Tag: NBA

Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason: Kings host Knicks tonight; Sacramento returns from LA playing on back to back nights

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Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (left) takes a shot against the Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) at Intuit Dome Arena in Inglewood on Sun Mar 9, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard hit a buzzer beater shot on a hook shook that beat the Sacramento Kings 111-110 in a nail biter on Sunday night in Inglewood in the battle of eighth place teams.

#2 Leonard’s shot took him to the top of the key with 21.6 seconds and let the clock run down and drove the by past the Kings defenders for a shot that bounced on the rim that went in. Leonard scored 17 points.

#3 The Kings had a tough time defending the Clippers James Harden who scored 29 points and the Clippers wound up winning their third straight game. Ivica Zubac hand a hot had for the Clippers scoring 22 points while grabbing 14 rebounds.

#4 DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points with ten assists, Zach LaVine had 30 points in spite of their hard efforts the Kings lost by just one point in the end of the game. The Kings continue to be winless against the Clippers with a season 0-3 record.

#5 The Eastern Conference third place New York Knicks come calling tonight at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The Knicks have lost their last three games and are 19-12 on the road this season. The Knicks are struggling can the Kings get this won tonight with the home court advantage?

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

Kings Fall to Clippers in Overtime Heartbreaker, 111-110

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Zach LaVine shoots in the Kings matchup vs the Clippers on Sunday night in LA (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

INGLEWOOD CA — The Kings had been moving with a different aura recently. Sacramento was displaying a confidence that I felt had been lacking for much of the season. On Sunday night, the Kings were back in action in Los Angeles against the Clippers, carrying what felt like a sense of belonging in the crowded Western Conference playoff race.

The message of “playing with joy,” which Doug Christie had preached since taking over head coaching duties, seemed to be taking hold. Heading into Sunday’s matchup, the Kings had won five of their last six games and were looking to build on that momentum before heading back home. The Kings and Clippers tipped off at 6:30 PM PST at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The Clippers defeated the Kings 111-110 in overtime.

In the first quarter, neither the Kings nor the Clippers found much offensive rhythm, as both teams played solid defense. However, Zach LaVine started the game hot, scoring nine points in the opening quarter to lead all scorers. The Clippers’ Ivica Zubac established himself early in the paint, leading his team with eight first-quarter points. The Kings outscored the Clippers 23-20 in the opening period, taking a narrow lead.

The second quarter remained highly competitive. The Kings briefly built an eight-point advantage, but the Clippers fought back to erase the deficit before halftime. The Clippers outscored the Kings 31-26 in the quarter, taking a 51-49 lead into the break.

Both teams played disciplined basketball in the first half, with Sacramento committing only four turnovers and Los Angeles just three. Zach LaVine led the Kings with 13 first-half points, while James Harden paced the Clippers with 11.

In the third quarter, the Kings reclaimed a slim lead. They outscored the Clippers 26-21 in the period, heading into the final frame with a 75-72 advantage. Defensive intensity remained high, as neither team was interested in letting up. 

The fourth quarter felt like a battle of defensive resilience—whichever team blinked first would likely lose. However, neither side backed down, and the game remained tied at 97, forcing overtime.

In the extra period, the Kings suffered a heartbreaking defeat on a left-handed hook shot by Kawhi Leonard. The ball bounced around the rim before improbably falling through the net, sending Intuit Dome into a frenzy as the Clippers secured the 111-110 victory. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine led the Kings in defeat, scoring 31 and 30 points, respectively. James Harden delivered the Clippers’ best performance with 29 points.

This marked the Kings’ second loss in three games where they had played well throughout but fell short late. They suffered a similar defeat against Denver last week. After the game, head coach Doug Christie praised his team’s effort, saying, “I thought the guys did a good job… all in all, the byproduct of playing hard like this is ultimately going to be winning. Super proud of how the guys continue to build. We want to win every game, so this sucks and it hurts… but defensively, I think it was a fantastic effort out there.”

Keon Ellis shared his thoughts on the team’s progress following the trade deadline, stating, “We know that we are trending in the right direction… just gotta keep at it day by day.”

With the loss, the Kings fell to 33-30 on the season and now sit 1.5 games behind the Clippers for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They currently hold the ninth seed, two games ahead of the Dallas Mavericks.

