portland 25-20. Domantas Sabonis set the tone early, dominating the boards and orchestrating the offense. Sabonis flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. New addition DeMar DeRozan, picked up in the offseason, looked right at home in Sacramento’s system. He led all scorers with 23 points, drawing fouls at will and sinking 9 of 10 free throws.

The third quarter proved to be the turning point. Sacramento exploded with a 21-4 run, transforming a close game into a one-sided affair. Sabonis ran the show from the high post, while Keegan Murray knocked down timely buckets to stretch the lead to 24 points. Portland had no answers, getting outscored 38-28 in the third as the Kings locked in and put the game out of reach.

Portland’s rookie guard Scoot Henderson flashed his potential with 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds, but he lacked the consistent support needed to mount a serious challenge. Deandre Ayton made his presence felt with 20 points and 11 rebounds, but their efforts weren’t enough to stop Sacramento’s well-balanced attack.

Kings head coach Mike Brown praised his team’s all-around effort, saying, “The way we shared the ball and played for each other tonight is exactly the kind of energy we need.”

On the other side, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups acknowledged the growing pains with his revamped squad. “Sacramento had us on our heels all night. That run they made was the difference; we’ve got to learn how to respond better,” Billups said.

With their first win in the books, the Kings aim to carry this momentum into tougher games ahead, signaling they’re ready to build on last season’s playoff success. As for the Blazers, they’ll head back to Portland looking to regroup and smooth out the wrinkles in their lineup as their new-look squad takes shape.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings looking for that first win host Blazers tonight at Golden One

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) attempts a lay up against the Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) and Kevin Huerter (right) at Golden One Center Sacramento on Sun Oct 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento Kings (0-2) lost another close contest to the Los Angeles Lakers (3-0) 131-127. They trailed for almost all of the second half but had an amazing third quarter. 

#2 The Lakers scored 14 unanswered points in the first two minutes of the final quarter. Sacramento has really shown some positive signs however in the early going of the season and really look to be turning the corner. 

#3 After the first 12 minutes of play the Lakers had a slim 28-26 lead. The second quarter was a rough one for the Kings as the Lakers scored 12 unanswered points taking a 40-26 lead.

#4 With under a minute it was a two point game 125-123. The Lakers Anthony Davis hit a three to push the lead to 128-123. The Kings fought hard but again came up short, the final score 131-127.

#5 Monday the Kings will head back home for a date with the Portland Trailblazers looking for their first win of the season. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Barbara Mason does the Sacramento Kings podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com