Category: Sacramento Kings

Kings Sabonis adds those double doubles his 61st in row defeats the Nets 107-77

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Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) and Keegan Murray forward (13) exchange congratulations against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Sun Apr 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

BROOKLYN, NY. — With only a handful of games left in the regular season, Sunday night’s game at Barclays Center mattered for the Sacramento Kings and they played like it did, dominating the Brooklyn Nets 107-77 and regaining the eighth seed.

Sacramento’s 30-point blowout win came after back-to-back road losses that caused them to slip to the ninth seed in the Western Conference.

“Our guys did what they were supposed to do tonight,” said Kings head coach Mike Brown. “Obviously Brooklyn was short-handed and our guys came in and did a heck of a job defending. What I always say, ‘Let’s play physical’. Our guys did it.”

De-Aaron Fox scored a team-leading 20 points and Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 20 rebounds to extend his double-doubles streak to 61 games, the seventh longest in NBA history.

The teams were in a head-to-head contest to start the first quarter, but by the end of it, Sacramento led 29-19 after Fox’s 19-foot step back jump shot with a second remaining.

In the second quarter with 4:09 to go, Sabonis made a layup and his 10th point of the game. Then with 2:22 left to go, Sabonis got the rebound on a missed layup by Trendon Watford and extended his double-doubles streak. The Kings made 51.1% of their shots from the field and 43% of their attempts from behind the arc and ended the half up 65-40.

Brooklyn made a comeback effort in the third quarter, outscoring Sacramento 24-13 and cutting the Kings’ lead to 78-64. But the Kings responded with an 18-8 run in the first half of the final quarter. Fox made an impressive two-handed alley-oop dunk with 8:23 to go to give the Kings a 86-66 lead. Sacramento surpassed 100 points with 2:49 remaining, when Kessler Edwards made a triple to put them up 102-74.

“I thought our sprays were fantastic, we were six-for-12 in sprays in the first half and I thought the second half, we continued to spray the basketball. We got good looks in that third quarter. We just couldn’t make a shot, you know,” said Brown.

“But I thought our guys tried to play the right way in the third quarter and then they figured it out in the fourth.”

The Kings shot 34% from the field, which Brown called “good basketball, doesn’t matter who you’re playing against”.

Keegan Murray, who scored 19 points, noted that “every game’s important” given the team’s spot in the standings.

“We just wanted to come out with great energy and effort and I feel like we started that and it just carried over throughout the game,” said Murray. “So I feel like if every single game we start like that, we can be well off.”

Off the bench, Trey Lyles contributed 14 points and Davion Mitchell scored 12.

“I think the main thing is, just keep working on my game. I mean, no matter if I’m playing or not playing, just keep putting the time in and keep being consistent,” said Mitchell. “I mean, shots are going to fall, I need to find a way to put two halves together but we’re going to figure that out.”

When the teams last played against each other on December 11, the Kings scored 25 three-pointers and set a franchise record in the 131-118 win at home.

The Nets (31-48) are outside of playoff contention but have been continuing to show effort. Coming off back-to-back wins, they had hoped to deliver a blow to the Kings in their penultimate home game of the season.

Sacramento had slipped off the eighth seed after consecutive losses on the road against the New York Knicks on Thursday and against the Boston Celtics on Friday. The Kings lost to the Knicks 120-109 and had a painful 101-100 loss to the Celtics after a controversial no-call in the last seconds at TD Garden.

The Kings (45-33) continue their road trip facing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday with tipoff at 5 p.m. PT.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings hope to rebound from loss on Sunday in Brooklyn

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The Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum (0) and the Sacramento Kings Trey Lyles (right) both reach for the rebound in the first half at the Boston TD Garden on Fri Apr 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Kings (44-33) faced an even greater challenge Friday night taking on the Celtics (61-16) in Boston. The loss of Malik Monk was a blow to the Kings. He suffered an MCL sprain and was declared out for four to six weeks. Friday Monk addressed the possibility of an earlier return saying that his knee is feeling a lot better than expected.

#2 After falling behind in the fourth quarter by as much as 18 points, the Kings fought back taking a one point lead 100-99 with 11 seconds left on the clock. The Celtics took back the lead 101-100 with 7.4 seconds left in the game.

