Tag: Sacramento Kings

Kings Fourth Quarter Surge Beats Minnesota 115-104

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Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) roars after scoring and drew a foul as the Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) looks on in first half action at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Wed Nov 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (9-10) will surely enjoy their Thanksgiving turkey dinner tomorrow after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves (8-10) 115-104 Wednesday night. The Kings trailed after one quarter and turned it on in the second quarter and bringing it home in the fourth quarter outscoring Minnesota by a shocking 34-18 closing the game on fire.

The Kings hit sa couple of three’s at the end of the game to seal the deal. Domantas Sabonis and bench wizard Malik Monk had 27 points each to finish off the Timberwolves. The team was without DeMar DeRozan in this game.

Game recap: The opening quarter was tight and after the first 12 minutes of play the Timberwolves had a slight edge leading the Kings 33-31. Sacramento turned this game around in the second quarter outscoring Minnesota 38-24 and leading at the half 69-57. Defensively the Kings were running Minnesota ragged .

When it looked as if the Kings had it all going, they fell apart in the third quarter getting outscored 29-12. After having led at the half they now found themselves trailing 81-86 and had some work to do. The fourth quarter was a wild one.

The Kings did outscore the Timberwolves 34-18 in the quarter but with 3:21 left in the game, the score was tied at 102. Sacramento put the screws to Minnesota from that point forward through the rest of the game with De’Aaron Fox Clutch Fox hitting two shots from downtown and Jae Crowder hitting a third to close out this game. The final was 115-104 with Sacramento sealing the deal in the final three minutes of the game.

Despite the absence of DeMar DeRozan out due to a lower back injury, the Sacramento Kings played a solid game offensively and defensively. The injury bug continues to hamper Sacramento although DeRozan is listed as returning this Friday.

The high score for the Kings was bench player Monk and Domantas Sabonis both scoring 27 points in the game. The surge in the final minutes of the fourth quarter was spear-headed by Monk and Fox.

Fox finished with 26 points and Sabonis had another double double scoring 27 points and 12 rebounds. Monk and Fox combined to outscore Minnesota 17-2 in the final five minutes of the game. Their four game losing streak had been broken and the Timberwolves now have lost seven of nine. The best news of all besides the win was the effort by Monk who appears to have fully healed from that right ankle injury suffered a few weeks ago.

The high score for the Timberwolves was Anthony Edwards who finished with 29 points and 5 rebounds. Julius Randle scored 21 points and had 9 rebounds as the Timberwolves struggle to turn their season around after having had a good start. The Kings outscored them in the paint 64-36 and despite scoring 29 points Edwards was 9 of 24 from the field.

Game notes: The Kings ended their four game skid against the Timberwolves at Target Center. The Kings come into this game after a Monday night loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder 130-109. Sacramento had finally seen the return of Sabonis and DeRozan but still suffered the loss to the Thunder.

They were to turn this thing around against the Timberwolves who despite being a very good team have really, much like the Kings, been struggling. The Kings got help from Fox with 26 points and Sabonis 27 points and the Timberwolves have some weapons of their own in Edwards 29 points and Randle 21 points.

Friday night the Kings will travel to Portland for a matchup with the Trail Blazers. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM as Sacramento will be looking to make it two wins in a row. and getting back to five hundred.

Gilgeous-Alexander scores 37 for OKC; Thunder get big help from bench who score 40 in 130-109 win over Kings

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right) knocks the ball out of the hands of Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (left) in first half action at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Mon Nov 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Monday night. The Kings took on the Oklahoma City Thunder inside Golden 1 Center. The Kings were on the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday evening, 108-103.

After the loss, the Kings prepared for the Thunder, who came into the game on Monday with a 12-4 record. The Kings looked to improve their 8-9 record heading into the game. Tip-off was set for 7 PM PST. The Kings lost their fourth straight game as the Thunder defeated the Kings 130-109.

The Kings gave word pregame that Malik Monk would make his return to action on Monday. It was much-welcomed news for a reeling Kings team that hadn’t been fully healthy since Monk’s injury on November 10th.

In the first quarter, the Kings came out with good energy on the offensive side of the ball. However, they were sloppy with the ball. The Kings had five turnovers in the first quarter, which set them on an alarming path. The Kings had been turning the ball over at an alarming rate of late and needed to clean that up. They were outscored in the first quarter 31-30 by the Thunder. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings in the first quarter with nine points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 12 points.

