Kings Clock First Road Win At the Expense of the Jazz 113-96

Utah Jazz guard Patty Mills (8) reaches for the basketball with the Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) and forward Trey Lyles (41) defending, and the Jazz forward John Collins (20) in foreground at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Tue Oct 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings got going early and they continued to compete at a high level for the entire game. They outscored the Jazz in the first three quarters with the final score 113-96.

The bench got to play the final four minutes of the game with the exception of Malik Monk, Keon Ellis and Trey Lyles who played extended minutes. Domantas Sabonis turned in another double double with 28 points and 11 rebounds. This was the Kings first road win and the win leveled their season to 2-2.

Game recap: The Kings got a jump start on the Jazz in the first quarter of play leading 34-22 after the opening 12 minutes. Utah challenged the Kings in the second quarter of play outscoring Sacramento 30-27. The Kings took a 61-52 lead into the locker room at the half.

Sacramento came into the second half extending their lead 75-60 mid-way through the quarter. The Kings had their entire starting roster already at double digits with 1 1/2 quarters left in the game.

Domantas Sabonis was leading the way through 2 1/2 quarters with another double double, 22 points and ten rebounds. With under one minute left in the third quarter Sacramento had taken a 24 point lead.

The Kings kept the pressure on Utah the entire quarter outscoring the Jazz in the quarter 29-14 shooting at 52% from the field to the Jazz’s 34% and leading going into the fourth quarter 90-66. Through three quarters the Kings had protected the ball well with only ten turnovers.

Sacramento really poured it on in the fourth quarter taking as much as a 27 point lead. The last few minutes saw the Kings bench take the court to finish off Utah. Sacramento had 24 second chance points to the Jazz’s 12.

The Jazz did win the final quarter 30-23 but the Kings had such a huge lead it made little difference. The game final was 113-96 as Sacramento picked up their first road win and leveled their season record to 2-2.

Sacramento was shooting lights out in this game. Domantas Sabonis shot the high for the Kings with a double double, 28 points and 11 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan finished with 20 points closely followed by De’Aaron Fox with 19 points.

Every starter finished with double digits in a well-played game . The Kings dominated the entire night against a young Utah team. After such a rough pre-season and losing the first two games of the regular season, the wins Tuesday night and last night were signs of the turnaround this team is experiencing. This was not unexpected; it was just a matter of time.

The high for the Jazz was Jordan Clarkson who scored 21 points. The Jazz lost ace Lauri Markkanen who had to leave the floor at halftime with lower back spasms, a crushing blow for Utah when he was unable to return in the second half. Utah is still looking for their first win of the season after losing their first four starts.

Game notes: Tuesday night the Kings defeated the Jazz in Utah after winning their first game of the season Monday night beating the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98. De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan both had productive games as DeRozan seems to be settling into the starting lineup very nicely. The Jazz dropped their third game in a row losing to the Dallas Mavericks 110-102 Monday night. Sacramento handed Utah their fifth loss in a row Monday night.

Sacramento will have a few days off before returning to the court on Friday night taking on the Hawks in Atlanta. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM.

Kings Dominate Trail Blazers in first win of season, Flexing Their Potential 111-98

Photo: Kings Forward #10 DeMar SeRozan taking a shot over Trail Blazer Guard #1 Anfernee Simons (by Mauricio Segura Golden Bay Times/Sports Radio Service)

By Mauricio Segura

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings kicked off their first season win with flair, cruising to a commanding 111-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Golden 1 Center on Monday night.

From tip-off to the final buzzer, the Kings ran the show, never trailing and making an early statement that they’re a team to keep on your radar this season. With a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, Sacramento gave fans a preview of the exciting potential that lies ahead.

The Kings came out strong in the first quarter, outpacing Portland 25-20. Domantas Sabonis set the tone early, dominating the boards and orchestrating the offense. Sabonis flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. New addition DeMar DeRozan, picked up in the offseason, looked right at home in Sacramento’s system. He led all scorers with 23 points, drawing fouls at will and sinking 9 of 10 free throws.

The third quarter proved to be the turning point. Sacramento exploded with a 21-4 run, transforming a close game into a one-sided affair. Sabonis ran the show from the high post, while Keegan Murray knocked down timely buckets to stretch the lead to 24 points. Portland had no answers, getting outscored 38-28 in the third as the Kings locked in and put the game out of reach.

Portland’s rookie guard Scoot Henderson flashed his potential with 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds, but he lacked the consistent support needed to mount a serious challenge. Deandre Ayton made his presence felt with 20 points and 11 rebounds, but their efforts weren’t enough to stop Sacramento’s well-balanced attack.

