Tag: Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings win ninth out of last ten games defeating Wizards on Sunday

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The Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter (left) takes a jump shot against the Washington Wizards guard Jared Butler (right) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sun Jan 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis had himself a busy night with 29 points and 18 rebounds to help beat the Washington Wizards 123-100 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Sunday night. It was the Kings ninth win in their last ten games.

#2 The Kings DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, Malik Monk scored 23 points, Keon Ellis scored 18 and was six for eight on three pointers.

#3 De’Aaron Fox contributed 12 points and had a season high 13 assists, Fox once again had one of those contributing nights in the Kings win.

#4 The Wizards Jonas Valanciunas had 23 points and 12 rebounds despite his effort the Wizards have now lost ten straight games.

#5 The Kings host the Golden State Warriors on Wed Jan 22 at Golden 1 Center for a 7:00pm PST tip. The Warriors are 11th in the Western Conference they’ve won their last two games and won five of their last ten games. The last time the Kings faced Golden State they beat them in San Francisco 129-99 on Sun Jan 5th.

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

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: DeRozan leads Kings in 132-127 win over Rockets

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Guard Malik Monk (0) who was second in scoring for the Sacramento Kings is defended by the Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Jan 18, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Big offensive night for the Sacramento Kings in a 132-127 win over the Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The Kings had a big second quarter outscoring the Rockets 35-27.

#2 The Kings got scoring help from DeMar DeRozan who scored a leading 33 points. Since the seven game win streak DeRozan has been like his old self having successful scoring nights.

#3 Right behind DeRozan in scoring is Molik Monk who scored 26 points and had nine assists. Monk’s contributions have been big.

#4 What can you say about Domantas Sabonis that hasn’t already been said finishing third in scoring with seven assists he’s been crucial for the Kings and helping beating the Rockets was no different.

#5 The Kings go back at it again hosting the Washington Wizards on Sunday for a 6:00pm tip. The Wizards are dead last in the Eastern Conference at 6-33 and have lost eight straight games. The Wizards should be easy pickings for the Kings.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the Kings podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Winning Streak Comes to an End at the Hands of the Milwaukee Bucks Losing 130-115

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Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers (right) points out instructions as Giannis Antetokounmpo (left) stands by in the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Fiserv Arena in Milwaukee on Tue Jan 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Milwaukee Bucks (20-17) controlled the opening quarter leading the Sacramento Kings(20-19) 47-26 after the first 12 minutes of play in tonight’s matchup. The Kings were able to match the Bucks in the second and third quarters but could not get on top of Milwaukee playing from behind all night.

The Kings cut a 28 point deficit to 11 in the fourth quarter but that was as close as they would get. There would be no eighth win in a row for Sacramento. The final was 130-115 in favor of the Bucks.

Game recap: The first quarter was not the start that the Kings were looking for. The first six minutes of the first quarter was a close one but then the Bucks began to make a move extending a slim lead into a monster lead.

After the first 12 minutes of play, the Bucks had established a 47-26 lead. It was a huge lead for Milwaukee as they were leaving the Kings in the dust and Sacramento was being manhandled at every turn offensively and defensively.

The Kings started the second quarter going shot for shot with the Bucks but with 21 points to make up, shot for shot was not the answer. Mid-way through the quarter, not a single King had double digits. They were faced with a huge mountain to climb.

With a little under five minutes left in the first half, DeMar DeRozan was the first King to reach a double digit tally. The Bucks owned the paint shooting around 55% to the Kings 39%. At the half, the Bucks were cruising leading 75-54.

Milwaukee had led by as much as 28 points but the Kings cut it by as much as 12 points trailing 46-62 with 2:41 left in the half. The Bucks pushed their lead back out to 75-54 as the second quarter came to an end. The second quarter was a tie with each team scoring 28 points. Sacramento had matched the Bucks but had made absolutely no ground.

Milwaukee had controlled the paint through the two opening quarters scoring 34 points to the Kings 18. Both teams committed only four turnovers apiece so good ball protection on both sides. The poor second half of the first quarter was a killer for Sacramento.

They were not able to recover at all in the second quarter. They kept pace with Milwaukee but could not get on top of them. By the half the Kings had Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox and DeRozan all with double digits. The Bucks also had three starters with double figures; Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge with 19 points. The Sacramento Kings had a lot of work to do in the second half.

The Kings outscored the Bucks in the third quarter but only by a single point 28-27 and going into the fourth quarter, Milwaukee had a 102-82 lead. A win for Sacramento in this game was a long shot at best. An eighth win in a row was not looking very good for the Kings.