In the second quarter, each team continued to push the intensity on the offensive end of the floor. DeMar DeRozan added another 10 points in a 32-point quarter for the Kings. Allay Mitchell added eight points for the Thunder in the second quarter as they scored 32 points as a team. The Kings went into halftime trailing 63-62. The leading scorer in the game through the first half was DeMar DeRozan with 19 points. I had a feeling the game would come down to three-point shooting in the second half.

In the third quarter, the Kings just couldn’t get anything going. It’s as simple as that. The Kings weren’t active on the defensive end of the floor, and it translated to their offense. The Kings looked like a team lost at sea. The offense had no identity, and they couldn’t hit open shots. The Kings were outscored in the third quarter 34-22 and trailed the Thunder 97-84 heading into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings got blown off the floor. There’s nothing else to write. The Kings couldn’t mount any sort of comeback as they were outscored 33-25 in the fourth. The Kings lost the game 130-109. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 30 points in defeat, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points in victory for the Thunder.

Up Next: The Kings play on Wednesday in Minnesota as they take on the Timberwolves at 5 PM PST.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings host Spurs at Golden 1; Sac hopes to snap 3 losing streak tonight

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The Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) goes for the layup against the Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Brooklyn Nets (7-10) Cam Thomas led with 34 points that helped cover the win over the Sacramento Kings (8-9) for a 108-103 win at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

#2 Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez returned for the first time in Sacramento after being an associate coach under Kings head coach Mike Brown and got to beat his old mentor.

#3 What was amazing in this one in the last two minutes of the game neither the Nets nor the Kings made a field goal and the Kings missed five shots attempts that could have made the difference.

#4 Once again the Kings De’Aaron Fox did the heavy lifting scoring 31 points but couldn’t over shadow the lead that the Nets had throughout the game.

#5 The Kings take on the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at Golden 1 Center. The Thunder are 12-4 second place in the Western Conference. The Thunder have won six of the last ten games. Barbara can you set this game up for us?

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

Brooklyn’s Thomas 34 points beats Kings 108-103; Loss is third in a row for Sac

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The Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas front left charges to the basket against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sun Nov 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Kings were back in action on Sunday night. The Kings last played on Friday night in Los Angeles when they faced the Clippers. The Kings lost to the Clippers 104-88. On Sunday, the Kings hoped to avoid falling below .500. They were set to face the Nets at 7 PM PST in Golden 1 Center. The Kings ultimately lost to the Nets 108-103.

In the first quarter, the Kings’ hangover from Friday seemed to continue. They played with a noticeable lack of urgency and were outscored 37-28. Despite entering the game as 11-point favorites, the Kings struggled to generate any offensive rhythm. De’Aaron Fox was a bright spot, scoring 14 points in the quarter.

In the second quarter, the Nets continued to pressure the Kings. The Kings failed to match the Nets’ pace and physicality but showed slight improvement compared to the first quarter. They outscored the Nets 29-28, reducing the deficit by one point. At halftime, the Kings trailed 65-57. De’Aaron Fox was in top form, scoring 24 points in the first half, while Cam Thomas led the Nets with 22 points.

The Kings’ season felt like it was slipping away. Sure, it was still early, but the atmosphere inside Golden 1 Center was one of concern.

In the third quarter, the Kings finally increased their intensity. They delivered a strong defensive performance, holding the Nets to just 23 points. Offensively, the Kings scored 31 points, tying the game at 88 apiece by the end of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings needed to step up to avoid a third consecutive loss. Unfortunately, they couldn’t close out the game. The Kings were outscored 20-15, resulting in a 108-103 defeat. It was a frustrating loss for the Kings, and the fans made their displeasure known as the game came to a close.

A restless Golden 1 Center began to empty after Kevin Huerter missed a three-pointer that could have kept the game alive. De’Aaron Fox continued his stellar play with 31 points, while Cam Thomas led all scorers with 34 points.

The Kings fell to 8-9 on the season, while the Nets improved to 7-10.

Up Next: The Kings remain at home to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday at 7 PM PST in Golden 1 Center.

Kings Buried By Clippers After Slow First Half 104-88; Clips on 7 game home win streak

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Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) takes a shot against the Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (center) while Kings Domantas Sabonis (11) watches (far left) at Intuit Arena in Inglewood on Fri Nov 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was a tough game for the Sacramento Kings (8-8) losing to the Los Angeles Clippers (10-7) 104-88. A major slow start for the Kings set the stage trailing at the half 29-51 losing the first and second quarters.

The Clippers led by as much as 25 points in this game. The Kings cut the lead to eight points with 2:21 left in the game but they were so far behind the eight ball throughout the game they were playing catchup for four quarters.

It was a lousy first half of basketball for Sacramento pure and simple. They were outplayed by the Clippers throughout the game. Missed shots left and right, turnovers and the fact that Kwahi Leonard was not playing did not make much of a difference for Los Angeles.

