Tag: NBA

Kings Beat Pelicans In Game One of Their Back-to-Back Series 119-111

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Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis (23) shoots a three pointer over the New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) in the first half at Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans on Wed Feb 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Last Saturday night the Sacramento Kings (28-26) won a close game over the New Orleans Pelicans (12-42) and Wednesday night the Kings

The Kings won the first of a back to back series with New Orleans 119-111. They will be looking to sweep the Pelicans Thursday night in their fourth matchup this season. Keon Ellis had a banner night off the bench hitting 27 points with five rebounds.

Domantas Sabonis had his 48th double double of the season with 15 rebounds and 16 points. DeMar DeRozan finished with 24 points and Zach LaVine with 23. Keegan Murray did not have a great shooting night but showed up defensively with seven rebounds having the unenviable task of guarding Zion Williamson who had the Pelican high with 33 points. The loss was the Pelicans tenth loss in a row.

Game recap: Sacramento did get a nice start going on a 12-0 run leading after the first 12 minutes 34-26. The Pelicans fought hard to cut the deficit to a single point in the second quarter and the Kings had loosened up letting the Pelicans back into the game.

Sacramento had at one time led by 16 points. Mid-way through the second quarter, Domantas Sabonis committed his third personal creating a shaky situation for the point forward. At 8:53 the Pelicans took their first lead of the game going on a 24-6 run.

The Sacramento offense had drastically cooled off in a wild turnaround. New Orleans had taken a 42-37 lead. The Kings answered going on a 9-0 run taking the lead back 46-37. Sacramento’s Keon Ellis was on a tear with 22 points in 14 minutes of play leading both teams in scoring.

The Kings kept letting the Pelicans challenge and with two minutes left in the half, New Orleans trailed by three points 57-54. Sacramento was having a rough time putting any distance between themselves and the feisty Pelicans. With 1:11 left in the half the game was tied at 59. At the half the Kings had broken the tie leading 65-63.

This was a wild second quarter with the Kings letting the Pelicans dictate the pace when they had it all going in the opening quarter. They would have some work to do in the second half and that would have to come from Zach LaVine and Keegan Murray who had been quiet in the first half only scoring three points each.

Among the starters, DeMar DeRozan had the high with 16 points but it was Keon Ellis who was really playing hard scoring 22 points in fifteen minutes of play. Sacramento had a lot of turnovers in the first half with ten and did not want a repeat of the 21 turnovers in their last game against the Mavericks Monday night. (They would finish the game with only 11 turnovers)

The Pelicans had three starters in double figures with Zion Williamson leading hitting 19 points. Trey Murphy III and Jose Alvarado also had a good first half chipping in 13 points apiece.

The third quarter remained close and with under three minutes left the Kings pushed out a 90-81 lead. They went on a 8-0 run hitting a number of three’s having hit 14 so far in the game. Zach LaVine got into double digits in the quarter now scoring a total of 12 points. Sacramento would have to hang tight in the fourth quarter with the Pelicans nipping at their heels. The Kings took a 92-86 lead into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter remained fairly close into the final minutes of the game. Sacramento began to string together stops and with under three minutes left on the clock the Kings had a 113-104 lead. Sacramento continued to extend their lead and with under a minute left in the game had a 115-107 lead and this game was a wrap. The final was 119-111.

Beating a team four times in one season is not easy and Sacramento will have their work cut out for them in the final game with the Pelicans this season. They have all the weapons to do it but need to execute Thursday night. They will have to contain Zion Williamson, a tough assignment.

Game recap: Wednesday night, the Kings traveled to New Orleans for a matchup with the Pelicans in the first of a double-header. The Kings were focused on a far different start than the one they had in their last contest with New Orleans back on Sat Feb 8th which was less than a week ago.

In the first quarter of that game the Pelicans had taken a 29-9 lead and the Kings had to fight hard to make up that deficit. Thanks to a lopsided third quarter in which the Kings overwhelmed the Pelicans 45-22, which had a lot to do with the eventual 123-118 win for Sacramento, they do not want a repeat of the first quarter in that game. They got a strong start in Wednesday night’s game.

The two teams will be back at it Thursday night at Smoothie King Center with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 PM. Sacramento will be looking for their third win over New Orleans in less than a week.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings take on struggling Pelicans at Smoothie King Arena tonight

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Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (center left) tries to take a shot on the Dallas Mavericks Kessler Edwards (20) who defends in the first half at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas on Tue Feb 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Sacramento Kings DeMar DeRozan led with 42 points on Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks 129-128 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. DeRozan even had a baseline floater with just two seconds left for the winning basket.

