Tag: Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings podcast Tony Renteria: Kings can make it two straight wins; Take on Jazz in Utah on $2 night Wed at the Delta Center

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The Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) attempts to shoot over the Sacramento Kings center Jonas Valanciunas (right) in first half action at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Mon Feb 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Sacramento Kings Zach LaVine scored 42 points for his best game since joining Sacramento on Monday night at Golden 1 to head lead the Kings to a 130-88 win against the Charlotte Hornets.

#2 Lavine scored eight 3 pointers and had made 16 baskets out of 19 in the Kings first home floor victory against the Hornets since 2021. LaVine also scored in double figures in all of his eight games for Sacramento.

#3 DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points with seven rebounds as the Kings improved their overall record to 29-28. Malik Monk had 13 points, Keegan Murray had ten points and Domantas Sabonis had seven points with ten reounds and seven assists.

#4 For the Hornets Miles Bridges had 23 points. LeMelo Ball and Nick Smith Jr scored 13 points each. Jusuf Nurkic and Moussa Diabate scored 12 points each as the Hornets once again go down loosing 12 of their last 14 games.

#5 The Kings travel to Utah to take on the Jazz at the Delta Center on Wed Feb 26th for a 7:00pm PST on $2 night for fans attending. The Jazz sit in dead last in the Western Conference with a 14-43 record. The Kings are tenth in the Conference and are 14-14 on the road.

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

Kings Dominate Hornets in 130-88 Blowout Behind LaVine’s 42-Point Performance

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Kings celebrate the win and defensive player of the game, Jake LaRavia. (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Monday night at Golden 1 Center. The Kings were coming off two days of practice at home after suffering a 132-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Friday. They were optimistic heading into the game, having had a couple of sessions to integrate the new players acquired at the trade deadline. Meanwhile, their opponent, the Charlotte Hornets, entered Sacramento as one of the league’s worst teams, holding a 14-41 record on the season. The Kings dominated the Hornets, securing a commanding 130-88 victory on Monday night.

In the first quarter, the Kings played with a fluidity and confidence that had been lacking in recent weeks. They struck early, jumping out to a 34-23 lead. Sacramento started with its usual lineup of Malik Monk, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis. However, Keon Ellis was a quick substitution, entering the game for Monk just 4:04 into the first quarter. Ellis made an immediate impact, drilling two three-pointers in his first minute on the floor. Zach LaVine led the Kings in the period, scoring 10 points on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting. On the other side, Miles Bridges paced the Hornets with 11 points on 4-of-7 from the field.

In the second quarter, the Kings looked to build on their 11-point lead, and they succeeded, outscoring Charlotte 31-22 in the period. LaVine continued his offensive showcase, adding 12 points in the quarter to bring his total to 22 at halftime. Bridges remained the Hornets’ leading scorer, finishing the half with 16 points. The Kings appeared much more in sync during the first half of Monday’s game, validating the impact of their recent practice sessions, as Doug Christie had suggested pregame.

In the third quarter, the Kings allowed the Hornets to claw their way back, briefly cutting the lead to single digits. However, Sacramento regained control and halted Charlotte’s momentum. Despite a sloppy quarter in which they committed 10 turnovers, the Kings maintained an 88-72 advantage heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings closed the game in dominant fashion, completely overwhelming the Hornets with a 42-16 advantage in the frame to seal the 130-88 victory. Their success was largely fueled by the explosive performance of LaVine, who finished with 42 points on an outstanding 16-of-19 shooting, along with two assists and three rebounds in just 30 minutes of action. It was an encouraging sight for LaVine, who is still adjusting to the Kings’ offensive and defensive schemes. DeRozan added 18 points despite struggling from the field (4-of-13) but remained perfect at the free-throw line (8-of-8). Bridges led Charlotte in the losing effort, scoring 23 points.

With the win, the Kings improved to 29-28 on the season, sitting two games behind the sixth-seeded LA Clippers and two games ahead of the 11th-seeded Phoenix Suns.

Postgame, LaVine spoke about the team’s defensive approach.

“I think we emphasized them coming off a tough game in Portland… just be ready from the jump and be the more aggressive team, putting them on their heels,” LaVine said.

Up Next: The Kings hit the road to face the Utah Jazz on Wednesday at 6 PM PST.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings pick up satisfying win over Hornets 130-88; Sac’s Lavine leads with 42 points

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Guard LeMelo Ballo (1) of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball over Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Mon Feb 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

#1 Sacramento Kings Zach LaVine scored 42 points for his best game since joining Sacramento on Monday night at Golden 1 to head lead the Kings to a 130-88 win against the Charlotte Hornets.

