Tag: NBA

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings face Giannis and Bucks Saturday at Golden 1

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Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) is under guard by Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (left) and Dalen Terry (right) during second half at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Mar 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Coby White of the Chicago Bulls (30-40) was an offensive force leading with 35 points that help keep the Bulls in the game during the first half against the Sacramento Kings (35-34).

#2 Jeremiah Kevin Hueter finished second in scoring for the Bulls with 25 points was there any advantage for Hueter to face his former team the Kings and to come off with a successful game against them.

#3 The Kings keyed in on Bulls Tre Jones whose has been an offensive weapon who scored 15 points but that didn’t stop the Bulls from getting some good offense and a 12 points win 128-116.

#4 DeMar DeRozan who formerly played for the Bulls was second in scoring for the Kings with 22 points was there no doubt that DeRozan has something to prove facing his former team on Thursday night?

#5 The Kings tip off against the Milwaukee Bucks this Saturday night at 7:00pm at Golden 1 in Sacramento. The Bucks are coming off a win against the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night 118-89. The Bucks are fifth in the NBA Eastern Conference at 38-30. How do you see this match up?

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

Coby White, Huerter Power Bulls Past Kings in Sacramento

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Malik Monk scored 34 during the matchup against the Bulls on Thursday (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings were back in action Thursday night, playing the second night of a back-to-back. They welcomed the Chicago Bulls to Golden 1 Center for a 7 PM PST tip-off, marking Kevin Huerter’s return to Sacramento.

Huerter’s return felt bittersweet for Kings fans. He was a key part of the original Beam Team that pushed the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the playoffs just a couple of years ago. However, both the team and Huerter fell short of expectations in his final two seasons in Sacramento. On Thursday, it was all smiles and hugs for Huerter as he greeted media members, coaches, fans, and Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé.

The Bulls entered the game ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 29-40 record, while the Kings held the same position in the West at 35-33. Chicago came away with the win, defeating Sacramento 128-116.

The Kings started strong in the first quarter, catching fire from beyond the arc. Malik Monk hit five threes and Trey Lyles added four as Sacramento outscored Chicago 39-28 while shooting 65% from deep. Monk led the way with 15 points in the quarter, and Lyles added 12. The Bulls struggled to contain Sacramento’s attack, with Tre Jones leading Chicago with six points early.

In the second quarter, the Kings maintained the pressure but couldn’t stretch their lead. Chicago edged Sacramento 27-25 in the period, cutting the deficit slightly. The Kings led 64-55 at the break, playing solid basketball through the first half. Monk paced Sacramento with 19 points at halftime, while Nikola Vučević led the Bulls with 11.

The third quarter saw a shift in momentum. Chicago came out energized and outscored Sacramento 37-25, seizing control of the game. The Kings lost their edge, and the Bulls began to believe they could steal a road win.

In the fourth, the Bulls kept their foot on the gas. They outscored the Kings 36-27 in the final frame, closing out the win behind big performances from Coby White and Kevin Huerter. White finished with 35 points, and Huerter added 25 in his Sacramento return.

After the game, Doug Christie echoed a message he’s repeated during the team’s recent struggles. “Unacceptable,” Christie said at the postgame press conference. “There’s a lot there that’s unacceptable, but you can’t let people come into your house and just do what they want. The energy necessary to do what we need to do was not there tonight.”

Key Performers:
Malik Monk led the Kings with 34 points.

Trey Lyles added 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points for the Bulls, becoming the 27th player in NBA history to surpass 25,000 career points.

Up Next:

The Sacramento Kings stay home to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday at 7 PM PST at Golden 1 Center.

Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong: TV star Tracy Morgan hospitalized for food poisoning at Knicks game; Clippers head coach Lue out with bad back; plus more NBA news

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Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock comedian Tracy Morgan had suffered from food poisoning at Madison Square Garden in New York and had to go to the hospital. Morgan said he’ll be just fine and later took a picture of himself in the hospital. (photo by James L Edwards and Logan Bartlett Instagram)

Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan got food poising on Monday night at the Miami Heat and New York Knicks game. Morgan got so sick he had to end up going to the hospital from the game. He had thanked fans for their concern and said that the Knicks are now 1-0 when he throws up on the court.

