Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) takes a jump shot above Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis (left), De’Aaron Fox (5) and Malik Monk (0) in first half action at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sat Dec 28, 2024 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
Doug Christie’s first game as Head Coach for the Sacramento (13-19) did not go well as the Kings dropped their sixth game in a row losing by the score of 132-122 continuing their free fall. The bench did not make much of an impact with 29 points.
The high for the Kings was DeAaron Fox with 29 points and DeMar DeRozan with 25. Domantas Sabonis fouled out of the game with 4:34 left in the fourth quarter. He had a double double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Keegan Murray finished the game with only five points
Game recap: The Los Angeles Lakers (18-13) got this party started in the opening 12 minutes dominating and leading 40-31 going into the second quarter. Sacramento came roaring back in the second quarter dictating the pace outscoring the Lakers 35-25.
At the half the Kings had a 66-65 lead in this hotly contested first half. Four of the Kings starters had shot double figures after two quarters and Sacramento was dominating in the paint. The Kings bench production however was disappointing and has been poor all season.
Going into the third quarter, the Lakers took back the lead and at 7:21 had taken a 86-78 advantage. The Kings were in foul trouble with Sabonis committing four, Kyler Murray and Trey Lyles with three apiece.
Through 3 1/2 quarters Sacramento was protecting the ball well with only four turnovers. The Kings were flat from beyond the arc shooting 26% to the Lakers almost 58%. Los Angeles continued to extend their lead to 96-85 with 2:57 left in the quarter.
The King’s Sabonis clocked another double double in the third quarter but the offensive production from Sabonis, Fox and Murray was quiet as the quarter wound down with the Lakers leading by 17 points 107-90 their largest lead of the game . Los Angeles had dominated the third quarter as the Kings began to take wild shots that were missing badly.
The fourth quarter continued to go poorly for the Kings. They continued to fall further behind with the Lakers taking a 20 point lead 113-93 with 9:20 left in the game. The Kings began to make up some ground cutting the Lakers 20 point lead to 13 with 8:16 left on the clock.
The Lakers held on for the remainder of the game. Sabonis fouled out of the game with 5:20 left with his team trailing 110-119. The final was 132-122 and the Kings had lost their sixth game in a row.
The Lakers dominated for the majority of this game. Anthony Davis finished with 36 points and 15 rebounds. Austin Reeves had 26 and Rui Hachimura finished with 21.
It was a tough night for the Kings considering what had transpired Friday. They protected the ball well in this game with only ten turnovers but offensive production was down. Fox finished the game with 29 points followed by DeRozan with 25. Murray only had five points in 29 minutes of play. Sabonis fouled out in the fourth quarter with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Game notes: Saturday night the Kings traveled down to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers. After the initial shock of the firing of Head Coach Mike Brown, the Kings took the court with interim head coach Doug Christie at the helm.
Christie is expected to remain in this role for the remainder of the season. The firing of Brown sent shock waves across the NBA with numerous coaches not only surprised but also vocal and one of the most outspoken was ex Kings coach and current Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
This scenario had played out in 2013-14 with Malone being the guy who was given his walking papers in Sacramento. While the firing was shocking, the manner in which it all came down was even more disturbing. It had been a normal morning practice prior to their game with the Lakers Saturday night.
Brown did his post media meeting and then headed to the airport for the short flight to Los Angeles. He gets a call in his car from the Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and was fired. Malone had some rather colorful language regarding the firing having gone through this himself.
Steve Kerr was also vocal in his remarks regarding the firing as were other coaches in the league. The Kings took the court without Brown and it is business as usual. Some of the King’s players have gone through this changing of the guard, Fox one of them, while others have not.
This was a wild move that could go in one of two directions. It could get the Kings back on track or it could backfire and only time will tell. Saturday night the Kings had all five starters on the floor as they struggle to fight their way back to .500 and beyond.
Next up: Monday night the Kings will be back in Sacramento, where they have really struggled, to take on Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM. The Kings will be looking for their first win under interim head coach Christie at Golden 1 Arena.
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