Up Next: The Kings return home to face the New York Knicks on Monday at 7:30 PM PST at Golden 1 Center. It will mark the second night of a road-home back-to-back.

Kings Bounce Back with Convincing Win Over Spurs, Close the Book on Fox Era

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Zach LaVine shoots in the win over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday (Photo Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–As Doug Christie walked into the press conference room in Denver after Wednesday’s loss to the Nuggets, the frustration was palpable. He described a game that was going to “sting for a bit.” The Kings outplayed the Nuggets for most of the night but collapsed in the fourth quarter, ultimately losing 116-110. They also took issue with the officiating, as their free-throw attempts dried up in the second half.

On Friday, the Kings had an opportunity to bounce back at home following their tough loss in Denver. They welcomed the San Antonio Spurs, marking the return of De’Aaron Fox. Fox had spent nearly eight years with the Kings before being traded to San Antonio on February 3rd in a three-team deal that sent Zach LaVine to Sacramento. Fox received an ovation during his tribute video but was booed every other time he touched the ball. The Kings went on to defeat the Spurs 127-109.

The Kings’ offense started slowly in the first quarter, appearing disjointed and out of sync as the Spurs outscored them 26-20. Stephon Castle led all scorers in the quarter with nine points, while DeMar DeRozan paced the Kings with seven.

In the second quarter, the Kings flipped the script with an offensive outburst, outscoring the Spurs 36-16 to take a commanding 56-42 halftime lead. Zach LaVine fueled the surge with 16 points in the period, while Jonas Valančiūnas added eight. LaVine led all scorers at halftime with 18 points, while De’Aaron Fox had an underwhelming first half, managing just six points on 3-of-10 shooting.

The Kings continued to dominate in the third quarter, outscoring the Spurs 39-35 to extend their lead to 95-77 heading into the final period. With the game firmly in their hands, they only needed to stave off any comeback attempt from San Antonio.

Early in the fourth, the Spurs made a brief push, but the Kings quickly countered, securing a 127-109 victory. LaVine led Sacramento with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting. Castle paced the Spurs with 25 points in the loss, while Fox struggled in his return to Sacramento, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting.

In many ways, the Kings’ win over the Spurs felt like the final chapter of the De’Aaron Fox era in Sacramento. While he had already been gone for weeks following the February 3 trade, seeing him score in an opposing uniform at Golden 1 Center made it feel definitive.

Postgame, Fox spoke with reporters in a crowded visiting press conference area just outside the Spurs’ locker room. He reflected fondly on his time in Sacramento, despite the chaos surrounding his departure. When I asked if he hoped the city would remember him more favorably in the future, he replied, “I’ve said my peace, and I’m not really worried about anything else.”

Up Next: The Kings travel to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers at Intuit Dome on Sunday night.

Sacramento Kings podcast Jeremiah Salmonson Fri Mar 7, 2025: Kings need to line up wins if they’re going to make post season

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Sacramento King forward Keegan Murray center tries to squeeze between Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (left) and forward Michael Porter Jr (right) in the first half at Ball Arena in Denver on Wed Mar 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic scored 22 points and had 14 rebound and teammate Russell Westbrook had 25 points and the Nuggets came back from behind to overcome the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at Ball Arena 116-110.

#2 The Kings defense had a tough time defending the Nuggets Jamal Murray who scored 24 point and the Nuggets with the win had won the first three games against the Kings this season.

#3 Sacramento Kings DeMar DeRozan had scored 18 of 35 points that help give the Kings a 93-84 lead towards the end of the third quarter. Westbrook however beat back the tide scoring seven points in a row.

#4 The Kings Zach LaVine scored 12 of 20 points and had two 3 pointers that were deep outside shots, and it kept the Kings in the game by three points.

#5 The Kings are now ninth in the Western Conference behind the Clippers, Minnesota and Golden State for a shot at a playoff spot. The Kings tip off against the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 in Sacramento on tonight at 7:00pm PST. The Spurs are 13th in the Western Conference and lost four of their last ten games. Crucial game for the Kings if they plan to make that climb to sixth place for that last playoff spot.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the Sacramento Kings podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors game wrap: Warriors just get by Nets 121-119 at Barclay Center

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Golden State Warrior guard Stephen Curry (30) led with 40 points against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Thu Mar 6, 2025

By Jessica Kwong

BROOKLYN, NY. — Stephen Curry scored 40 points against the Brooklyn Nets for the first time in 25 career games against them and led the Golden State Warriors to a 121-119 victory at Barclays Center on Thursday night.