Kings head coach Mike Brown praised his team’s all-around effort, saying, “The way we shared the ball and played for each other tonight is exactly the kind of energy we need.”

On the other side, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups acknowledged the growing pains with his revamped squad. “Sacramento had us on our heels all night. That run they made was the difference; we’ve got to learn how to respond better,” Billups said.

With their first win in the books, the Kings aim to carry this momentum into tougher games ahead, signaling they’re ready to build on last season’s playoff success. As for the Blazers, they’ll head back to Portland looking to regroup and smooth out the wrinkles in their lineup as their new-look squad takes shape.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings looking for that first win host Blazers tonight at Golden One

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) attempts a lay up against the Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) and Kevin Huerter (right) at Golden One Center Sacramento on Sun Oct 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento Kings (0-2) lost another close contest to the Los Angeles Lakers (3-0) 131-127. They trailed for almost all of the second half but had an amazing third quarter. 

#2 The Lakers scored 14 unanswered points in the first two minutes of the final quarter. Sacramento has really shown some positive signs however in the early going of the season and really look to be turning the corner. 

#3 After the first 12 minutes of play the Lakers had a slim 28-26 lead. The second quarter was a rough one for the Kings as the Lakers scored 12 unanswered points taking a 40-26 lead.

#4 With under a minute it was a two point game 125-123. The Lakers Anthony Davis hit a three to push the lead to 128-123. The Kings fought hard but again came up short, the final score 131-127.

#5 Monday the Kings will head back home for a date with the Portland Trailblazers looking for their first win of the season. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

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

Timberwolves Randall and Edwards spoil Kings opener 117-115 at Golden One

Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) takes a jump shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte Divincezo (0) during first half action at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Sat Oct 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2024

Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

Minnesota Timberwolves 117 (1-1)

Sacramento Kings 115 (0-1)

Attendance: 18,049

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The Kings held the lead for most of the game on opening night, but each time they seemed poised to pull away, the Timberwolves came right back, and they ended up winning a 117-115 thriller to give the Kings a brutal loss to open the 2024-2025 season.

The Kings opened their 40th season in Sacramento in front of a sold-out crowd at Golden 1 Center. The Timberwolves were playing their second game of the season after they dropped their season opener Tuesday night in Los Angeles to the Lakers 110-103.

The crowd was into it from the getgo. The Kings felt that energy, and jumped out to an early 5-0 lead. Domantas Sabonis was fouled and hit one of two from the line, and DeMar DeRozan hit a layup. Sabonis was then fouled again, and this time, hit both from the line.

The Timberwolves then scored eight unanswered points, thanks to threes by Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. Minnesota’s eight unanswered points also set the theme of this game in motion

The Kings scored nine unanswered points of their own to take a 14-8 lead. After Keegan Murray’s fadeaway jumper gave the Kings the lead with 8:47 remaining in the first of the quarter, they would hold that lead the rest of the quarter. Minnesota made it close a couple of times, but the Kings led 32-29 at the end of one.

Malil Monk, and De’Aaron Fox, the Kings’ points leader in each of the last four seasons, each scored nine.

DeRozan hit a jumper in the first minute of the second quarter, and Murray was fouled and hit both from the line over a minute later to give Kings a 36-29 lead. After Sabonis hit the first of two from the line with 6:35 to go, the Kings’ lead was 48-40.

However, the Timberwolves went on an 11-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 51-50 lead. The Kings outscored Minnesota 9-4 over the remainder of the quarter, and they went into the half with a 59-55 lead.

The Kings came out of the gate strong in the third quarter, as they extended their lead to 81-69 with 6:22 to go. However, just like their eight-point lead in the second quarter, their 12-point lead was completely erased, and the Timberwolves retook the lead. Minnesota went on a 20-7 run to go into the fourth quarter up 89-88.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings started off with a 9-2 run to take a 97-91 lead with 8:57 to go. The run was capped off by a three by Murray, who after only scoring two points in the first quarter, really came alive later in the game.

Unfortunately, the Kings could not escape the overall theme of this game, as the Timberwolves went on a 14-2 run in just under three minutes to take a 105-99 lead, their biggest of the night.

This time, the Kings were the ones looking to come back, and they certainly made a game of it late. DeRozan was fouled and hit both shots from the line, and Sabonis slammed one down to make it 105-103 with 5:34 to go.