The fourth quarter got underway and at 9:42 the Kings trailed by 13 points making a bit of a run 91-104. The Sacramento run continued as the Kings pulled to within 11 points trailing 96-107 with a lot of game left.

That would be as close as Sacramento would get. They couldn’t make the stops, and they couldn’t make the shots when they needed them. The offensive excellence of the Bucks Tuesday night overwhelmed the Kings. Once again the Kings bench was quiet finishing with 17 points while the Milwaukee bench hit 41 points. The final for this game was 130-115 in favor of the Bucks.

Every starter for the Kings shot double figures with DeRozan leading the pack shooting for 28 points and six rebounds. Fox finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, a double double. Sabonis also had a double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Keon Ellis had 18 points and Keegan Murray shot for 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Game notes: Tuesday night the Kings took on the Bucks looking for their eighth win in a row but it was too much Giannis scoring 33 points and the Kings ended their seven game win streak. The Kings were faced with containing Antetokounmpo and Damien Lilliard a monster task.

Sacramento had most of their starting roster ready to roll in this game as they finish up this road trip. Malik Monk unfortunately did not play in Tuesday night’s game. He is dealing with a groin injury and is listed as day-to-day. The Kings will really missed him in this tough matchup. They tried to finish up this final game with a win and get a spotless road trip but it wasn’t to be.

The Kings will now return home to Golden 1 Center for a matchup with the Houston Rockets on Thursday looking to start another win streak. This will be another tough assignment for the team but they are fully capable of coming out on top. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings keep it rolling now with 7 consecutive wins; face the Bucks on Tuesday

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The Sacramento Kings center Daomantis Sabonis (11) battles for the basketball with the Chicago Bulls Patrick Willis left and Matas Buzells right in the first half at the United Center in Chicago on Sun Jan 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis scored 22 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists as the Kings defeated the Chicago Bulls 124-119 for their seventh consecutive win.

 #2 The Kings De’Aaron Fox scored 26 points and Fox pulled down nine rebounds. Fox sat out for three games due to a bruised right glute. Malik Monk scored 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

#3 Former Bull DeMar DeRozan got a nice ovation from the Chicago crowd and scored 21 points for the Kings. DeRozan played for three seasons with the Bulls and was a six time All Star. DeRozan joined the Kings in a three team trade last July.

#4 Sabonis had a good game against the Boston Celtics scoring 23 points and got his season high for rebounds with 28 on Friday. Sabonis helped the Kings get to 7-1. Also head coach Doug Christie since taking over the Kings since former coach Mike Brown was fired helped improve the club.

#5 The Kings tip off against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Tue Jan 13 with a 5:00pm PST tip. The Bucks are sixth in the Eastern Conference and have won five of their last ten games.

Join Barbara Mason for the Sacramento Kings podcast Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Win Seventh Game In a Row Beating Bulls 124-119

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Sacramento Kings DeMar DeRozan third from right , goes to take a shot against the Chicago Bulls defenders Lonzo Ball (2), Jalen Smith (7) and Josh Giddy front left in first half action at the United Center in Chicago on Sun Jan 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (20-19) are on a mission right now. They just won their seventh game in a row beating the Chicago Bulls (18-21) 124-119 after a win over the Boston Celtics. Every starter in the game posted double digits and Domantas Sabonis had another monster game with 16 rebounds and 22 points.

The team welcomed De’Aaron Fox back on the court after missing three games and he had the team high of 26 points. It was a close game for the Kings but they won the third and fourth quarters that pushed them over the top after trailing at the half.

Game recap: The two teams battled it out in the opening quarter and after the first 12 minutes the Kings had a slight edge over the Bulls leading 32-30. Chicago continued to fight and took a 63-61 lead into the locker room. The second half would reveal which team would dictate the flow of the game and walk away with a win.

Sacramento won both the third and fourth quarters. In the third quarter they outscored the Bulls 36-32 taking a 97-95 lead into the fourth quarter. This game was up for grabs and promised to be a close finish.

The fourth quarter would indeed reveal a close finish but Sacramento outscored Chicago by a slim 27-24 margin. With the Kings winning the third quarter, winning the fourth was the deciding factor with Sacramento the victor 124-119. The Kings had won their seventh game in a row and had surpassed the .500 mark in a remarkable season turnaround.

This was an absolute team effort with every starter finishing the game with double figures. De’Aaron Fox who was back in action after missing a few games had the team high with 26 points and nine rebounds.

