Category: Sacramento Kings

Kings Falls Short Losing To Denver 115-110

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Sacramento Kings forward Justin Holiday (9) is fouled by Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton, right, at Ball Arena in Denver on Sat Feb 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

Kings Falls Short Losing To Denver 115-110

By Barbara Mason

Saturday night the Sacramento Kings (22-40) took on the Denver Nuggets (35-25). The Nuggets are sixth in the Western Conference while the struggling Kings are 13th in the Conference. Denver is heavily favored in this home game at Ball Arena.

The Kings will be without Richaun Holmes and will rely heavily on De’Aaron Fox. They will have the unenviable task of containing Denver’s Nikola Jokic.

After one quarter the Nuggets had taken a 38-30 lead over the Kings. The Nuggets were able to maintain the lead until the final minutes of the second quarter when the Kings really began to heat up. With a little over two minutes left in the half, the Nuggets led by nine points.

The Kings would chip away at the Denver lead and with one minute left in the second quarter trailed by a single point. At halftime the Kings had tied the game at 59.

This was a real turn of momentum for the Kings, momentum that they needed to take into the third quarter. De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 13 points followed by Harrison Barnes with nine points. Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 16 points and Monte Morris finished the half with 14 points.

With under three minutes left in he third quarter the Kings had kept up the pressure on the Nuggets leading 84-77. Big man Domantas Sabonis had eight rebounds and seven assists through three quarters and it was the defensive play of Sacramento that was keeping them in this game. After three quarters the game was dead even at 85 points apiece.

The Nuggets would start the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run taking a 94-85 lead in the early minutes of the final quarter. The Kings would start to chip away at Denver’s lead cutting the Nuggets advantage to 94-92. With under two minutes left in the game it was again tied at 107. At 39.8 this game remained tied at 110.

The game would turn out to be the last team with the ball coming a with the win. The Kings had every chance to win this game but just could not hang with the Nuggets at the very end. The final was 115-110 in favor of Denver.

Fox had the high score for the Kings with 26 points and Barnes finished with 24. Jeremy Lamb had 12 off the bench and Sabonis had a great game with 16 rebounds.

Next up for the Kings will be a meeting with the Thunder Monday night in Oklahoma. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Ukrainian Kings player Alex Len condemns Russian attack on Ukraine; plus more

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Sacramento Kings Alex Len is most concern

On the Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah with the Russian attack on Ukraine this week the Sacramento Kings (22-38) Alex Len and Toronto Raptors player Svi Mykhailiuk both from the Ukraine condemn the attack on their country and said “A great tragedy has befell our homeland Ukraine.”

#2 For Len this has to be weighing heavily on his mind each time he goes out on the basketball court?

#3 Jeremiah, after the Kings acquired Domantas Sabonis what will that mean for Richaun Holmes who was rumored to be on the trade block?

#4  Sobonis didn’t hold back landing second on the Kings leaderboard behind Fox on Wednesday fending of the Bulls defense and scoring 22 points.

#5 Jeremiah, after a week off or seven days how important is that for the Kings to have had that rest?

Join Jeremiah who covers Kings basketball on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Mike Can Coach!: Malone makes history in Nuggets 128-110 win over the Kings

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By Morris Phillips

SACRAMENTO–Doing big things after leaving the Sacramento Kings has a familiar ring. Isaiah Thomas, DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo did that. Tyrese Haliburton is a pretty good bet to do that. And Mike Malone might be the best example of that and he’s not even an NBA player.

Remember Malone? Not even his working relationship and belief in the mercurial Cousins could save his head coaching job eight years ago. The Kings fired Malone in 2015 after the team went 39-67 in a rough season and a sluggish start to the next. And Malone picked himself up and moved to Denver, where he’s won 300 games in seven seasons, culminating with the milestone win at Golden 1 Center Thursday night, 128-110 over the Kings.

“This is a tough business,” a proud Malone said after the game. “I got fired in my first job. I’ve seen my father get fired. This business is not for the weak-minded. Here’s to 300 more.”

That Malone has racked up the wins in Denver with a defensive mindset, and a versatile center who plays like Cousins in reigning MVP Nikola Jokic couldn’t sit well with the Kings’ leadership. While Malone continues to do with Denver what many think he could have done in Sacramento had there been more patience, the Kings are floundering defensively, allowing a league-worst 115 points per game after allowing 128 in their first game since the All-Star break.

“Against a team like that, if you turn it over they’re going to convert on the other end. In that fourth quarter they made a couple of 3s in a row that really hurt us,” Domantas Sabonis said.