Naz Reid hit a hook shot, and Donte DiVincenzo hit a three ball to extend Minnesota’s lead back to five at 110-105, but the Kings kept coming. Sabonis hit a three with 4:15 left to make it 110-108, and the crowd at Golden 1 Center erupted.

Monk was fouled and hit the second of two free throws to tie the game at 112-112 with 2:20 left. Edwards made a jumper to put Minnesota back ahead with 1:28 to go, but Monk tied it on a layup with 53 seconds left. Monk was fouled on the play, and he hit his shot from the line to put the Kings back ahead.

Rudy Gobert was fouled with 38 seconds left, and he hit one of two to tie it at 115-115. The Kings then caught a bad break with 26 seconds to go. The ball went out of play, and from the replays, the Sacramento faithful seemed to think that it would be the Kings’ ball, but after review, the referees determined that the ball would go to Minnesota.

Chants of “REFS YOU SUCK!!!!!” rang throughout Golden 1 Center, and it’s all the fans could really do at that point. The Timberwolves ran down the clock, and when Edwards went in for a layup with two seconds to go, he was fouled.

Edwards hit both from the line to put the Timberwolves back ahead 117-115, and the Kings called timeout, so they could inbound the ball closer to the bucket. Keegan Murray got the ball and took an off-balance shot from beyond the arc, but it fell short, and the Timberwolves won 117-115.

Really, three guys carried the Timberwolves to victory Thursday night. Julius Randle scored 33 points; Anthony Edwards scored 32; and Naz Reid scored 19.

Despite scoring nine points in the first quarter, Fox only scored six more the rest of the way for a total of 15. DeRozan led the Kings Thursday night with 26 points, and he was followed up by Sabonis and Murray, who scored 24 and 23 respectively. Monk didn’t start, but he ended up scoring 17.

The Kings start off 0-1, and they will head down to Los Angeles to play the Lakers Saturday night. Tipoff from Crypto.com Arena will be at 7:30 p.m.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Kings sign Shaquille O’Neal’s son; Sac opens season Thursday night against Minnesota

Team Luka center Shareef O’Neal (8) looks on against Team Scoot during the second half at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. O’Neal joined the Sacramento Kings minor league affiliate the Stockton Kings concluding the Kings pre season on Fri Oct 18, 2024. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images / Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 The Sacramento Kings have singed the son of former Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Laker star Shaquille O’Neil, Shareef O’Neal. The Kings made the signing after their loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Fri Oct 18.

#2 Shareef’s mother Shaunie Henderson wrote on instagram that she’s proud of Shareef’s signing with the Kings and proud of him for never giving up.

#3 Shareef will be joining the Kings G League team the Stockton Kings with new Kings signees Antione Davis and Drew Timme. The Kings are hoping to develop these new players who at some point could join the big club in Sacramento.

#4 Barbara, for Shareef he put in lots of work to get the G League there’s very little doubt he got some tips and help from his father Shaquille to help on basketball skills him to get to the Sacramento Kings organization.

#5 The Sacramento Kings open the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. The Kings are coming off a 0-5 pre season but that might not necessarily tell the whole story of the Kings going into the regular season. The Kings head coach Mike Brown may not be showing all his cards as opening night approaches.

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

Despite Better Effort Kings Drop Their Fourth Pre-Season Game to Jazz 117-114

Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) runs up the court to prepare to defend with the Utah Jazz John Collins (20) in the foreground with basketball at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tue Oct 15, 2024 (Getty photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (0-4) made some vast improvement in their matchup with the Utah Jazz (4-1) despite losing 117-114. They finished the game with only 11 turnovers a far cry from the 27 they had last Sunday.

They had a better effort from beyond the arc. The first half was back and forth with 13 lead changes but the second half saw the Jazz take the lead for much of the third and fourth quarters. The high for the Kings was Domantas Sabonis with another double double. He finished the game with 29 points, 8 assists and 13 rebounds.

Game recap: As this game got underway, it could not have been closer. After the first 12 minutes of play, the Kings trailed 30-31. There were lead changes throughout not only the first quarter but the second quarter as well.

Utah won the second quarter by a single point 27-26 and led at the half 58-56. Domantas Sabonis was having a great game scoring 23 points with nine rebounds on the edge of another double double.

De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan would be looking for more offense in the second half. Each of them had seven points in the first half. Sacramento had really cleaned up the turnovers in the first half with only six to Utah’s 15. This was a vast improvement over their last game against Portland and they were looking for more of the same in the second half.

The Jazz began to build a lead in the third quarter and at 5:42 led 77-68. The Kings head coach Mike Brown wasted no time calling a timeout when the team began to fall further and further behind not liking at all what he was seeing.