#2 The Kings Zach LaVine and Malik Monk scored 17 points each to start the Kings three game road trip.

#3 Domantas Sabonis continues to roll and has been a huge help for the Kings and leads the NBA with 47 double doubles but was not selected this weekend’s All Star game.

#4 The Kings are now 14-8 going into tonight’s game in New Orleans under head coach Doug Christie since taking over after former Kings head coach Mike Brown was was 13-18 was fired Dec 27th.

#5 The Kings take on the Western Conference last place New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans have lost nine straight games. The Kings are in ninth in the Western Conference have won their last two games. How do you see this match up tonight.

Before catching Kings basketball stop by Old Sacramento for a spectacular Mexican Meal at Le Terezza Restaurant at 1027 Second Street Sacramento. Choose from an array of delicious Mexican favorites on the menu. Call 916-440-0874.

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

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Warrior on a roll battle Thompson and Mavericks tonight

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Milwaukee Bucks Taurean Price (12) attempts to take a shot against the Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (30) at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Tue Feb 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 In the Warriors last win on Monday night Stephen Curry scored 38 points a season high after pulling away from the Milwaukee Bucks for the Warriors second straight win 125-111.

#2 Jimmy Butler scored 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in his second game with the Warriors. Buddy Hield had 16 points, with Quintin Post and Moses Moody scoring 13 each.

#3 Warriors are in Dallas tonight to battle the Mavericks at American Airlines Arena. The Mavericks are 28-26 and are in eighth in the NBA Western Conference how do you see this game tonight at 6:30pm PST.

For great Italian taste you don’t want to miss UNI Pizzeria at 1234 Polk Street in San Francisco’s Polk Gulch neighborhood. UNI serves some of the best pastas and pizzas make it your next stop before you take in your favorite sport. UNI Pizzeria 1234 Polk Street San Francisco. Call 415-740-2794 for pick up.

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

DeRozan To the Rescue As Kings Beat Mavericks In Overtime 129-128

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Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) gets up for a one handed shot over the Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards (20) at American Airlines Arena in Dallas on Mon Feb 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

This had to be one of the craziest games the Sacramento Kings (27-26) have played all season. In overtime they beat the Dallas Mavericks (28-26) 129-128. There were 28 lead changes in this game. The Kings DeMar DeRozan kept the team connected when the Mavericks took control in the fourth quarter. He finished with 42 points with every starter in double digits. Domantas Sabonis had his 47th double double of the season.

Monday night after a home win against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Kings went back out of the road taking on the Mavericks. The Mavericks have a bit of a new look these days with the absence of Luca Doncic who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers sending Anthony Davis over to Dallas.

Davis has been good for the Mavericks contributing to their last two wins.. Their latest win was over the Houston Rockets 116-105 Saturday night. The Kings also come into this game on a win beating the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday night 123-118.

Sacramento was focused on containing Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. The Kings didn’t face newcomer to Dallas Anthony Davis who will miss multiple weeks with a left adductor strain. His absence could very well stretch out to a month. This sure cut short what has been a spectacular debut with the Mavericks for Davis.

The Mavericks took a 35-27 lead after the first 12 minutes of play but the Kings had the answer outscoring the Mavericks 34-26 in the second quarter and at the half this game was dead even at 61.

After two quarters the Kings were shooting at 60% from the field and out-rebounding Dallas but the 12 turnovers they had in the first half did them no favors. Both Malik Monk and Keegan Murray had a quiet first half.

The good news for the Kings was that they had a far better start than they had Saturday night. Through the first two quarters of play this game was about as tight as it could be and this game was up for grabs. Despite a great start for Sacramento they had to put the stops on all the turnovers.

As the third quarter began to wind down Zach LaVine had to take a break committing his third foul. With three minutes left in the third, every starter had double digits with the exception of Malik Monk who was still dragging with only six points and no rebounds.

The quarter was a see-saw affair with lead changes all over the place not to mention the five ties. The Mavericks finished off the third quarter taking a 93-87 lead into the fourth quarter. The Dallas bench was crushing it hitting 50 points because their starters quite frankly were really struggling.

They were keeping the Mavericks in this game. There had been 12 ties in the game through three quarters. Sacramento now had 17 turnovers giving up 29 points on those turnovers.