#2. Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyroon Lue didn’t make himself available to the media after their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers as his back pain got worse. Lue has been suffering back pain this season and missed three games earlier this month. The Clippers were 2-1 without Lue in front of the bench and assistant Brian Shaw had to fill in beating the Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat but losing to the New Orleans Pelicans.

#3 Jessica, the Golden State Warriors rested their superstar Stephen Curry against one of the best teams in the NBA the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Curry was 6-21, 20 points, seven assists, seven turnovers in the Warriors loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night a game that ended their seven game win streak. Curry has a lower back strain and it had been hampering him since taking warm ups before Thursday’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

#4 The Oklahoma City Thunder held out three starters for Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Lu Dort. Isaiah Hartenstein is out with a sore back and Cason Wallace sore shoulder were questionable for tonight’s game. The Thunder in spite of the injuries had won three in a row previous to Wednesday night’s game.

#5 Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert had thumb surgery for a torn ligament on his left thumb and will miss the rest of the regular season. The Wizards are expecting Kispert to make a full recovery and will be back for next season. Kispert injured the thumb Saturday against the Denver Nuggets in a game the Wizards won 126-123.

Join Jessica every other Wednesday for Headline Sports podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Short-Handed Kings Rally to Upset East-Leading Cavaliers 123-119

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Malik Monk during the Kings vs Cavs game on Wednesday night (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings came into Wednesday night’s game against the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers short-handed, missing key players due to injuries and absences. The Kings were without Domantas Sabonis (ankle sprain), Jake LaRavia (illness), and Zach LaVine (personal reasons).

Before the game, Doug Christie emphasized the importance of trust as the Kings prepared to rely on a depleted rotation. “I think even with our guys prior to the other night, that was one of the things we were trying to establish,” Christie said. “For players that haven’t played, the message to them is to play the right way. It doesn’t matter the name on the back of the jersey, it’s about the name on the front.”

Togetherness and consistency, regardless of the opponent, have been key messages from Christie all season. On Wednesday, the Kings needed to embrace that fully to take down Cleveland—and they did just that, earning a hard-fought 123-119 victory.

The first quarter was brutal for the Kings offensively. They shot an abysmal 4-of-23 from the field and were outscored 22-15. Watching the game, it felt like a twilight zone moment, the shooting struggles were so bad that it was remarkable Sacramento trailed by only seven at the end of the period. On the other side, Cleveland wasn’t exactly in rhythm either, shooting 9-of-20 from the floor.

The Kings’ shooting improved in the second quarter, but it wasn’t enough to cut into the Cavs’ lead. Cleveland outscored Sacramento 34-32 in the period, extending its advantage to nine points at the half. The Kings had plenty to build on heading into the third, especially with the Cavaliers playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Despite their shooting struggles, Sacramento was down only single digits. Malik Monk led the Kings with 14 first-half points, while Ty Jerome paced Cleveland with 12. The Kings shot 34% from the field in the half compared to the Cavs’ 56%.

Sacramento completely flipped the script in the third quarter. Fueled by strong play on both ends from Devin Carter, the Kings surged ahead by as many as 11 points. However, Cleveland responded in what became a game of runs, clawing back to keep it close. The Kings outscored the Cavs 43-32 in the period to take a 90-88 lead into the fourth. The Golden 1 Center crowd erupted as Sacramento found its rhythm, putting Cleveland on its heels. With momentum on their side, the Kings needed to execute down the stretch to finish the job.

The final quarter was a battle, with both teams trading blows on both ends of the floor. In the end, the Kings did just enough plays to secure the 123-119 win, outscoring Cleveland 33-31 in the quarter. It was a complete team effort—every Kings player who logged more than seven minutes finished in double figures. Devin Carter and Trey Lyles combined for 29 points, with Carter providing a crucial spark off the bench. Evan Mobley led all scorers with 31 points in a losing effort for the Cavs. With the win, the Kings improved to 35-33, while Cleveland dropped to 56-13.

Doug Christie was clearly pleased with his team’s effort after the game. “Fantastic fight… that’s what Sacramento Kings basketball is all about. You bring that every single time.”