DeMar DeRozan finished with 21 points and Keegan Murray had another good showing with 14 points and five rebounds. Malik Monk was also completely on board with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Domantas Sabonis continued his tear finishing with 22 points and 16 rebounds. The defensive effort was another solid one and the fall off defensively in the past appears to be just that, in the past. With only eight turnovers this was another all-around solid game for the Kings. They were great at the line shooting 81%.

As expected, the Bulls Zach LaVine had the high for the game with 36 points and 10 rebounds. The defense on both teams was excellent but Sacramento was just a bit better out-rebounding the Bulls by a few. The Bulls had a better showing off the bench with 30 points to the Kings 23 points but Sacramento’s starting lineup put this game away.

This was the Kings season high for wins in a row. It was a triumphant return forDeRozan who got a nice reception from his former team. Kings Head Coach Doug Christie now has a 7-1 win/loss record after dropping the first game in his new role.

It has been an amazing turnaround considering the struggles they were experiencing just a few weeks ago. The Bulls cut the Kings lead to a single point with 2:28 left in the game but clutch man Fox bumped the leading back hitting two foul shots with 1:29 left on the clock. With 22 seconds left in the game the Bulls got called for a five second violation following a timeout and Sabonis hit a couple of free throws to finish the Bulls off.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Kings beat the Bulls 124-119 for their seventh win in a row. The good news for the Kings was that Fox was back on the court for this game after missing three games with a glute contusion.

As this winning streak goes on they got all hands on board to extend it. The thing about winning streaks is that they do sooner or later come to an end and it takes tremendous work to keep it intact. The Kings kept an eye on Zach LaVine who always is a threat as well as Nikola Vucevic.

Tuesday night the Kings continue their road trip taking on the Milwaukee Bucks before returning home to Golden 1 Center in Sacramento for a matchup with the Rockets. Tipoff for the Milwaukee game is scheduled for 5:00 PM as Sacramento will be looking for win number eight.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings win sixth straight game beat Celtics 114-97

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Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis (11) shoots against the Boston Celtics Luke Kornet (40) during the second half at TD Garden in Boston on Fri Jan 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Sacramento Kings won their sixth in a row beating one of the NBA’s toughest teams the Boston Celtics 114-97 at TD Garden on Friday night as the Kings embark on a three game road trip.

#2 The Kings had a offensive resurgence in the fourth quarter scoring 38 points to the Celtics 21 points. The Kings just rose to the occasion with explosive offense and their defense allowed the Celtics just 21 points.

#3 High scorers DeMar DeRozan with 24 points, Domantas Sabonis with 23 points and Malik Monk came in third with 22 points. DeRozan, Sabonis, and Monk no doubt rose to the occasion in the win.

#4 For Sabonis with his 23 points he got a career high 28 rebounds talk about the game that Sabonis had and the surprising win over the Celtics.

#5 The Kings tip off against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Sunday. The Bulls won their last game against the Washington Wizards 138-105 in Chicago. The Bulls are tenth in the Western Conference and have won five of their last ten games.

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

Kings Pull Major UpSet Over Celtics 114-97 – Winning Their Sixth Game in a Row

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Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown (7) drives on the Sacramento Kings Keegan Murray (11) in first half action at TD Garden in Boston on Fri Jan 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

In one memorable game, the Sacramento Kings (19-19) pulled off a crazy upset over the Boston Celtics (27-11) and they did it without De’Aaron Fox by the score of 114-97. DeMar DeRozan had the high for the Kings with 24 points and Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 28 rebounds , a career high (that is not a misprint) in his most amazing double double of the year. Mllak Monk finished with 22 points and Keegan Murray had a sensational game with 19 points. They now extend their win streak to six in a row.

Game recap: Sacramento got a great start in the opening 12 minutes of play leading after one quarter 34-27. The Celtics got a bit of a slow start but made up for it winning the second quarter 28-19 and leading at the half 55-53 in a very close first half.

The third quarter was as close as it could be and this game was looking as if it would go down to the wire. Sacramento edged Boston in the third 23-21 and this game was all tied up going into the fourth quarter 76-76. The Kings were keeping up with the Celtics shot for shot and it would all come down to the final 12 minutes.

It all fell apart in the fourth quarter for Boston. The Kings dominated the glass, the paint and finished the game with 18 shots from downtown. They shot 43% from the field to the Celtics 40%. They had 12 turnovers to Bostons 15.