The fourth quarter would decide this game. Sacramento had to put the reins on those turnovers in the final quarter. Those turnovers would no doubt make a huge difference in the eventual outcome of this game.

With 7 1/2 minutes left in the game the Mavericks had established a ten-point lead 103-93. With under seven minutes left in the game the Kings began to make a move cutting the Maverick’s lead to three 103-100.

DeMar DeRozan went on a crazy run. He just couldn’t miss going 4 of 4 from downtown and 13 of 15 in total. With five minutes left on the clock it was a one-point game. At the two minute mark, the Mavericks held onto a two-point lead 114-112.

With under a minute this game was once again tied this time at 114. There were seconds left on the clock when Kyrie Irving stole the ball and cashed in giving the Mavericks a 116-114. With 3.5 left in regulation this game was tied when DeMar DeRozan hit an 11-foot two-pointer.

There would be no walk-off win for Dallas and this game went into overtime. Dallas had only played in 2 overtimes games this season and the Kings had 4 overtime games under their belt.

The overtime went right down to the wire with the Kings taking the slightest of leads during the period. DeMar DeRozan who had been hot all night hit the shot that resulted in the 129-128 Sacramento win with two seconds left on the clock. There had been 28 lead changes in this hotly contested game.

The Sacramento Kings played one heck of a game against the Dallas Mavericks. The one thing that could have cost them dearly were the 21 turnovers in the game, something they have to clean up. DeMar DeRozan finished the game with 42 points and seven rebounds.

He hit the shot that gave the Kings the win in overtime. Every starter finished with double digits and Domantas Sabonis had his 47th double double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Zach LaVine and Malik Monk had 17 points apiece. The team shot 55% in Monday nights game.

The Mavericks Kyrie Irving finished the game with 30 points and Klay Thompson chipped in 19 points. The Dallas bench was outstanding with 64 points and very nearly pushed their team to a vicotry but came up just short.

The Kings will now travel to New Orleans for yet another couple of matchups with the Pelicans. They will take on the Pelicans Wednesday and Thursday night. Tipoff for the first game of the series is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Before catching Kings basketball stop by Old Sacramento for a spectacular Mexican Meal at Le Terezza Restaurant at 1027 Second Street Sacramento. Choose from an array of delicious Mexican favorites on the menu. Call 916-440-0874.

21 lead changes

13 ties

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings take on Dallas Mavericks tonight at American Airlines Arena

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New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (left) and Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (center) battle for the basketball in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sat Feb 8, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis scored 27 point and had 16 rebounds and leads the NBA with his 46th double-double as the Kings come back from behind with a 123-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The loss extended the Pelicans losing streak to eight games.

#2 Zach LaVine had 22 points and it highest point total since joining the Kings since coming over from the Chicago Bulls last week. The Kings Keegan Murray scored 19 points and had eight rebounds.

#3 The Pelicans Zion Williamson his highest point total of the season with 40 points and CJ McCollum chalked up 31 points and Trey Murphy III scored 20.

#4 Kings head coach Dough Christie is trying to work newcomers into his system. He has Levine playing more aggressive and he was attacking on offense and fighting his way to the net. Levine finished second on Saturday in scoring with 22 points.

#5 The Kings are in Dallas tonight to battle Anthony Davis and the Mavericks. The Mavericks have won their last two games are sixth in the NBA Western Conference. The game is at the American Airlines Arena tip off at 5:30pm PST.

Before catching Kings basketball stop by Old Sacramento for a spectacular Mexican Meal at Le Terezza Restaurant at 1027 Second Street Sacramento. Choose from an array of delicious Mexican favorites on the menu. Call 916-440-0874.

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

Kings Overcome Slow Start to Secure Gritty Win Over Pelicans 123-118

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Kings newcomers Zach LaVine, Jonas Valančiūnas, and Jake LaRavia light the beam postgame (Photo Sacramento Kings on X).

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO – On Saturday, the Sacramento Kings returned home, ready to take on the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans entered the matchup as one of the worst teams in the NBA, holding a 12-39 record on the season. After the Kings’ loss on Thursday in Portland, they desperately needed a win against the struggling New Orleans squad. The game tipped off at 7 PM PST inside the Golden 1 Center, where the Kings secured a 123-118 victory over the Pelicans.