Game wrap: The opening quarter was all Los Angeles. The Clippers led after the first 12 minutes 26-12 in the first quarter. The Kings took a 8-2 lead in the opening minutes of the quarter but went cold for the remaining time of play only scoring four more points through almost eight minutes.

The second quarter was almost as sluggish for Sacramento getting outscored 25-17 by the Clippers. At the half, the Kings had a lot of ground to make up trailing 29-51. The Kings bench really struggled with Keon Ellis and Trey Lyles scoring a combined 3 points.

After trailing by 22 points at the half, the Kings put together a winning third quarter by the score of 35-25 but still had a lot of work to do trailing 64-76 going into the fourth quarter. Domantas Sabonis had another double double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Fox was leading the way with 19 points but needed help. Kevin Huerter was yet to score and Keegan Murray only had 5 points. It was a disappointing three quarters for Sacramento falling short from downtown going 5 of 23.

It was close to a minute into the fourth quarter that Head Coach Mike Brown called a timeout. Trailing 66-82 the team had about 11 minutes to turn this game around. It had not been great game for the Kings and while they had cut the Clippers lead they were still struggling.

Los Angeles really went on a run in the final quarter taking a 87-70 lead with nine minutes left in the game. The Kings cut the Los Angeles lead to 12 with 8:05 left on the clock 75-87. Sacramento had a tough time at the free throw line and with turnovers continuing to climb at 14 to the Clippers nine too many mistakes were hurting the Kings.

Fast break points were clearly in favor of the Clippers as were points in the paint with a lopsided 42-30 favoring Los Angeles. The Clippers continued to hang on mid-way through the final quarter leading 94-79.

De’Aaron Fox continued to carry the team on his back with 25 points and only five minutes left in the game. The Kings were running out of clock trailing 82-96. The final was 104-88 and the Clippers had their fourth win in a row at home.

It was not the Kings finest hour Friday night in their losing effort. Fox was the team high finishing with 29 points and seven rebounds. Sabonis had a double double with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Huerter never scored a point in his time on the floor and the bench finished with nine points collectively in limited roles due to the return of Sabonis and DeRozan.

Game notes: Friday night the Kings took on the Clippers in their second meeting of the season in Los Angeles. The Clippers won their first meeting back on November 8th 107-98 and Sacramento couldn’t even the series. The Clippers came into this game shorthanded while the Kings will get some major firepower back.

The Clippers were missing three players, Leonard remains out indefinitely with a right knee injury, Norman Powell with a left hamstring injury and P.J. Tucker. Tucker is not out with an injury but due to not being with the team while looking for a trade missed Friday’s game.

The loss of Leonard and Powell would have really hurt the Clippers. Things look a lot brighter for the Kings since DeRozan who returned bringing with him his almost 23 points per game average. Fox and Sabonis were in for Sacramento.

The Kings are still without Malik Monk although he could be getting close to a return to the court. Sacramento couldn’t take advantage of the short-handed Clippers. The Kings bench needed to show up although in their last game bench player Ellis scored a career-high 33 points and Trey Lyles appears to be moving in the right direction. Ellis ended up with only one point Friday.

The return of DeRozan and Sabonis is a huge plus for Sacramento reducing the roles that the bench will play in this game. The Kings came into this game after losing a heartbreaker Monday night 109-108 to the Hawks. DeRozan scored 16 and Sabonis had 24. Murray scored ten and Huerter didn’t score a bucket.

The Kings will put this behind them as they give it another go on Sunday when they take on the Brooklyn Nets at Golden 1. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings playing .500 ball tip off against Clippers tonight in the Southland

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The Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) takes a shot against the Atlanta Hawks guard Garrison Matthews (right) at Golden One Center on Mon Nov 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 How bad is it for the Kings right now as they are shorthanded and were defeated by the Atlanta Hawks 109-108 in Sacramento on Monday.

#2 De’Andre Hunter led the Hawks with 24 points and teammate Dyson Daniels had four blocks and Daniels was able to block another shot in the closing seconds of the game.

#3 The Hawks Trae Young had 19 assists, Clint Capela scored 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, and was able to score the clutch three points which were the difference to win the game in the closing seconds.

#4 Keon Ellis had a career game with 33 points, including nine 3 pointers. The Kings were without the injured Domanta Sabonis (back), DeMar DeRozan (back), and Malik Monk (right ankle sprain) which was a factor in the loss.