It wasn’t until after the Warriors got the win that put them 4-1 in the five-game road trip that Curry realized his accomplishment – one that puts him one step away from a new personal record.

“Naw I didn’t know until after. When I had 38, two people came up and said, get a layup or something, but they didn’t say why,” said Curry. “I found out after.”

Golden State trailed 27-5 early on and Curry changed the tide by making a fadeaway buzzer-beater from the Nets’ half court logo at the end of the first half. Some of his teammates were only slightly surprised that it went in.

“He just had one in Orlando, so I think every shot’s going in anyway,” said Gary Payton II. “So let’s head into the locker room, regroup, let’s come back out for the second half. And you know, he gives us those sparks at the end of the half. And we needed that win so, it’s nice.”

The Warriors started the second half only five points behind and outscored the Nets 31-29 in the third quarter and 35-30 in the fourth. Head coach Steve Kerr called it a “very professional win to come back from 22 down right out of the gates”.

“I give them credit, they were just amazing that first quarter,” Kerr said of the Nets. “They took it to us and so for our guys to get settled and make a good comeback and take control of the game late, it was a hell of an effort and a great trip.”

Jimmy Butler contributed 25 points and six assists. The Warriors are 10-1 since he joined the lineup, and the chemistry they had with him in their 114-102 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden continued at Barclays Center.

Brooklyn trailed 97-91 with 7:30 to go in the game and were unable to close in. The Nets (21-41) suffered their sixth straight loss as the crowd chanted “MVP! MVP! MVP!” for Curry, making it feel like a home game for Golden State.

The Warriors (35-28) head back to Chase Center for a seven-game homestand that starts on Saturday hosting the Detroit Pistons. That happens to be the only team in the league that Curry has not scored at least 40 points against.

“He’s got one more, one more on the hit list and then he has everybody,” Payton said. “So hopefully we get that done for him.”

Asked if he will aim to get the job done against Detroit, Curry answered humbly.

“You know – maybe you don’t know me. I don’t ever think that way. I play the game the way I want to,” he said. “Obviously it’s on my mind so I won’t shy away from it, but you don’t sabotage a game just to score 40. You try to win, no matter what it takes.”

Asked if Curry will make the milestone on Saturday, Draymond Green laughed and said: “Let’s not piss the Pistons off.”

Tip-off on Saturday is at 5:30 p.m. PT.

Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong: Mavericks Irving out for season ACL injury; Magic’s Suggs out with knee injury; plus more news

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Dallas Mavericks Naji Marshall (left) and Max Christie (00) stand by Kyrie Irving (center) after Irving took free throw shots and was in pain from an ACL injury which turned out to be a season ending injury in a game against the Sacramento Kings in Dallas on Mon Mar 3, 2025 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Dallas Mavericks Kyrie Irving is out for the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. Irving 32 was playing against the Sacramento Kings in the early minutes of the game when the injury occurred. What does mean to lose a player like Irving?

#2  Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs who left the game with back spasms on Jan 3 was out until Jan 25 in a game against the Detroit Pistons when he had discomfort in his knee and after further tests show Suggs will need mosaicplasty to repair the trochlear joint surface. His full recovery is expected.

#3 Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says that the officials need to call more traveling calls. Kerr got a technical foul on Monday night in a game against the Charlotte Hornets which the Warriors had won 119-101. Kerr observed traveling by the Hornets were not being called. Kerr pointed to the fans who were screaming for a travel call and Kerr was hit with the technical.

#4 The Dallas Mavericks fans feel like they’re be left holding the bag. First fan favorite and team star Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. Davis is now injured after suffering abductor strain. Davis could miss the rest of the season. With that disappoint to add insult upon injury the Mavericks announced that they will be raising ticket prices and increase of about 8.6% for next season. Since the Doncic trade the fans have express their dissatisfaction on how the Mavericks are conducting business decisions.