In the first quarter, the Kings got off to a horrendous start. Their starters were overwhelmed, and the team quickly fell behind by 20 points as the Pelicans took control early, leading 29-9. With the starters struggling, Doug Christie turned to his bench, bringing in Jonas Valančiūnas, Jake LaRavia, and Keon Ellis. The energy immediately shifted, allowing the Kings to cut the deficit to five points. By the end of the quarter, the Kings trailed the Pelicans 34-24, leaving them with work to do.

The Kings showed improvement in the second quarter, but they still couldn’t keep pace with the Pelicans. New Orleans outscored Sacramento 34-30, extending their lead. At halftime, the Kings trailed 65-54. Domantas Sabonis led the way for Sacramento with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the first half.

The third quarter saw the Kings’ offense come alive. They went on a tear, outscoring the Pelicans 45-22 to storm back and take the lead, entering the fourth quarter ahead 99-87. Through three quarters, Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 27 points, while Sabonis paced the Kings with 21.

In the final quarter, the Pelicans outscored the Kings 31-24, but it wasn’t enough to complete a comeback. Sacramento did just enough in the closing minutes to secure the 123-118 victory. Although it wasn’t the prettiest game, the Kings managed to get the job done, which was the most important factor for Doug Christie heading into the matchup. Sabonis led the team with 27 points and 16 rebounds, though he fouled out in the final minutes for the second consecutive game. Williamson finished as the game’s top scorer, dropping 40 points on an ultra-efficient 16-of-21 shooting.

Postgame, I spoke with Trey Murphy about his consistent success against the Kings whenever he plays in Sacramento. On Saturday, he put up 20 points and jokingly said, “I like the nets here in Sacramento.” Murphy continues to develop his game, making significant strides in his fourth NBA season.

Doug Christie addressed the media after the game, reflecting on the slow start. “The start of the game was not really what we wanted. We have to figure out how to begin a little closer to what we did in the third quarter… but the bench came in and gave us a huge boost.”

As the game neared its final minutes, Malik Monk repeatedly approached the scorer’s table only to return to the bench. Postgame, I asked Doug if Monk was set to replace Keon Ellis or another player. Christie clarified, saying, “No, he was coming in for Deebo, but Deebo made a shot. If Malik was in that position, Deebo would have been like, ‘leave him in the game.’ They understand the game, and it’s more about winning.”

This insight sheds light on the potential future role of Keon Ellis. He appears to be one of the most impactful players on the roster, and time will tell if that earns him a spot in the starting lineup. His inclusion in the closing minutes suggests that he is already being rewarded for his contributions.

Before catching Kings basketball stop by Old Sacramento for a spectacular Mexican Meal at Le Terezza Restaurant at 1027 Second Street Sacramento. Choose from an array of delicious Mexican favorites on the menu. Call 916-440-0874.

Up Next: The Kings will travel to Dallas to take on the new-look Mavericks on Monday at 5:30 PM PST at the American Airlines Center.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings host Pelicans Saturday look to get back in win column

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Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) and the Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis (23) battle for the basketball in the first half at the Moda Center in Portland on Thu Feb 6, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Portland Trail Blazers Anfernee Simons scored 30 points and shot for eight 3 pointers as the Portland Trailblazers picked up their sixth win in a row at the Moda Center in Portland over the Sacramento Kings in a 108-102 win on Thursday night.

#2 Matching up scorers for the Trail Blazers Shaedon Sharpe hit 24 points and helped the Blazers win their tenth game out of their last 11 games. The Kings DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points and the Kings continue to suffer losing five of their last six games.

#3 In spite of the loss the Kings had a one point lead on the Blazers after DeRozan hit a jumper an added a free throw with 6:36 remaining in the game. Sharpe scored a three pointer after that and the Blazers never looked back.

#4 The Kings Zach Levine who made his debut on Wednesday finishing third in scoring and finished with DeRozan for first in scoring with 22 points. How is Levine looking so far?

#5 The Kings return back to Sacramento to host the New Orleans Pelicans for a 7:00pm tip on Saturday. The Pelicans are in dead last in the Western Conference at 12-39 and have lost seven straight games. Jeremiah this might be the Kings best chance to get back in the win column after losing their last two games.