The Kings trailed by as many as 13 points in the third, but rallied to within five, 92-87 at the end of the quarter. But the hosts became even more generous in the fourth, allowing 36 points as Denver ran away.

Jokic led the Nuggets with 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists as his 34 minutes of floor time was the only hindrance to him posting a triple-double. Will Barton and Monte Morris added 31 and 19 points respectively as Malone’s big victory was engineered by his three, most tenured players.

Sabonis led the Kings 33 points and 14 rebounds, and his 15 for 23 shooting was a major reason the Kings stayed within range for three quarters. De’Aaron Fox had 20, and Harrison Barnes 14 giving the Kings a balanced attack, inside and out. What hurt them was 20 misfires from distance, with ten, different Kings missing at least one 3-point attempt.

“We have to shoot the ball better,” coach Alvin Gentry said. “We had a lot of open looks we missed and they came down and converted. That’s where the separation starts.”

The Kings fell to 22-39 with 21 games remaining in their season. Their prospects for a 10th place finish aren’t great, but they could improve if the club can win at New Orleans and San Antonio next week, two of the three clubs ahead of them in the standings that must be displaced.

CRISIS IN UKRAINE TOUCHES SACRAMENTO: Kings’ center Alex Len and Svi Mykhailiuk of the Toronto Raptors issued a joint statement before the game that impassionately placed both natives of Ukraine in support of their homeland in the face of the Russian invasion of the Eastern Europe country.

“We pray for our families, friends, relatives and all the people who are in the territory of Ukraine. We hope for an end to this terrible war as soon as possible. Dear fellow Ukrainians, hold on! Our strength is our unity! We are with you.”

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: All Star Break couldn’t have come at a better time for weathered Kings

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Sacramento Kings Davion Mitchell will not participate in the NBA All Star break’s Rising Star’s Challenge in Cleveland due to suffering from a hand contusion. Mitchell is expected to return to action on Thu Feb 24, 2022 at the Chase Center in Sacramento (file photo from Hoops Habit)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, going over some of the Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis who is averaging 18 points per game, 12 rebounds, and has 5.1 assists. How important is he since joining the team?

#2 The Kings DeAaron Fox led the Kings with 33 points against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. When the Kings struggle in some of their games they always seem to look for Fox as their go to guy for offense.

#3 Sobonis didn’t hold back landing second on the Kings leaderboard behind Fox on Wednesday fending of the Bulls defense and scoring 22 points.

#4 Jeremiah the Kings Davion Mitchell has a hand contusion and will not participate in All Star weekend during the Rising Stars Challenge. With Mitchell out that means the Kings will not be represented at all during All Star weekend in Cleveland.

#5 Mitchell will rest the hand and hopes to be back in the Kings next game Thu Feb 24th against the Denver Nuggets at Golden One Center in downtown Sacramento.

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

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings return home next week vs. Denver after tough loss Wed night in Chicago

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Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic (9) dunks between Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes, left, and Richaun Holmes at the United Center in Chicago on Wed Feb 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Kings podcast with Tony R:

#1 DeMar DeRozan, Coby White and Nikola Vucevic combined for 80 points Wednesday, as the Chicago Bulls (38-21) defeated the visiting Sacramento Kings (22-38) 125-118 in front of 19,166 at United Center.

#2 DeRozan scored a game-high 38 points, White – starting in place of Zach LaVine – had 31 points.

#3 Javonte Green and Ayo Dosunmu added 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Bulls. Dosunmu also had six rebounds, six assists and two steals.

#4 DeRozan also broke an obscure NBA record with his seventh straight game of 35 or more points on 50 percent or better shooting. Wilt Chamberlain set the previous mark in 1960-61 and 1962-63 with the Warriors.

#5 The Denver Nuggets (33-25) who just defeated the Golden State Warriors (42-17) 117-116 are headed to Sacramento on Thu Feb 24. The Nuggets are rolling winning five of their last six games. How do you see this match up next week between the Nuggets and Kings?

Join Tony R for the Kings podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

DeRozan breaks record set by Wilt, Bulls hold off Kings 125-118

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Chicago Bulls’ Javonte Green (24) throws down against the Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes (right) at the United Center in Chicago on Wed Feb 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Wednesday, February 16, 2022

DeMar DeRozan, Coby White and Nikola Vucevic combined for 80 points Wednesday, as the Chicago Bulls defeated the visiting Sacramento Kings 125-118 in front of 19,166 at United Center.