#5 Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome was hit with a whopping $25,00 fine for speaking out against the officials after the Cavs 133-129 close margin win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Jerome disputed that the Cavaliers were called for 53 fouls and that a total of 70 free throws 35 for each team. On average the an NBA game has fewer than 40 fouls. Jerome was upset that the teams were called for a combined 53 fouls and shot 70 free throws Sunday, which included 35 fouls for each team. Jerome was fined for saying “I thought the refs were really bad tonight, especially Natalie (Sago), she was really bad,” Jerome said. “Stuff like that happens. They kind of lose control of the game, and you just got to keep your head. I thought that first half was ridiculous. Third quarter was horrendous.”

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Fall to Nuggets 116-110 After Late-Game Scoring Drought

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Jake LaRavia shoots against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. (Photo Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

DENVER–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Wednesday night in Denver, Colorado. They entered the game riding a four-game winning streak, having most recently defeated the Dallas Mavericks on Monday by a final score of 122-98. Meanwhile, Denver was coming off a four-game road trip in which they went 2-2, most recently falling to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, 110-103. In their last 10 meetings, the Nuggets had won six of those matchups against the Kings.

On Wednesday, the Kings were without Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk, sidelined with a hamstring strain and a toe sprain, respectively. The Nuggets were also dealing with a slew of injuries, including Aaron Gordon, who was out with an ankle sprain. However, Nikola Jokić was cleared to play shortly before tip-off.

Tip-off was set for 6 PM PST at Ball Arena in Denver, where the Nuggets defeated the Kings 116-110.

The Kings started hot in the first quarter, jumping out to an early 16-8 lead, prompting Nuggets head coach Mike Malone to call a timeout. Keon Ellis made an immediate impact, scoring seven points while starting in place of Malik Monk. The Nuggets responded with a quick run to close the gap, but the Kings finished the quarter strong, bolstered by 11 points from Jake LaRavia. Sacramento outscored Denver 42-29 in the opening frame.

The Nuggets opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run, quickly pulling themselves back into the game. However, the Kings answered right back, extending their lead to 53-39, leading to another timeout from Malone. Sacramento maintained control throughout the half, carrying a 65-55 advantage into the break. LaRavia led the Kings at halftime with 15 points, while Jamal Murray paced the Nuggets with 11. The Kings shot 52% from the field and 50% from deep in the first half, while the Nuggets shot 40.9% and 31.6%, respectively.

The third quarter was a battle of runs, with both teams exchanging bursts of momentum. The Kings started strong, followed by an 8-0 Nuggets run, before Sacramento regained control. Neither team could fully seize momentum, but the Kings managed to hold off Denver and took a 93-84 lead into the final quarter. Sacramento’s defense, which had held Dallas to just 66 points through three quarters on Monday, limited the Nuggets to 84 points through three quarters in this contest.

The fourth quarter was up for grabs. Early on, the Nuggets seized the moment, storming back to take a 96-95 lead after a Zeke Nnaji three-pointer with 8:17 remaining. From that point on, the Kings went ice-cold offensively, managing just nine points over nearly nine minutes. This scoring drought proved costly, as Denver ultimately secured the victory, 116-110. It was a tough loss for Sacramento, which had played disciplined basketball for most of the night but faltered down the stretch with costly defensive lapses and offensive struggles.

DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 35 points, while Russell Westbrook paced the Nuggets with 25. The loss dropped Sacramento to 32-29 on the season, while Denver improved to 40-22.

After the game, the Kings did not hold back in their criticism of the officiating. DeRozan expressed his frustration bluntly, stating, “The refs were terrible. Terrible as sh*t. Simple as that.”

Doug Christie also weighed in on the officiating, particularly the free throw disparity, saying, “The free throw discrepancy… I thought the guys attacked the rim, and I think they played a solid game.” Later in the press conference, when asked about the team’s three-point defense, Christie responded, “I have to go look and see if they were fouled because I’m not exactly sure. We do not want to foul three-point shooters.”

The locker room was filled with frustration postgame, but the team remained focused on bouncing back at home.

Up Next: The Kings return to Golden 1 Center to face the San Antonio Spurs on Friday at 7 PM PST.