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

https://soundcloud.com/sports-radio-service/sacramento-kings-podcast-with-jeremiah-salmonson-fri-feb-7-2025

 

 

Kings Inability to Contain Trail Blazers Long Ball Spells Another Loss For Sacramento 108-102

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Sacramento Kings forward Domanta Sabonis (11) and Portland Trailblazers center Deandre Ayton (2) battle for a rebound at the Moda Center in Portland Thu Feb 6, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In a hotly contested game the Sacramento Kings (25-26) fell to the red-hot Trail Blazers (23-29) 108-102. This was Portland’s sixth win in a row and their 10th win of the last 11 games. The Kings had this game pretty within their reach but the final three minutes of the game proved to be their undoing.

Domantas Sabonis fouled out in the final minutes and the Kings just fell short. Despite not having any practice time with his new team, Zach LaVine finished with 19 points and we are sure to see a lot more with each game. The Blazers killed Sacramento with 16 shots from behind the arc while the Kings could not keep pace shooting for 10 three’s.

Game recap: The opening quarter was a most competitive one and after the first 12 minutes of play the game was tied at 27. The second quarter continued to be a back and forth fight with the Trail Blazers outscoring the Kings 27-23 and leading at the half 54-50. The Trail Blazers had taken as much as a five point lead in the second quarter.

DeMar DeRozan had a slow start in the first half. Domantas Sabonis also had a quiet first quarter but began to heat up in the second. The good news for Sacramento was that they were hanging in this game in the first half. The shot that was taking its toll was the three and it was Portland that was hitting them. They just could not miss and the Kings would need to shut that down in the third quarter.

After a back and forth first half, the Kings began to take a bit of a lead towards the end of the third quarter. With 1:57 left in the third the Kings had taken a 77-71 lead but Portland came roaring back to pull to within one point 77-76 in the final seconds.

As the third quarter came to an end, the Trail Blazers had taken back the lead 79-77. After turning the ball over 11 times in the first half, the Trail Blazers only had two in the quarter. The Kings had eight turnovers through three quarters. This game had been closely contested and it all came down to the fourth quarter. Sacramento was aiming to break Portland’s five game win streak and they would need to dig deep to do it.

The Trail Blazers continued to taunt the Kings with three more shots from beyond the arc to start the final quarter. With 9:24 left in the game Portland had hit 14 three’s. At the ten minute mark, the Trail Blazers had taken an 85-79 lead.

The Kings answered taking back the lead only to relinquish it back to Portland 96-93 at 3:55 in this fast paced game. In a game this tight, Sacramento had plenty of opportunity to come out of this one with a win.

The largest lead for both of these teams had been six points apiece. In a horrible turn with under three minutes left on the clock, Domantas Sabonis fouled out of the game and the Kings would really have their work cut out for them. The Kings inability to shut down the Trail Blazers three-point shot was their undoing. The final was 108-102 in favor of Portland.

The Kings entire starting lineup finished the game in double figures. Domantas Sabonis had his customary double double with 14 rebounds and 10 points. The high for the Kings was DeMar DeRozan with 22 followed by Malik Monk with 21 and Zach LaVine with 20.

The high score for the Trail Blazers was Anfernee Simons with 30 points. They got some great work off the bench from Shaedon Sharpe with 24 points. They finished with 35 points off the bench to the Kings 15 points.

Game notes: After a tough loss to the Miami Heat at Golden 1 Wednesday night the Kings were back on the road in Portland to take on the Trail Blazers. Portland is on a roll winning ten of their last 11 games and five in a row.

The Heat ruined the debut of new King Zach LaVine who finished the game with 13 points as he continues to work into the Sacramento lineup. Having played Wednesday night, the Kings has had practically no practice time with LaVine.

Thursday night, the Kings couldn’t contain Deandre Ayton as well as points from beyond the arc in which the Blazers excel Ayton had 18 points, in fact, Portland shot 14 three’s in Wednesday night game against the Pacers. With the course that Portland is on right now, the Blazers proved a tough matchup especially since this game was at Moda Center.

The Kings have now suffered two losses in a row and will be looking to put an end to this unsavory streak when they take on the New Orleans Pelicans at Golden 1 on Saturday night. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Kings Struggle in First Game After Fox Trade, Fall to Magic 130-111

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Zach LaVine drives towards the basket against the Orlando Magic (Photo Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento Kings returned to action on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, welcoming the Orlando Magic for a 7 PM PST matchup. The Kings ultimately fell to the Magic, 130-111.