Sacramento would pull to within four points but by quarters end, the Jazz pushed back taking the lead 85-76 with under two minutes left in the third. After three quarters the Jazz had a 87-83 lead. De’Aaron Fox hit a 50-foot jumper at the buzzer to close out the third.

Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter the Kings trailed by two points 87-89. At 9:26, this game was tied at 92. Down the stretch at 6:31, the Jazz had a 98-97 lead and this game was up for grabs.

The game was again tied at 105 with 4:21 left on the clock. With under a minute left in the game the Jazz were clinging to a one-point lead 113-112. This game was going down to the wire. The Kings just could not get over the top losing to Utah 117-114 for their fourth pre-season loss.

Domantas Sabonis had the high for the Kings with 29 points, eight assists and 16 rebounds for another double double. DeAaron Fox finished with 22 points and seven rebounds which included the 50-ft shot at the third quarter buzzer.

Keegan Murray had 21 points and five rebounds. The Kings ball protection was great with only 11 turnovers much improved over previous games.

Keyonte George was the high for the Jazz with 24 points .

Game notes: Sunday the Kings got blown out of the water by the Trail Blazers 105-85. They had 27 turnovers and struggled defensively. Tuesday night the Kings lost to Utah (4-1) and failed to pick up their first win of the pre-season.

They were also looking for much improved ball protection as well as better offense and defense. It was a rough game for the Sacramento starters Sunday and they didn’t get much production Tuesday in Utah. When you see that starting lineup scoring barely ten points apiece you have to scratch your head. Curious. With all the turnovers, this team was not playing as a unit and Tuesday night they played a lot closer game with the Jazz but again lost and fell three points short.

The Kings will play their final pre-season game Thursday night taking on the Los Angeles Clippers looking for their first win of the pre-season. They played a far improved game Tuesday and they are moving in the right direction with the season a little over a week away. Tipoff for Thursday is scheduled for 7:30 PM PT at Crypto.com Arena.

Kings Preseason Struggles Highlighted In Loss 105-85

Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown hopes the Kings can win their last pre season game Tue Oct 15th at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City as the Kings are 0-3 in pre season (AP file photo)

By Tony Renteria

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings hosted the Portland Trail Blazers in the third Preseason game Sunday at the Golden One Center losing 105-85. The Kings are still working on the new starting rotation with the new addition Demar DeRozan and Keon Ellis filling in for an injured Kevin Huerter and it showed as they had 26 turnovers.

Kings turnovers and the Trail Blazers three point shooting put the Kings in a very deep hole as Portland Took a seven point lead into the half. Portland out scored the Kings 35-24 in the second quarter behind great play from Scoot Henderson who finished with 17 points in only 25 minutes of play.

DeRozan who the Kings brought in to to help them get past the first round of the playoffs is still finding his footing with his new teammates and new head coach Mike Brown. General Manager Monte McNair brought DeRozan in fill a need of veteran leadership and the steady hand of Experience.

DeRozan only scored eight points on 4 for 10 shooting. His teammates did not fair much better De”Aaron Fox only had 11 points himself to show for his 28 minutes worth of playing time. Domantas Sabonis is working on adding a three point shot into his offensive repertoire but was only zero for three from past the three point line.

Brown is still working on this line up and hopefully it will perform better by the season opener than they did Sunday. The Kings travel to Los Angeles to play the Clippers for their final preseason game on October 17th. They open with season a week later by hosting the Timberwolves a week later on the 24th.

Kings Drop Second Pre-Season Game To Golden State 109-106

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) drives past Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) during the first quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco on Fri Oct 10, 2024. photo Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images / D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (0-2) led for much of their pre-season game Friday night with the Golden State Warriors (3-0) but it all fell apart in the final minutes of the fourth quarter as the Kings lost in their second meeting with Golden State 109-106.
The Kings De’Aaron Fox had the high for the team with 19 points. Off the bench Boogie Ellis was solid with 11 points. These guys still have a lot to work on as the regular season approaches. These pre-season games will go far in preparation for a solid start to the 2024-25 season.

Game recap: All eyes remain focused on the King’s acquisition DeMar DeRozan who had the high score in Wednesday’s game. How this guy will settle into the starting rotation remains the question that everyone is asking. He is looking forward to the season and giving the Kings the boost that they are needing for a successful season. The Warriors are also dealing with changes on their team as are so many teams across the league. This is why the pre-season is so very important.