#3 The Kings fought all night to come back from 18 to close the gap to one point they got help from leading scorer DeAaron Fox with 40 points and Domantas Sabonis had 16 rebounds and 16 points.

#4 The fourth quarter the Boston defense shut the Kings scoring attack down to just 17 points. The Celtics countered with 28 points in the one point win.

#5 The Kings next up are at Barclay Center in Brooklyn Sunday for a 4:30pm PDT tip. The Nets (30-47) are 11th in the Eastern Conference and battling to move up on 10th place the Atlanta Hawks. This game could be a get in the mud fight between the Kings and Nets.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the Sacramento Kings podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#3

#1

Kings Lose By a Single Point to Boston 101-100 In a Heartbreaker

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The Boston Celtics Kristaps Porzingis (8) celebrates a three pointer next to the Sacramento Kings Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half at Boston Garden on Fri Apr 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (44-33) put it all out there Friday night but lost by a single point 101-100 to the Boston Celtics (61-16). With 7.4 second left in the game the Kings had possession. They took three shots and missed every one of them. They squandered a monster opportunity. De’Aaron Fox finished with 40 points in the lose.

Game recap: The Celtics extended their lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter quickly taking a 12 point lead 64-52. The Kings would have to battle back as they had done in the second quarter. Boston went on to outscore the Kings in the quarter 30-22 leading 84-72 with 12 minutes left in the game.

After falling behind in the fourth quarter by as much as 18 points, the Kings fought back taking a one point lead 100-99 with 11 seconds left on the clock. The Celtics took back the lead 101-100 with 7.4 seconds left in the game.

This was a crazy final sequence from Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox missed a 16-foot pullup jump shot; Murray got the offensive rebound and missed a seven-foot tip shot and a third Kings rebound.

Colby Jones missed a 4-foot tip shot and that was the game. Three chances and the Kings just could not pull it out. This loss was far more disappointing than their loss last night. They had a great opportunity to beat the best team in the NBA and failed.

The Kings outscored the Celtics in the fourth quarter 28-17 but just came up short. Fox had a superior game with 40 points. Domantas Sabonis finished with another double double, 16 rebounds and 16 points. Both Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray did pick up their game a tad but 10 points from either of these guys is underperforming.

Sacramento fell into eighth place with this loss with the Lakers a half a game behind them in ninth place. The Kings are in a very shaky position right now, on a dangerous path. Luckily the Rockets are in 11th four games behind the tenth place Warriors should the Kings fall further down in the standings.

Thursday night the Kings lost to the New York Knicks after establishing a 21 point lead . The final in that game was 120-109 in favor of the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Kings had a disappointing second half of basketball.

Game notes: The Kings faced an even greater challenge Friday night taking on the Celtics in Boston. The loss of Malik Monk was a blow to the Kings. He suffered an MCL sprain and was declared out for four to six weeks. Friday Monk addressed the possibility of an earlier return saying that his knee is feeling a lot better than expected. So an early return for Monk? Only time will tell but the Kings could sure have used him on Friday night.

Sunday evening the Kings move onto Brooklyn for a game with the Nets. The Kings do not want to lose a third game in a row. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 4:30 PM.

Kings blow 21 point lead lose to Knicks 120-109 at MSG

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New York Knicks Josh Hart (3) takes to the basket against the Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis (10) and Trey Lyles (41) in the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York on Thu Apr 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK, NY. — The Sacramento Kings had their sights on beating the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2019 and held a 21-point lead at one point on Thursday – only to blow it and lose 120-109.

“We have got to figure something out, I got to do a better job to help my team out with drawing

fouls or gamesmanship,” said Kings head coach Mike Brown.

Sacramento got off to an excellent start against the Knicks, who hours earlier announced that their star forward, Julius Randle, would undergo a season-ending surgery on his right shoulder.

In the first 15 minutes of the game, the Kings went 19-for-28 and led the Knicks 46-25. But the Knicks chipped away at the lead in the second quarter and went on a 16-2 run. By halftime, the Knicks had cut the Kings’ lead to 60-52.