DeRozan scored a game-high 38 points, White – starting in place of Zach LaVine – had 31 points, including six 3-pointers, and Vucevic was next with 21 points and 10 rebounds for his 34th double-double of the season.

Javonte Green and Ayo Dosunmu added 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Bulls. Dosunmu also had six rebounds, six assists and two steals.

DeRozan also broke an obscure NBA record with his seventh straight game of 35 or more points on 50 percent or better shooting. Wilt Chamberlain set the previous mark in 1960-61 and 1962-63 with the Warriors.

Chicago shot 50 percent on field goals for a league-leading 23rd time this season, while committing only eight turnovers. The Kings kept it close by shooting 51 percent, including 12 of 30 from behind the arc.

But DeRozan was up to the task, scoring 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, finishing with a 15-for-27 shooting night for the Bulls (38-21), who are first in the Eastern Conference standings.
DeAaron Fox led the Kings with 33 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

Recently acquired Domantas Sabonis scored 22 points while pulling down 12 rebounds to go with eight assists. Justin Holiday scored 18 points, followed by Harrison Barnes with 17 points, and Chimezie Metu added 11 points off the Kings’ bench.

The Kings return to action after the All-Star break when they host Denver on Feb. 24.

Curry brings up the rear for Nets in 109-85 defeat of Kings

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Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) is defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Mon Feb 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

Mon, Feb 14 at 7:52 PM

By Jessica Kwong

BROOKLYN, NY. — The Brooklyn Nets handed the Sacramento Kings a 109-85 Valentine’s Day loss at Barclays Center despite missing three of their stars.

Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons were absent on Monday but Seth Curry on his first night as a member of the Nets scored 23 points to snap Brooklyn’s 11-game losing streak and end the Kings’ modest two-game winning streak.

De’Aaron Fox had a game-high 26 points, Davion Mitchell scored 13 points and Donte DiVincenzo contributed 12 points. But the Kings as a team shot just 34.4% from the field.

The Kings never led and the Nets had 19-point leads in the first, third and final quarters.

Domantas Sabonis, who recently joined the Kings after a six-player trade with the Indiana Pacers, failed to impress as he did in his first two games wearing purple. Sabronis scored just 9 points on four-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes.

Still, Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry thinks Sabonis — who went into Monday’s game averaging 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 46 games — has boosted the team.

“We have played a lot of our offense through him,” Gentry said. “I think our guys have really enjoyed playing with him on the floor. I think our cuts have been much better because I think they anticipate getting the ball on the scoring cuts that they make. He’s just been a real stabilizer for us, really.”

After beating the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Washington Wizards to improve to 4-2 in the six games before Brooklyn, Gentry had high hopes for the matchup against the short-handed Nets.

“These were games that we were losing early on and all the way up until this week really,” Gentry said. “I hope this is a sign of good things to come.”

It didn’t turn out that way on Monday. The Kings were limited to 25.7% (9-for-35) from the three-point line. Meanwhile, the Nets shot 51.2% from the field and 34.6% from 3.

The Kings (22-37) are 13th in the western conference. They continue their road trip on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls in the last game of the first half of the season. Tipoff is at 5 p.m.

Kings big second half overtake Wizards 123-110

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Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) drives to the net against Sacramento Kings guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) at the Capital One Arena in Washington on Sat Feb 12, 2022 (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

WASHINGTON, DC. — Two games after their big blockbuster trade, Cap City is looking to have the last laugh.

The Sacramento Kings outscored the Washington Wizards 64-45 in the second half to cruise to a 123-110 victory on Saturday evening at Capital One Arena.

Sacramento has won two out of its last three games and sit one and a half games back of 10th place in the Western Conference, the final spot for the play in game. Washington has lost three out of its past four games.

De’Aaron Fox opened up the game with six straight points. Newly acquired Domantas Sabonis also had three easy dunks in the first quarter for the Kings.

Washington (25-30) went on a six-zero run to end the first quarter as the led 29-24 at the end of the opening 12 minutes.

Kyle Kuzma scored 11 of his 17 first half points in the second quarter as Washington jumped out to their biggest lead of the half 50-37 on an 8-0 run with 5:32 remaining in the second quarter.

The Wizards had 17 points off of nine Kings turnovers in the first half.

Sacramento (22-36) closed out the quarter on a 21-15 run to close the gap to 65-59 at halftime. Maurice Harkless led the charge for the Kings with 15 first half points, including three for three from three-point range.