#5 The Kings try it again tonight at Intuit Dome in Inglewood against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are 9-7 and won their last game against the Orlando Magic 104-93. The Clippers are ninth in the Western Conference. The Clippers who lost to the Houston Rockets in a two game group stage series. The Clips have turned it around and have won three straight games.

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

Stockton Kings game wrap: Kings Collins and Post too much for visiting Santa Cruz in 108-98 win

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Forward Kevin Knox II scored a team-high 25 points in the Santa Cruz Warriors’ loss to host Stockton in NBA G League action Wednesday night. (John Lee – Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

By William Espy

STOCKTON–The Stockton Kings were looking to build on their three-game winning streak as they hosted the Santa Cruz Warriors for the first time this season. Meanwhile, the Warriors were looking to start a streak of their own.

They’ve yet to win back-to-back games but had the opportunity to do so with a victory over Stockton. The Kings ended up extending the win streak to four games and the Warriors didn’t get back to back wins at Adventist Health Arena in Stockton on Wednesday night. The Kings came away with a 108-98 win over the Warriors.

Santa Cruz Starters: Knox II, Johnson, Post, Spencer, Collins

Stockton: Starters I. Jones, C. Jones, Robinson, Dennis, M. Jones

The Warriors made their first shot of the night, but other than that, both teams struggled mightily on offense right out of the gate. After maintaining a 2-0 lead for multiple minutes, the Kings tied it up and both teams seemed to find a bit more of their rhythm. After Stockton had a brief lead, the Warriors went on a 10-0 run, leading to Stockton’s first time-out.

Terry Taylor got into some early foul trouble for the Kings, picking up his second personal foul with over two minutes remaining in the first quarter. After trailing by double-digits early in the first, the Kings brought themselves back into the game very quickly. At the end of the quarter, the Warriors led 23-21. Both teams were leaving much to be desired offensively though, the Warriors shot 45% from the field, while the Kings were at 33.3%.

Things would look much different at the end of the second quarter. The Kings were quite a bit more efficient, raising their field goal percentage to 43.4% and as a result, they went into the break with a 58-49 lead. Mason Jones and Colby Jones led in scoring for the Kings, with 13 and 12 points respectively. Meanwhile, Kevin Knox II and Quinten Post led the Warriors with 11 and 10 respectively.

Skal Labissiere was having a rare slow offensive night for the Kings, not recording his first points until halfway through the third quarter. Despite this, the Kings continued to grow their lead in the third. They took an 87-74 lead heading into the final frame.

During the fourth quarter, the Warriors tried on multiple occasions to launch a comeback. Each time though, the Kings were able to swing momentum back in their favor. The Jones trio was a big part of Stockton’s offense over the course of the night, led by Colby who finished the night with 27 points.

As the Warriors launched their final push with just under four minutes to go, Kings head coach Quinton Crawford issued a coach’s challenge when Dexter Dennis was called for goaltending in a crucial moment. The challenge was unsuccessful, and the Warriors only trailed by six points with quite a bit of time remaining on the clock.

The Warriors had a coach’s challenge of their own moments later, when the ball went out of bounds. It was ultimately ruled that Stockton touched the ball last, and Santa Cruz took possession. Post fouled out with just over a minute remaining in the game. When all was said and done, the Warriors’ final comeback attempt fell short and the Kings won 108-98.

Kings succumb to Hawks 109-108; Kings drop third out of last six games

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The Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter (12) is guarded by the Sacramento Kings guard Jordan McLaughlin (3) in first half action at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Mon Nov 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Monday night in Sacramento. The Kings last played on Saturday when they took on the Utah Jazz at home. The Kings beat the Jazz to improve to 8-6 on the year.

The Kings welcomed the Atlanta Hawks to Golden 1 Center on Monday night. The Hawks entered the game on Monday night with a record of 6-8. Trae Young looked to lead the Hawks to their 7th win at 7 p.m. PST in Sacramento. The Kings were defeated by the Hawks 109-108 in regulation.

In the first quarter, the Sacramento Kings started sluggishly. The Kings were once again down three key players in the game. The Kings were playing again without the services of Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, and Domas Sabonis.

The Hawks were outpacing the Kings early in the quarter as the shots weren’t falling. However, behind the shooting of Keon Ellis and De’Aaron Fox, the Kings managed to come within one at the end of the first, 32-31.

In the second quarter, the Keon Ellis show was in town for Sacramento. Keon hit four three-pointers in the quarter to finish the half with 18 points. The Kings played a solid quarter that saw them outscore the Hawks 35-32. The Kings went into halftime leading 66-64. Fox was also doing Fox things, putting up 14 points in the half. De’Andre Hunter led the Hawks in the first half with 13 points.