With 8:11 left to play in the third quarter, Donte DiVincenzo made a three-pointer to put the Knicks down only 68-62, and the crowd at MSG went wild. Then with 4:09 to go in the quarter, Josh Hart made a slam dunk to put the Knicks within three points of the Kings at 79-76.

The Knicks took control of the game in the fourth quarter. De’Aaron Fox made a triple that extended Sacamento’s lead to 95-92 with 9:55 to go. But Jalen Brunson and Hart answered back with three-pointers of their own and carried New York on a 13-0 run putting them 105-95 over Sacramento midway through the quarter. 

“I just think defensively we weren’t getting stops,” said Fox. “Outside of the first quarter, they scored over 30-points in every quarter. We weren’t good defensively.”

Domantas Sabonis made a tip shot with 5:46 left in the game to cut the Knicks’ lead to 105-97, but Brunson made back-to-back baskets to extend New York’s lead to 12 points and the Kings were unable to catch up. Brunson received “MVP” chants from fans in the Garden.

“I thought we did a nice job of getting into the paint a couple of times and we got guys lifted,” Brown said. “But when you get a guy lifted in there like Jalen does, you just got to jump into his body and see if you can get to the free throw line.”

The Kings remain in the eighth seed with only six games left in the regular season and as other teams in the Western Conference inch closer to them including the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. 

“The way that our conference is, you could win one or two games and be in six, you could lose one or two games and be in nine,” Fox said. “So obviously I think we let one get away, but we have to be focused on tomorrow,” Fox said.

The Kings (44-32) continue their roadtrip against the Boston Celtics (60-16) on Friday with tipoff at 4:30 p.m. PT, before returning to New York City to face the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. PT.

Sabonis unstoppable 22 points 20 rebounds as Kings defeat Clippers 127-106

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Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (10) center drives on the Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (right) in first half action at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Tue Apr 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Tuesday night inside Golden One Center. The Kings were coming off an off day on Monday after playing on Sunday at home. On Sunday, the Kings defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in blowout fashion, 127-106.

The Clippers were also coming off a win on Sunday. The Clippers defeated the Hornets in Charlotte by the final 130-118. The Kings and Clippers were set for tip-off on Tuesday at 7 PM PST. The Kings defeated the Clippers 109-95 on Tuesday night in front of a sold-out crowd.

In the first quarter, neither team got off to a fast start. The Kings and Clippers started slow on offense, as neither team found a rhythm in the first quarter. Both teams scored 24 points in the first quarter to remain tied after the first. Paul George and Keegan Murray started the game hot for their respective teams, scoring nine points each.

In the second quarter, the Kings offense took off. The Kings exploded to open up a 16-point lead in the second quarter. Fox and Davion Mitchell were firing on all cylinders early in the quarter to open the game up. However, the Clippers battled back to get the game closer at the midway point in the quarter, cutting the lead to six with 4:47 in the half.

For the rest of the quarter, the teams traded baskets to go into halftime, with the Kings leading 56-51. The Kings would take the five-point lead into halftime, looking to expand on it in the third quarter.

In the third quarter, the Kings had a breakout quarter from start to finish. The Kings offense went off for 35 points against a weak effort by the Clippers on the defensive end of the floor. The Kings, led by an aggressive Keegan Murray, would hold the Clippers to 19 points in the third.

The Kings would go into the final quarter of action leading 91-70. Keegan Murray was leading the Kings through three quarters with 19 points. Paul George had 18 through three-quarters of action for the Clippers.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings maintained the lead to defeat the Clippers. The Clippers outscored the Kings 25-18 in the game’s final quarter. However, it was to no avail.

The Kings would defeat the Clippers 109-95 to have a two-game win streak going before they head on the road. The Kings leading scorer in the game was Domantas Sabonis, who scored 22 points with 20 rebounds. Russell Westbrook led the Clippers with a 20-point performance.

Up Next: The Kings go on the road to take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Kings and Knicks will tip off at 4:30 PM PST on Thursday.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: No.7 Kings and No.4 Clippers battle tonight at Golden 1

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Sacramento Kings Domanta Sabonis (left) is defended by the Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (right) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sun Mar 31, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Harrison Barnes scored 24 points and scored 16 key points in the third quarter to lead the Sacramento Kings to a huge 39 point third quarter rally to help the Kings get past the Utah Jazz last Sunday 127-106.