When asked how he got such an impressive performance from his team, Christie said, “That’s the performance I expect. The result may vary from time to time… but a high level of intensity and physicality, when you put on our jersey, that’s what is expected, and hats off to our guys.”

Keegan Murray echoed those sentiments. “It was a good win, especially after the week we had last week and with guys out tonight. It was a good team win against a very good team.”

After a rough stretch that saw them lose four straight, the Kings regained some confidence as they began a long homestand.

Key Performances

  • DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 27 points.
  • Malik Monk scored 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting.
  • Devin Carter added 16 points, five rebounds, and three steals.

Playoff Picture

The Kings remain in ninth place in the Western Conference, sitting 3.5 games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves and LA Clippers for the seventh and eighth spots. They hold a three-game lead over the Phoenix Suns, who occupy the 10th seed.

Up Next

The Kings stay home to face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at 7 PM PST in the second night of a back-to-back.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings take on NBA’s best Cavaliers Wednesday night

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Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) drives on the Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (left) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Mon Mar 17. 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony R:

#1 The Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis took a beating taking Memphis Grizzlies Luke Kennard’s head that hit him in the face resulting in a cut above his left eye and later returned only to roll his right ankle in the third quarter.

#2 The Kings however did the beating on the scoreboard with a 132-122 win over the Memphis Grizzlies and ending their four game losing streak at home at Golden 1 Center.

#3 The Kings DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points, six rebounds with nine assists and Keegan Murray provided 16 point, ten rebounds in what contributed to the Kings win over the Grizzlies.

#4 Tony talk about interim head coach Doug Christie who won his 21st game since joining the Kings back in December?

#5 Next up for the Kings the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs are the knock out punch of the Eastern Conference first place at 56-11. The Cavaliers have won nine of their last ten games and shockingly lost their last game to the Orlando Magic last Sunday 108-103. How do you see this match on Wednesday night at Golden 1?

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

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor: 7 game win streak comes to an end shorthanded Nuggets defeat Warriors

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Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter (1) takes a jump shot against Golden State Warrior guard Moses Moody (4) and forward Jimmy Butler (10) in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco on Mon Mar 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

Golden State Warriors podcast David Zizmor:

#1 Denver Nuggets Aaron Gordon scored a season high 38 points, teammate Russell Westbrook scored a critical 3 pointer and got a triple double that help lead the Nuggets to a 114-105 win over the Golden State Warriors 114-105 at the Chase Center on Monday night.

#2 Westbrook was key in this game scoring 12 points, 16 assists, and got 12 rebounds. You’ve seen the damage he could do when he was a Oklahoma City Thunder and he repeated that in the win over the Warriors on Monday.

#3 Jimmy Butler scored 23 points for the Warriors and grabbed eight rebounds and got six assists. But Butler couldn’t do it all as the Warriors couldn’t catch the Nuggets and ended their seven game win streak on their home floor at Chase Center.

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

Kings Bounce Back at Home with 132-122 Win Over Grizzlies, but Lose Sabonis to Injury

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Zach LaVine in the game on Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Sacramento Kings returned to action Monday night after a rough two-game road trip, where they suffered blowout losses to the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns. Following the defeat in Phoenix, Doug Christie remarked, “That’s not us,” as the Kings struggled to find their rhythm. Back home, they had an opportunity to bounce back against a Memphis Grizzlies team playing without Ja Morant. The Kings capitalized, securing a 132-122 victory at Golden 1 Center.

Sacramento got off to a strong start, with their offense firing on all cylinders. They outscored Memphis 37-26 in the first quarter, led by DeMar DeRozan’s eight points. Desmond Bane kept the Grizzlies in it with eight of his own. Christie had emphasized the importance of aggression after the loss to Phoenix, and the message clearly resonated.

The Kings maintained their intensity in the second quarter, remaining active in passing lanes and forcing turnovers that led to offensive opportunities. Both teams scored 28 points in the period, allowing Sacramento to hold onto its 11-point lead heading into halftime. Defensively, the Kings racked up nine steals and four blocks while forcing 12 Memphis turnovers. Zach LaVine and Malik Monk led Sacramento with 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Bane paced Memphis with 14. The Kings shot 51% from the field in the half, compared to the Grizzlies’ 46%.