In the third, the Kings had another up-and-down quarter. However, Ellis picked up right where he left off. Keon hit three more triples in the quarter to raise his game total to 27 points. The Kings outscored the Hawks 27-25 in the third quarter of action.

Hunter led the Hawks through three with 19 points. The Kings were showing good heart in the game, especially playing short-handed.

In the fourth, the Kings fought. However, they just couldn’t muster the run they needed to defeat the Hawks. The Kings only scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to lose the game 109-108.

The Hawks only managed 20 points against the Kings’ defense but still squeaked past the Kings. The Kings were led by Ellis, who scored 33 points. The Hawks’ best performance in victory came from Hunter, who had 24 points.

Up Next: The Kings will have three days off in Sacramento before traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers inside the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The Kings lost the first meeting against the Clippers at home earlier this year.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings face Timberwolves at Golden One tonight; Sac coming off win against Phoenix

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The Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones (21) figures the only way to stop the Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (left) is by hanging onto his jersey in the first half at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Wed Nov 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 On Wednesday night Sacramento Kings beat the short handed Phoenix Suns 127-101 on at Golden One in Sacramento. The Kings took advantage of the Sun short handedness with DeAaron Fox scoring a team leading 29 points.

#2 The Kings Kevin Huerter contributed with a season high 22 points. Donmantas Sabonis finished with 11 points, ten rebounds, and seven assists which helped the Kings win their second game in four days.

#3 Jeremiah, talk about how the absence of the Suns Kevin Durant has impacted their games. Durant has missed three straight due to a strained calf. The Suns really struggled in this one.

#4 The Kings had a wide gap on the Sun in the fourth quarter with a 26 point lead before the Suns scored five points making it 93-88 but the Suns were a few points and a few players short. The Kings have now won three of their last five games.

#5 The Kings host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. The Timberwolves are coming off losing to the Portland Trailblazers in a two game sweep. Will the Kings be able to keep the momentum going and will the Timberwolves come back from the double loss to Portland at Golden One?

Jeremiah Salmonson covers the Sacramento Kings at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Fox 29 points help defeat Suns 127-104 at Golden One

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Sacramento Kings guard DeAaron Fox (5) is guarded by the Phoenix Suns forward Josh Okogie (2) and Ryan Dunn (0) at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Wed Nov 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings welcomed in the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. The Kings’ last game was a loss on Monday in San Antonio to the Spurs. The Suns came in on the second night of a back-to-back. The Kings and Suns were set to tip off at 7 PM PST. The Kings defeated the Suns 127-104.

In the first quarter, the Kings got off to a hot start. The Kings pretty much immediately jumped out to a double-digit lead. The Suns picked it up as the quarter came to a close. However, it wasn’t enough to get back even. The Kings outscored the Suns 35-29 in the first quarter. De’Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray both started hot with ten points each. Josh Okogie had nine points in the first.

In the second quarter, the Kings continued to build the lead early on. However, similarly to the first quarter, they relinquished the large spread late. The Kings were outscored in the second quarter 27-26 to take the 61-56 lead.

The Kings couldn’t close out either of the first two quarters with large leads. They would look to defensive intensity and continued good shooting in the second half to secure the win. Keegan Murray led the way in the first half with 15 points for the Kings. The Suns got their best contribution from Okogie in the first half with 16 points.

In the third quarter, the Kings had a solid third quarter in which they built the lead-up. The Kings outscored the Suns 32-24 in the quarter to take a 93-80 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Kings were in a commanding position against the Suns without Bradley Beal or Kevin Durant. The only thing left would be to close it out.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings closed out the game with force. The Kings erupted for 34 points in the fourth compared to only 24 points for the Suns. The Kings emptied their bench with 4:46 left in the game to cruise to a 127-104 victory.

The Kings were led in the win by De’Aaron Fox, who scored 29 points in the game. Worth noting in the game was that Fox only took two shots from beyond the arc. Fox talked about the lack of three-pointers from him postgame, saying, “It’s something Luke and I have been talking about… and just trying to touch the paint.”

Mike Brown was excited postgame at seeing some of the threes go in, to the tune of 53% on Wednesday night. Mike Brown said postgame “The difference really is us getting into the paint and feeling two people defending you then kicking it out.”

Up Next: The Kings will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday at 7 PM PST inside Golden One Center. I asked Fox postgame about his thoughts going into the first game of the tournament. Fox said, “I think it’s dope just being able to see different courts, and I’m judging people’s courts,” Fox said jokingly. He went on to say, “I think the big difference is you could be playing a team, and it could be a blowout… and you are really playing to the final whistle,” referring to the point system in the tournament.