The Kings came home bruised and battered after a grueling 2-4 road trip that took them across the country. During the stretch, Sacramento secured wins against the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves but suffered defeats against the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets. However, the biggest story of the trip was the seismic shift in the franchise’s roster. The week marked the departure of longtime franchise cornerstone De’Aaron Fox, along with Kevin Huerter. Rumors had circulated for weeks that Fox was likely to be moved before the trade deadline, and the speculation became reality when the Kings sent Fox and Huerter to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Zach LaVine, along with three first-round picks and three second-round picks. It was the end of an era for Sacramento, as Fox had been with the team for the past eight seasons.

The trade sparked mixed emotions throughout Sacramento, but the city was ready to turn the page and embrace the new-look Kings.

The game began with the Kings struggling to find their rhythm. In the first quarter, Sacramento was outscored 37-31, as the offense visibly adjusted to its new personnel. Domantas Sabonis and Franz Wagner led all scorers with nine points each. The second quarter saw a more composed effort from the Kings, who outscored the Magic 29-25 to narrow the gap heading into halftime. Sacramento settled in defensively and dictated the pace more effectively, but offensive cohesion remained a work in progress. Zach LaVine, playing his first game with the team, looked somewhat out of sync within the offensive flow—an understandable adjustment period. By halftime, Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 16 points apiece, while Orlando’s Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combined for 30 first-half points. The Kings entered halftime trailing 62-60.

The second half unraveled quickly for Sacramento. In what was an uncharacteristic collapse, the Kings suffered a disastrous third quarter, being outscored 42-23. The game, competitive in the first half, spiraled into a blowout quickly. Orlando opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run, and Sacramento never regained its footing. Heading into the fourth, the Kings trailed 104-83. The final period offered little improvement, as Sacramento failed to regain control, ultimately falling 130-111.

Turnovers played a significant role in the Kings’ defeat. Sacramento committed 19 turnovers, leading to 28 points for Orlando. While the Kings’ shooting wasn’t abysmal, gifting the opponent additional possessions proved costly. Sabonis led Sacramento with 21 points, while Wagner spearheaded the Magic’s victory with 31 points.

After the game, Doug Christie and Domantas Sabonis addressed the media. Sabonis maintained an optimistic tone, downplaying the loss as part of the growing pains that come with roster changes. “We just need to keep trusting,” he said. “We’re going to watch film and teach Zach some of the new things we’re doing because we all need to mesh together… The first half wasn’t that bad, but the second half got out of hand.”

Doug Christie, on the other hand, was far more blunt in his assessment. “Unacceptable in a lot of different ways, especially on the defensive end,” he stated. “Must, must be better. Must play with a level of energy, intensity, physicality, and aggressiveness that I want to see—and that I believe they have begun to expect from themselves. But that wasn’t it.”

Up Next: The Kings will travel to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers in the second night of a back-to-back. Tip-off is set for 7 PM PST.

Butler dealt to Golden State from Miami; Durant doesn’t want to come back to Warriors

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Newest Golden State Warriors and former Miami Heat Jimmy Butler comes over to San Francisco in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson who joins the Miami Heat a deal made on Wed Feb 5, 2025 (ESPN still photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Miami Heat traded Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. Butler was not happy in Miami and did not get along with Pat Riley team president. Former Golden State Warrior Kevin Durant said he did not want to be traded to Golden State as his current team the Phoenix Suns are searching for a landing place for Durant.

One of the deals was to have Durant come to the Warriors and Butler would go to the Phoenix Suns. The deal now has Butler signing a $111 million two year deal that runs through 2026-27. Butler has declined the player option of $52 million.

The Warriors have sent Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson to Miami that includes a top 10 protected 2025 first round draft pick. Dennis Schroder was traded to the Utah Jazz. The Jazz will now send former Miami forward PJ Tucker back to Miami. Tucker played for the Heat in 2021-22.

Guard Lindy Waters III will go to the Detroit Pistons leaving Golden State and Josh Richardson will go from Miami to the Pistons. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr informed the team of the trades before their game in Utah on Wednesday night.

Wiggins who got dealt to Miami was the team leading scorer with an average of 17.6 points. Wiggins was noted for being one of the best guards on the Warriors who defended both guards and forward and had the ability to play top level offense.

Wiggins was informed of the trade after taking warm ups before the game in Utah and shook hands with security guard, an assistant coach and two Warrior players before packing up his items at his locker in preparation for the trip to join the Heat.

Jerry Feitelberg is an NBA analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com