#2 Lavine scored eight 3 pointers and had made 16 baskets out of 19 in the Kings first home floor victory against the Hornets since 2021. LaVine also scored in double figures in all of his eight games for Sacramento.

#3 DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points with seven rebounds as the Kings improved their overall record to 29-28. Malik Monk had 13 points, Keegan Murray had ten points and Domantas Sabonis had seven points with ten reounds and seven assists.

#4 For the Hornets Miles Bridges had 23 points. LeMelo Ball and Nick Smith Jr scored 13 points each. Jusuf Nurkic and Moussa Diabate scored 12 points each as the Hornets once again go down loosing 12 of their last 14 games.

#5 The Kings travel to Utah to take on the Jazz at the Delta Center on Wed Feb 26th for a 7:00pm PST. The Jazz sit in dead last in the Western Conference with a 14-43 record. The Kings are tenth in the Conference and are 14-14 on the road.

Join the Sacramento Kings podcasts with host Barbara Mason Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings in Freefall: Warriors Dominate in 132–106 Rout

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Kings guard Markelle Fultz enters the arena prior to Friday nights action (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The NBA All-Star weekend and the trade deadline are now behind us, and the final stretch of the NBA season began on Friday night as the Sacramento Kings returned to action. The Kings hosted the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center at 7 PM PST. Coming off a much-needed break to recharge and practice for the first time since incorporating several new pieces into their rotation, the Kings looked to build momentum. Meanwhile, the Warriors entered the game with newfound optimism for the season following the acquisition of Jimmy Butler prior to the trade deadline. Both teams entered the game with a record of 28–27, occupying 9th and 10th places respectively within the Western Conference standings.

In the first quarter, the Kings were outplayed and out-hustled. They allowed the Warriors to secure seven offensive rebounds while committing seven turnovers. Nonetheless, the bright spot for the Kings was DeMar DeRozan, who scored 15 points in the opening frame.

In the second quarter, the Kings experienced a meltdown. They surrendered 37 points to the Warriors, which initiated a downward spiral. Despite DeMar DeRozan contributing 24 points in the first half, the Kings simply couldn’t guard the broad side of a barn, and they went into halftime trailing 68–53.

In the third quarter, the pattern persisted. The Kings mounted an early run to cut the deficit to eight points; however, the Warriors subsequently expanded their lead to 17 by the end of the quarter. By that point, Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 21 points, while DeMar DeRozan continued to lead the Kings with 28 points.

In the final quarter, the Kings collapsed with a faint whimper. They were outscored 32–23 in the final 12 minutes, marking their second consecutive loss. The Kings ultimately fell to the Warriors 132–106 on Friday night. During the break they failed to address any of the issues observed during the game post trade deadline. The team appears to be in freefall; their offense remains choppy and stagnant, lacking any discernible rhythm. It remains unclear how they will move forward, and the outlook for both the team and the franchise appears grim.

Following the game, Doug Christie addressed the media more than an hour later. He was unambiguous in his remarks, stating, “Completely unacceptable.”

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings and Warriors duel it out tonight; Both tied in Western Conference

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Sacramento Kings will be relying heavily on guard Zach LeVine (8) to fill the void of former guard De’Aaron Fox. The Kings are battling to get in a playoff spot in the second half of the season. (photo from motociclismo.com)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 In ninth place in the Western Conference the Sacramento Kings entering the second half of the season following the All Star break at 28-27. There are 27 games left in the regular season taking a look at how they’ve played in the first half what do think their chances of making a post season birth?

#2 After guard De’Aaron Fox was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs just before the All Star break the Kings had to fill his spot with a solid point guard. So far Sacramento has relied on Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis.

#3 Jae Crowder hasn’t played much just 92 minutes over seven games for the season this being his 13th season in the NBA. He has been an asset helping the young players out on the floor and off it. It’s something that’s been a big help for head coach Doug Christie.

#4 With Zach LeVine, Jake LaRavia and Jonas Valancinunas there will be little time for Crowder to get in the line up in this last month and half of the season. Christie realizes his locker room presence has been very helpful and who knows he might have a future as an assistant coach.

#5 The Kings host the Golden State Warriors tonight at Golden 1 Center a game that you’ll be covering. Both teams are 28-27. The Kings have a standings edge because they have a better conference record. The Kings are battling to improve their position in the standings. The Warriors who are 3-1 with Jimmy Butler are expected to move much higher than their tenth place spot. How do you see this match up tonight?

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

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

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

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.

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.