Coming out of halftime, Sacramento aimed to sustain its energy, but an early injury to Domantas Sabonis shifted the atmosphere. Just over a minute into the third quarter, Sabonis rolled his right ankle while driving to the basket and had to be helped off the court. The injury appeared significant, as he had only recently returned from a hamstring injury. Sabonis did not return, and his status remains uncertain. Despite the injury, the Kings edged Memphis 33-32 in the quarter and carried a 98-86 lead into the fourth. Bane continued to lead the Grizzlies with 34 points, while Monk led Sacramento with 20.

Memphis made a push in the final quarter, outscoring Sacramento 36-34, but the Kings held on to secure the much-needed win. Their 132-point performance marked their highest scoring game since February 24th against the Hornets. The victory improved their record to 34-33, keeping them in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. The Grizzlies fell to 43-26, remaining locked into the fifth seed in the West.

Postgame, Christie praised his team’s effort, stating, “That’s us,” in contrast to his remarks following the Phoenix loss.

Sacramento’s defense was a key factor, with nine steals and four blocks helping to generate turnovers in the first half. When asked about the team’s aggressive approach, Christie responded, “A lot of it, to your point, is what we talk about and what we show them… It was pretty exciting for me, and I know it was for them too. I know our fans felt it as well.”

Monk, who had been struggling in recent games, delivered a standout performance with 28 points on 10-for-17 shooting. When asked if he felt like he was back to form, he replied, “Nah, not yet. I need another two or three games, but holla at me after that.”

While the win was crucial, the Kings face a tough test ahead as they prepare to take on the top team in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday. They will be hoping for good news regarding Sabonis’ injury as they look to build on Monday’s performance.

Kings Key Performances:

Malik Monk led the Kings with 28 points on 10-for-17 shooting.

Zach LaVine added 23 points on an efficient 7-for-11 from the field.

Jake LaRavia contributed 12 points and two steals, shooting 4-for-7.

Devin Carter recorded four steals in just under 11 minutes of action.

Up Next: The Kings remain at home to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday at 7 PM at Golden 1 Center.

Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason: Kings hope to end 4 game skid tonight against Grizzlies

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Phoenix Suns Royce O’Neale (00) reaches up and commits a foul on the Sacramento Kings DeMar DeRozan (left) in the first half at Footprint Arena in Phoenix on Fri Mar 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento Kings defense just couldn’t shut down the Phoenix Suns Devin Booker who had 22 points and 13 assists and Kevin Durant with 22 points as the Suns landslided the Kings last Friday night 122-106.

#2 Tyus Jones was another player that the Kings just couldn’t shutdown, Jones 20 points, hit six 3 pointers for the Suns who as a team scored 24 3 pointers.

#3 What was impressive was the Suns who did make those 24 3 pointers were just one short of the franchise record. They shot 55.8% (24 of 43) from behind the arc.

#4 Some Sacramento numbers for Domantas Sabonis 12 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds this after missing six games after suffering a hamstring injury. DeMar DeRozan 23 points, Zach LaVine 21 points and Malik Monk 18 points a hard effort but the Suns just pounced and the Kings could never keep up.

#5 Up next for the Kings the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center. The Grizzlies are fourth in the Western Conference have won five of their last ten games, are 43-25. The Kings are ninth in the conference and have lost four straight games and are .500 at 33-33. Tip off tonight at 7:00pm PDT. How do you see this match up?

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

Kings’ Defensive Woes Continue in Costly 122-106 Loss to Suns

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Keegan Murray dunks in the game against Phoenix on Friday night (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

PHOENIX — The Sacramento Kings’ season was teetering as their plane landed Friday night. Coming off a brutal 130-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors the night before, they arrived in Phoenix desperate for a win. They had lost four of their last five games, and with the Warriors widening their lead for the sixth seed in the Western Conference and the Suns lurking in 11th, the Kings needed to regroup quickly.