It was all Kings in the third quarter as they dominated the Wizards as they outscored them by 10, 33-23 to erase a six-point deficit. Sparked by a 16-4 run in just under five minutes late in the quarter, Sacramento had its biggest lead at 90-84 with two minutes remaining when Chimezie Metu hit a three pointer. Harrison Barnes paced the Kings with 11 points in the quarter.

Sacramento opened up the fourth quarter on 15-8 run in the first three minutes as they extended to its biggest lead at 11 points at 107-96. Fox took charge as he scored seven points in a row for the Kings.

The Kings closed out the game on 17-12 in the final four minutes.

Fox led all scorers with 26 points to go along with four assists and two rebounds. Barnes finished with 21 and Sabonis with 16 points respectively. Harkless also had 17 points as all five starters finished in double digits.

Kuzma led the Wizards in scoring with 22 points to go along with his eight rebounds and seven assists. Corey Kispert chipped in with 20 points.

GAME NOTES: Sacramento finished 12-for-28 from beyond the arc. Washington was 13-for-38.

UP NEXT: Sacramento continues its three-game road trip on Monday 2/14 as they take on the Brooklyn Nets at 4:30pm at Barclay’s Center.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings in Washington Saturday looking for second straight win

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Sacramento Kings players Domantas Sabonis, right, and Jeremy Lamb, left go over plays with Kings assistant coach Lindsey Harding before the game on Thu Feb 10, 2022 at Golden One in Sacramento (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Sacramento Kings (20-35) have won three of their last five games and picked up a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder (17-35) 113-110 on Wednesday.

#2 The Kings Harrison Barnes played a big role in the win leading the Kings with 30 points.

#3 The Kings were in that terrible ten game losing streak and worked hard and figured a way out how much of that was head coach Alvin Gentry?

#4 De’Aaron Fox finished second in scoring with 27 points how important has Fox been in the role of contributing on offense for the Kings.

#5 The Kings are in Washington to take on the Wizards (24-29) the Wizards got a big win over the Brooklyn Nets 113-112 on Thursday night in Washington. Tell us how you see the Kings chances in Washington on Saturday.

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

Not Tyrese!: Haliburton trade shocks Sacramento, Wolves clock the Kings, 134-114

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By Morris Phillips

SACRAMENTO–Kings’ fans already knew they have to patient and resilient, but they certainly didn’t know bidding adieu to their brightest, young star was the harsh addition to that reality.

Their message to the Kings’ organization:

It’s a lot (more) to ask.

Tyrese Haliburton was dealt on Tuesday to Indiana along with Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson for Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and a second-round pick in 2023.

Throughout the league, the reaction was the same, why move Haliburton, a fan favorite that was a steal as the 12th pick in the 2020 Draft, who had posted career bests in points (38) and assists (17) in separate games in the last two weeks?

Well, the faltering Kings had to move someone, and no other Sacramento player possessed Haliburton’s trade value, reference the fact the move fetched an All-Star in Sabonis, and two quality, veteran additions to the team’s backcourt, which was desperate for a defensive upgrade, which they got.

In addition, Hield’s declining numbers didn’t match his sizeable contract, which has two years remaining, and the 25-year old Sabonis has a far friendlier deal that has him also signed for two more seasons.

But Haliburton is viewed as the most promising player in the deal, and that tilts it towards the Pacers.

The Kings took the floor Tuesday without the three traded players, but also without Richaun Holmes due to personal reasons, and Marvin Bagley, who has a sprained ankle. That left the hosts without much of defensive presence, and the Wolves pounced with 73 first half points, and 22 made threes in the game. The Kings trailed by 11 at the half, and showed life early in the third when they cut the deficit to four, but the Wolves seized control for good at that juncture.

Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 24 points, and Malik Beasley was spectacular off the bench with 21, consisting of seven made threes. Naz Reid added 12, and Jordan McLaughlin added 11, as did Taurean Prince.

Ironically, Beasley has also been the subject of trade speculation with the trade deadline approaching on Thursday at 12:00pm. His play and his words afterwards displayed his focus.

“This is my sixth year in the league, and I’ve been traded before,” he said. “The only thing you can do is control what you can control. … I’d rather be here, but it’s a business, so you can never know what can happen.”

The Kings got 29 from De’Aaron Fox and 21 from Harrison Barnes. Rebounding (49-38 for the Wolves) hurt the Kings, as did their 19 turnovers.

The Kings have dropped 14 of 18 and sit in 13th place in the Western Conference.

The clubs get a quick turnaround and face each other again on Wednesday at the Golden 1 Center.