#2 The Kings were short handed and Barnes came through with some crucial scoring in the third quarter and the Kings offense just seemed to have their way with the Jazz there was no stopping that offense who ran up the score like that.

#3 Top scorers on the Kings were Keegan Murray with 25 points and DeAaron Fox had 24 points and 12 assists but pretty got their shots and were a path for the Kings win Sunday.

#4 Barnes said that coach Mike Brown said that everyone pretty much had the green light and go out there and be aggressive and shoot with confidence.

#5 The Kings host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night at Golden 1. The Clippers are fourth place in the Western Conference having won three straight and won six of their last ten games. The Kings have also won six of their last ten games. How do you see this match up tonight?

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

Barnes 13 point 3rd quarter gets Kings 127-116 win over Jazz at Golden 1

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Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis (left) gets the throw down on the Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) in first half action at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sun Mar 31, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings defeated the Utah Jazz on Sunday night at Golden One Center 127-116. The Kings were coming off two bad losses to the Dallas Mavericks in search of getting back on track. The Kings and Jazz were set for tip-off at 7 PM PST at Golden One Center on Easter Sunday.

In the first quarter, the Kings gained a quick lead against the Jazz. The Kings outscored the Jazz in the first quarter 27-23. The Jazz offense quickly got everyone involved. The Jazz had seven scorers in the first quarter. On the other hand, the Kings Keegan Murray started hot, scoring 10 points to lead the Kings in the first quarter. The Kings didn’t show a lot of superiority so far in a game played against a largely injured Jazz squad. The Kings would look to take over the game in the second quarter.

In the second quarter, the Kings couldn’t create the separation they wanted. The Kings and Jazz scored 29 points in the second quarter, and the Kings remained up by four points. Collin Sexton led the Jazz in the second quarter, adding nine points. Domantas Sabonis got the offense going for himself in the second quarter, scoring nine points. The Kings would go into halftime with a 56-52 lead. It was an underwhelming half from the Kings, who would look to jump out ahead in the third quarter.

In the third quarter, the Kings went on an offensive terror. The Kings put up a mammoth 39 points in the third quarter to expand the lead with Harrison Barnes contributing 13 points. The Jazz scored 25 points in the third quarter to dig themselves a big hole going into the final quarter.

The Kings would take a 95-77 lead into the final 12 minutes. Keegan Murray and De’Aaron Fox were leading the Kings in scoring through three quarters with 20 points each. Brice Sensabaugh was leading the Jazz with 19 points.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings did what they needed to maintain the advantage and come away with a win. The Kings didn’t blow the Jazz off the court in the fourth as they did in the third. However, the Kings held on and defeated the Jazz 127-106.

The Kings played well in the second half and took care of a team they were expected to beat going into the game. The Kings outscored the Jazz in the final quarter 32-29. The leading scorer for the Kings in victory was Keegan Murray, who scored 25 points. Fox and Barnes had 24 points each. Sensabaugh and Sexton led the way for the Jazz in defeat, scoring 22 points.

Up Next: The Kings stay home to take on the LA Clippers on Tuesday at 7 PM PST inside Golden One Center.

Exum hits 3 pointer and Irving leads with 30 as Mavericks upend Kings 132-96

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Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) scores on the Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) in the second half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Fri Mar 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Friday night inside Golden One Center in Sacramento. The Kings and Mavs were set to play for the second time this week after the Mavs routed the Kings 132-96 on Tuesday evening. The Mavs and Kings were both coming off two days of rest and ready for a rematch of Tuesday night. The game tipped off at 7 PM PST.

GAME RESULT: In the first quarter, the Kings got off to a quick start offensively. The Kings outscored the Mavs in the first quarter 34-26. Harrison Barnes and Keon Ellis started the game red-hot with 11 points each in the first quarter. The Kings were playing a much more physical style of basketball than they did on Tuesday.