They out-rebounded Boston 56 to 43 and shots from beyond the arc were impressive 38% to Boston’s 26%. The Kings dominated at every turn against a full strength Boston playing a flawless fourth quarter outscoring the Celtics 38-21 for a final of 114-97 in a major upset winning their sixth game in a row.

The Kings came in as underdogs and came out victorious. Sabonis had an amazing game finishing with 23 points and a career high 28 rebounds. This was his 33rd double double this season. Coming into this game the NBA’s previous high for rebounds this season was 23 by Victor Wembanyama and Sabonis shattered that.

DeRozan had the game high with 24 points and nine assists. Monk finished with 22 points and eight assists. Murray really stepped up in this game adding 19 points.

The high for the Celtics was Jaylen Brown with 28 points. Jayson Tatum was quiet in this game with 15 but had 12 rebounds. He struggled with protecting the ball committing eight turnovers. In a game that was tied at 76 after three quarters, it was Sacramento not the Celtics that took command going on a 24-9 run to open the fourth quarter.

The Kings had yet another strong game outscoring Boston 48-40 in the paint and also had a sizeable rebound edge. Sacramento had outhustled the Celtics all night and really turned it all around in the fourth quarter doing it all without Fox who missed his third game with injury.

Game notes: Friday night the Kings traveled to Boston for a matchup with the Celtics. This was the Kings biggest challenge taking on the number two Celtics in the Eastern Conference and pulling it off with a lopsided fourth quarter outscoring the Celtics 38-21.

The Kings now on a six game win streak Friday night and the sixth win was monumental. Fox was not on the floor still struggling with a right glute contusion while the Celtics were almost at full strength. They have not beaten the Celtics in three years and with the win the Kings extend their win streak to six.

The Sacramento Kings take a lot of confidence into Chicago where they will take on the Bulls Sunday looking for win number seven. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 12:30 PM. There is hope that De’Aaron Fox can play on Sunday. He was questionable for Friday night’s game and with a few more days of rest perhaps he will be able to take the floor.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings biggest challenge yet to winning streak Boston Celtics

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Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) is fired up after the Kings defeated the Miami Heat in their last game in double overtime at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Mon Jan 6, 2025. The Kings face the Boston Celtics Mon Jan 10, 2025 at TD Waterhouse Garden in Boston (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Sacramento Kings are on a roll they have a five game win streak going and their last win over the Miami Heat Monday night 123-118 kept that streak going.

#2 DeMar DeRozan scored 11 points in the double overtime stanza to keep the Kings in it. DeRozan displayed some of the reasons why the Kings got him to come to Sacramento.

#3 DeRozan finished the contest with 30 points and went 12 for 26 from the floor. Domantas Sabonis racked up 21 points with 18 rebounds and 11 assists. The Kings won their second straight game without De’Aaron Fox in the line up.

#4 Lots of trade rumors regarding De’Aaron Fox whose been a key scorer in the Kings line up. The Kings are rolling will they hang onto Fox or look to get some more offense in trading him?

#5 The Kings face their toughest challenge during this winning streak they have going tonight against the Boston Celtics who are second in the Eastern Conference. The Celts have six of their last ten games, they handled a tough Denver Nuggets team in their last game 118-108 in Denver. Will the Celtics be a handful for the Kings tonight at Waterhouse Garden?

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

Kings beat the Heat 123-118 in double OT for fifth straight win; Christie has turned Sac’s tide as head coach

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Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) drives the lane on the Miami Heat guard Tony Rozier (2) in double overtime at Golden 1 Center on Mon Jan 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Monday night, coming into the game with strong momentum, riding a four-game winning streak. The Kings were on the second night of a back-to-back after defeating the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, 129-99.

On the other hand, the Miami Heat entered the game as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 17-16 record. This week, the Heat had been dealing with the Jimmy Butler drama, an undoubtedly unwelcome distraction for the team.

Jimmy Butler was suspended last week by Heat President Pat Riley for conduct detrimental to the team. The Kings and Heat tipped off at 7 PM PST inside the Golden 1 Center. The Kings defeated the Heat 123-118 on Monday night.

In other news, the newly relocated Oakland Athletics were in attendance at the game on Monday night. A’s manager Mark Kotsay, along with players Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, JP Sears, and Lawrence Butler, were all courtside for the affair.

In the first half, neither the Kings nor the Heat seemed to find their rhythm. Both teams struggled to establish a comfort zone on the offensive end of the floor. The Heat shot 40.5% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc, scoring 47 points in the first half.