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Curry leads Warriors with 28 pts in win over Knicks; Golden State are in Brooklyn Thursday

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Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) passes the basketball away from the New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) from floor level in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on Tue Mar 4, 2025 (AP News photo)

On Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry led with 28 points and nine assists and ran his personal record against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden to 12-1 in the Warriors 114-102 win on Tuesday night.

#2 The Warriors Jimmy Butler and Bradin Podziemski each had 19 points and the Warriors are now 3-1 on this current five game road trip. The Warriors are now 12-2 in their last 14 games when playing at Madison Square Garden.

#3 Next up for Golden State they tip off against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Thu Mar 13 for a 4:00pm PST tip. The Nets are a struggling bunch who have lost five in a row and are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference at 21-40.

Join David Zizmor for the Golden State Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors game wrap: Curry leads Golden State with 28 in win over Knicks 114-102

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) takes the ball up the floor in the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tue Mar 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK, NY. — The Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks 114-102 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden led by Stephan Curry, who notched his 10th consecutive victory and a 12-1 record at the historic venue.

Curry, who returned to the floor despite right ankle soreness, finished with 28 points and nine assists in 33 minutes.

Golden State’s shots were not going in for much of the first half, but they fought for possessions and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr credited the win in large part to Jimmy Butler.

Butler scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half. The Warriors are 9-1 in 10 games that Butler has played with them.

“I give him and all of our guys a lot of credit because they’re finding a new identity and it’s fun to watch them find it,’ said Kerr.

The Warriors and Knicks were even throughout the first quarter, with the Knicks finishing ahead 26-25.

The defining moment of the game was when Curry and the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson re-entered the game with 6:33 left to go and Golden State went on a 11-0 run in four minutes, to boost their lead up to 105-93 with 2:30 left in the game.

Brandin Podziemski also scored 19 points and Draymond Green had eight points, nine rebounds and eight assists on the day he turned 35.

“The energy and camaraderie I think is essential, I would say it looks different because we’re winning a lot more,” said Podziemski. “Jimmy is a different player than what we had and so he just adds a different element to our group that we didn’t have.”

Golden State (34-28) won their second straight game after beating the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, and snapped the Knicks’ (40-21) three-game winning streak.The Warriors are 3-1 in their five-game trip and have won 12 of their last 14 games at the Garden.

Curry relished in the moment of his new milestone at MSG.

“It’s Madison Square Garden, it speaks for itself. This is a place that naturally has great, unique basketball energy and like the fans are unreal like the who’s who’s celebrity row all that, but just everybody’s anticipating great basketball and from my first game here in college to now like it’s always delivered,” he said.

“So for us in the Western Conference we only get once chance here, so we try to make the most of it.”

The Warriors continue their road trip on Thursday facing the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Tip-off is at 4:30 p.m. PT.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings go for their fifth win in a row in tough task Denver Wednesday

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Sacramento Kings Jonas Valanciunas (17) defends against the Dallas Mavericks Kyrie Irving (right) in the first half at American Airlines Arena in Dallas on Mon Mar 3, 2025

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Sacramento Kings Zach LaVine scored 22 points and DeMar DeRozan followed up with 20 points. LaVine and DeRozan sat out in the fourth quarter in the Kings win over the Dallas Mavericks 122-98. It was the Kings fifth straight win.

#2 Tough break for the Mavericks Kyrie Irving was lost in the latter part of the first quarter due to a left knee sprain. How much did that impact the Mavericks loss physically and mentally.

#3 The Kings have caught fire winning winning four straight after the win against the Mavericks and have won four of their last five games. Looks like head coach Doug Christie has the team turned around again.

#4 What is impressive is that the Kings have this win streak going and handled themselves well without Domantas Sabonis whose been dominate in the triple doubles category. Sabonis who injured himself in the first minute of the Kings game in Houston last Saturday.

#5 Kings are in Denver on Wednesday night for a 6:00pm PT tip. The Nuggets are third in the Western Conference at 39-22. The Nuggets have won seven of their last ten games and have the home floor advantage. The Kings with their fourth win in a row are eighth in the Conference and are a half game back of the sixth place Golden State Warriors. How do you see this match up Wednesday night in Denver?

Tony Renteria does the Sacramento Kings podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com