In the second quarter, the Kings kept up the intensity to limit good shots on the Dallas end of the floor. However, Luka and the Mavs kept the game within reach while withstanding the Kings push. The Kings outscored the Mavs by a point in the second quarter, 26-25.

Harrison Barnes continued his hot start, adding six more in the second to finish the half with 17 points. Kyrie Irving led the Mavs in the first half with 14 points. The Kings led going into halftime 60-51.

In the third quarter, the Kings held the edge. The Kings and Mavs traded baskets all quarter to end up in the same place as they started the quarter. The Kings and Mavs both scored 22 points in the quarter for the Kings to maintain the nine point lead. Luka Doncic was leading the way for the Mavs, and De’Aaron and HB both had 17 points to end the third. The Kings would lead 82-73 going into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Mavs came storming back. The Mavs came back to take a 99-98 lead with 3:45 left to play. The Kings squandered another lead, hoping to regain momentum and not drop both games to the Mavs at home.

The Kings couldn’t regain the lead and lost to the Mavs 107-103. Fox led the Kings in defeat with 23 points. The Mavs outscored the Kings 34-21 in the fourth. Kyrie Irving led the Mavs with 30 points.

Up Next: The Kings stay home to take on the Jazz at 6 PM PST.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Mavs and Kings match up for a second time at Golden 1 tonight

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The Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) looks to pass the ball against the Sacramento Kings (center) Alex Len (25) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Mar 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 How important is it for the Kings to shut down Luka Doncic tonight against the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center.

#2 The Mavericks Doncic scored a leading 28 points against the Kings last Tuesday at Golden 1 in the Mavericks 132-96 win.

#3 Doncic with the hot hand also added 11 rebounds and six assists and had three steals. Doncic is a difficult player to defend.

#4 The Mavericks have now won five straight games and are looking for a sixth. The Kings have home floor advantage tonight at Golden 1. What is the top game plan or Kings head coach Mike Brown tonight is it shutting down Doncic and trying to keep the Mavericks guessing on defense?

#5 Do you find it advantageous for the Kings to face the Mavericks in back to back games in having seeing last Tuesday or a disadvantage because the Mavericks have an idea how to run the table against the Kings after seeing them this week?

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

Kings blown out by Mavs 132-96

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by the Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis right and forward Keegan Murray (left) in the first half at American Airlines Arena on Tue Mar 26, 2024

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Tuesday night. The Kings welcomed the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. The Kings were on the second night of a back-to-back as they defeated the 76ers on Monday. Dallas was also on the second night of a back-to-back after defeating the Utah Jazz on Monday night. The Kings and Mavs tipped off at 7 PM PST. The Kings were blown out at home by the final of 132-96.

In the first quarter, the Kings and Mavs got off to an uneventful start. The Kings and Mavs both started the game looking a bit tired. It made sense, as both teams were coming off a back-to-back. The Kings scored 28 points in the first quarter. The Mavs scored 31 points in the first quarter to take a quick three-point lead in the game. Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Keon Ellis had seven points in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Mavs were able to extend the lead over the Kings. Granted, the lead would only grow by two points. The Mavs outscored the Kings 27-25 in the second quarter. The Kings really struggled to contain Luka Doncic in the first half, as he scored 26 first-half points. The Kings got a 14-point first half from De’Aaron Fox as he tried to counter Luka Doncic. The Mavs would lead 58-53 over the Kings going into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Mavs ballooned the lead over the Kings. The Mavs outscored the Kings 38-23 in the third quarter. Doncic had a relatively quiet quarter, but it was Kyrie Irving who did the bulk of the damage. Kyrie had 12 points in the third quarter. The Kings would go into the final quarter of action trailing 96-76.

In the fourth quarter, it was all but finished for the Kings. The lead continued to get out of hand as the game came to a conclusion. The Kings would lose the game 132-96. The Kings were outscored in the fourth quarter 36-20. The Kings leading scorer in defeat was De’Aaron Fox, who had 18 points. The Mavs got their best performance from Luka Doncic, who scored 28 points. The Mavs outscored the Kings 74-43 in the second half of the game.

Up Next: More Mavericks. The Kings stay home to take on the Dallas Mavericks on Friday at 7 PM PST inside Golden One Center.