On the other hand, the Kings committed eight turnovers, resulting in 11 points for the Heat. The Kings shot 40.8% from the field and just 18.8% from deep, managing to score 50 points in the half and taking a narrow three-point lead, 50-47, into the break. Tyler Herro led the Heat in the first half with 17 points, while Malik Monk paced the Kings with 15.

In the second half, the Kings displayed resilience to force overtime. Despite leading at halftime, the Kings lost their edge and trailed by as many as 17 points. However, they battled back to tie the game at 102, sending it into overtime. In the first overtime period, both teams scored ten points, leading to a second overtime.

In the second extra period, the Kings outscored the Heat 11-6, powered by nine points from DeMar DeRozan, ultimately securing a 123-118 victory. DeRozan was the Kings’ leading scorer with 30 points. Tyler Herro led the Heat with 26 points but notably did not score in either overtime period.

Postgame, Doug Christie commented on the victory, stating, “Big time – these guys continue to fight in a way that I hope makes our city proud. It makes me incredibly proud.”

Up Next The Kings will travel to Boston to face the Celtics at 4:30 PM PST at the Garden.

Kings deal Warriors a 129-99 drubbing at Chase Center

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The Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) drives on the Golden State Warriors forward Lindy Waters III (left) in first half action at the Chase Center in San Francisco Sun Jan 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SAN FRANCISCO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Sunday night. On Sunday, the Kings traveled west to San Francisco to face the Golden State Warriors. Neither the Warriors nor the Kings have had the best of seasons so far this year. Entering Sunday, the Warriors held an 18-16 record and were eighth in the Western Conference.

After a strong start to the season with a 12-3 record in their first 15 games, the Warriors have since struggled, going 6-13—a stark contrast for a team with championship aspirations, especially as Stephen Curry, now 36 years old, continues to lead the squad. Conversely, the Kings didn’t enjoy a hot start like the Warriors; they’ve hovered around or below .500 all season, entering Sunday’s game with a 16-19 record.

On Sunday, the Warriors were shorthanded, missing Jonathan Kuminga due to a sprained ankle. This marked a significant loss for the Warriors, who are reportedly exploring potential trades involving the young player.

On the other side, the Kings were without De’Aaron Fox, sidelined by a right glute contusion sustained during a hard foul on Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. The game tipped off at 5:30 PM PST at Chase Center as the Kings ultimately defeated the Golden State Warriors on the road with a commanding 129-99 victory.

Game recap: In the first half, the Kings came out firing on all cylinders offensively. They scored an impressive 75 points in the first half compared to the Warriors’ 51. The Kings’ offense was dynamic, with excellent ball movement that consistently left the Warriors’ defense scrambling in rotation.

Sacramento shot an impressive 66.7% from two-point range and 47.8% from beyond the arc in the first half. According to Kings PR via Basketball Reference, this marked the first time in franchise history that the Kings scored 75 or more points in consecutive first halves (The Kings scored 78 in the first half against the Grizzlies on Friday night).

On the other hand, the Warriors weren’t entirely ineffective, shooting 44% from both the floor and from deep in the first half. However, turnovers proved costly as the Warriors committed 13 turnovers, which the Kings capitalized on by scoring 20 points off those mistakes.

In the second half, the Kings maintained their dominance. The Warriors made a few small runs early in the half but couldn’t match Sacramento’s offensive output. The Kings added 54 points in the second half, while the Warriors managed 48, sealing the 129-99 victory.

Malik Monk stepped up significantly for the Kings in Fox’s absence, contributing 26 points and 12 assists. Domantas Sabonis added a 22-point double-double, while Devin Carter scored his first NBA points, finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds. For Golden State, Curry led the way with 26 points and seven rebounds.

Postgame Reflections The Kings improved to 17-19, while the Warriors dropped to 18-17 and continued to struggle. The Kings’ victory marked their fourth consecutive win.

When asked about the team’s turnaround, DeMar DeRozan said, “We are just going out there, playing freely with joy and for one another.” Head Coach Doug Christie added, “The guys played with a high level of competition and competitive nature.”

When I asked about the team’s preparations for upcoming games against Miami and Boston, Christie humorously replied, “You do know I just got this job, right?” Fair enough, Doug.

Up Next The Kings return home to face the Miami Heat on Monday at 7 PM PST at Golden 1 Center. The Heat will be without Jimmy Butler, who has been suspended for seven games for conduct detrimental to the team. Additionally, he was fined $532,000 per game by Heat President Pat Riley.