Before the game, I asked Doug Christie about how the team was moving on from tough losses. “That one (the Knicks loss at home) was emotional from a lot of different standpoints, and that’s part of our evolution as a better ball club. You go through a game experience—maybe you don’t play the way you wanted. You process that till about midnight, maybe 2 a.m., but then you have to reset and come back with the right mindset.” However, moving on from bad losses has been a challenge for the Kings this season. Friday in Phoenix was no different. After falling behind early by double digits, they failed to mount a comeback, dropping the game 122-106.

The Kings got off to another rough start in the first quarter, turning the ball over five times and missing multiple easy shots, quickly falling behind 36-22. Digging themselves into early deficits had become a troubling pattern, and Friday was no exception. They needed a shift in intensity heading into the second quarter.

Sacramento responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring Phoenix 35-26 to trim the deficit to five at halftime, trailing 62-57. They cut down on turnovers, and Malik Monk found his rhythm, scoring 12 points in the quarter. Keegan Murray led the Kings at the half with 14 points, while Kevin Durant matched him with 14 of his own. The Kings shot just 21% from three but a respectable 51% overall, while the Suns shot 55% from deep and 52% from the field.

Coming out of halftime, the Kings unraveled again. The Suns dominated the third quarter 35-25, extending their lead to 97-82. Turnovers and poor perimeter defense plagued Sacramento, and they struggled to put together stops.

The fourth quarter was more of the same. Phoenix continued its hot shooting, and Sacramento had no answers outside of some garbage-time scoring from Zach LaVine. The Kings were outscored 25-24 in the final frame, sealing their 122-106 defeat. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant led the Suns with 22 points each, while DeMar DeRozan paced the Kings with 23.

Postgame, the Kings’ locker room was somber, frustration evident after another costly loss in their fight for playoff positioning. Doug Christie didn’t hold back in his press conference. “Disappointing. I expected a way better performance out of our guys… 38 points off turnovers is never going to do it. Defensively, we must be better. We must be better.”

I asked Christie if he still saw effort from his players. “I think these guys want to win badly… but sometimes they get down, and you can’t do that. That has happened here. It’s unacceptable. I don’t care if the guy is open—if he’s shooting it, I want you running at him. If you don’t have it, raise your hand and get the hell out of the game because someone over there does.” His raw honesty made it clear he was searching for answers to spark his team.

Inside the locker room, the sentiment was similar. Malik Monk acknowledged the team’s defensive struggles, saying, “Yeah, I feel that. Drive, kick, swing, and they might be wide open, and we don’t contest. Then we hang our heads, and that’s where we might be down.”

Zach LaVine reiterated a message he’s been repeating recently: “I’m trying to fit in (to the offense) and win games.” Christie, however, emphasized that LaVine needs to be more aggressive from the start.

With the loss, the Kings fell to 33-33, now five games behind the Warriors for the sixth seed. More concerning, they are just one game ahead of the 10th-seeded Dallas Mavericks as their playoff hopes hang in the balance. 

Up Next: The Sacramento Kings will return home for an extended homestand to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. Tip-off is set for 7 PM PST on Monday inside Golden 1 Center. 

Sacramento Kings podcast Jeremiah Salmonson Fri Mar 14, 2025: Kings just can’t overcome Golden State; Curry scores 4000th career point for Warriors

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It takes three Golden State Warriors guards Gary Payton II (0), Stephen Curry (30) and Draymond Green (23) to defend the Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) in the first half at Chase Center on Thu Mar 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 It was a blow out for the Golden State Warriors over the Sacramento Kings 130-104 at Chase Center in San Francisco. For the Warriors their star player Stephen Curry scored his 4,000th career 3 point.

#2 The Kings pretty much couldn’t stop the Warriors offensive attack in the first quarter the Kings could only muster 18 points and the Warriors came up with a crushing 30 points.

#3 The Kings double teamed Curry who had only 11 points and finished tied for fifth in scoring but got his 4000th career 3 points for his efforts.

#4 The Kings in the fourth quarter scored only 21 points to the Warriors 34 points. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 23 points. It was a lead the Kings just couldn’t overcome.

#5 The Kings in ninth place now have lost two in a row with the loss to Golden State and head to Phoenix against the Suns on Friday night. The Suns are 11th in the Western Conference at 30-36 and have likewise lost two in a row as well. How do you see this one tonight in the Valley of the Sun.

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