The opening quarter went to the Warriors who led after the first 12 minutes of play 34-30. The second quarter was also a close one with the Kings leading by as much as four points in a half with constant lead changes and ties. At the half the Kings had a slim lead 58-55.

De’Aaron Fox and DeRozan had the highs in the first half with each player shooting for 14 points. Domantas Sabonis had a double double with ten points and ten rebounds. Keegan Murray finished the half with 12 points. It was a solid start for the Sacramento starters in their second pre-season game.

Sacramento’s Keon Ellis found his stride in the third quarter and joined the rest of the starters shooting double digits. With 3:54 left in the quarter the Kings had taken a 82-70 lead. The Kings only had eight turnovers through almost three quarters while the Warriors were struggling with 18 turnovers.

Both teams were shooting at 42% but the Kings were protecting the ball at a much higher level. With one minute left in the third quarter, the Kings 12 point lead had been cut in half and when the clock ran out on the quarter Sacramento was hanging onto a 3 point lead 84-81.

While fans love winning whether it be pre-season or regular season, the purpose of the pre-season is not about winning; it is about getting teams rosters set up and their players ready for the regular season honing their skills and playing as a unit.

Sacramento pushed their lead back out in the fourth quarter. At 8:29 in the quarter, the Kings had taken a 91-83 lead. The Kings starters had taken the bench and their bench players entered the game. Alex Len had four rebounds as he prepares to back up Domantas Sabonis in the absence of Orlando Robinson but had failed to score at all in the game.

The Warriors pulled to within three points but once again Sacramento pushed the lead back out to 99-91. The Warriors pushed back and it was a battle between the two benches. With 2:24 left in the game it was all tied up at 102.

With under a minute left in the game it was a one point game 107-106 in favor of Golden State. The Warriors would prevail 109-106 in the second of these two pre-season games between the two Northern California rivals.

Fox had the high for the Kings with 19 points in 26 minutes of play. Boogie Ellis had 11 points, the high off the bench. He played for ten minutes. The Kings finished the game with 13 turnovers.

Game notes: The 2024-25 NBA regular season is right around the corner as the pre-season has already gotten underway. Teams are making decisions right now as to what they want their starting rosters to look like and working players new to the team into their rotations. The Kings lost to the Warriors Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center and Friday night the Kings lost another one to the Warriors at Golden State, this time at Chase Center.

Sunday afternoon, the Kings will be back at Golden 1 Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers looking for their first pre-season win. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 3:00 PM.

Warriors Showcase depth and Versatility in Preseason Victory Over Kings 122-112

The Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) gets some hang time against Golden State Warriors forward Kyle Anderson (1) at Golden One Center in Sacramento on Wed Oct 9, 2024 (photo by Mauricio Segura Golden Bay Times and Sports Radio Service)

By Mauricio Segura

SACRAMENTO–The Golden State Warriors are off to an impressive start in their preseason, offering a glimpse of what could be a thrilling regular season ahead. Wednesday night they slipped past the Sacramento Kings with a 122-112 win in the state capital.

The Warriors rolled out a fresh starting lineup featuring Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney.

Although Andrew Wiggins remained sidelined, the Warriors faced a strong challenge from the Sacramento Kings, with DeMar DeRozan putting up a perfect shooting performance, scoring 15 points without a miss. Early struggles in both offense and defense had the Warriors on their heels.

Things started to turn around once the Warriors went to their bench, closing the first quarter with a 31-27 lead. The second quarter saw them find their rhythm from beyond the arc, as Curry took charge and even Green knocked down a pair of threes.

Buddy Hield also heated up, hitting all four of his three-point attempts in the first half. Despite their efforts, the Kings held a narrow 68-66 lead at the break.

The second half brought more energy, with Curry, Green, and Looney resting while Hield, Kuminga, Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Trayce Jackson-Davis picked up the pace. Their collective effort helped the Warriors build a seven-point lead, thanks to a flurry of three-pointers, ending the third quarter up 100-91.

Though the Kings’ bench made a final push in the fourth, narrowing the lead to 109-106, a well-timed timeout by coach Steve Kerr sparked a 13-0 Warriors run that secured the win and preserved their unbeaten preseason record.

Hield was a standout with 22 points, hitting six of seven from deep. De’Anthony Melton impressed with 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists, shooting 4-of-9 from three-point range. Kuminga matched Melton’s 16 points, shooting efficiently at 6-of-11 overall and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Curry chipped in 13 points, while Green contributed 10 points and five assists. Podziemski had an all-around performance with eight points, four rebounds, eight assists, and two steals, while Jackson-Davis recorded a +22 rating with eight points and six rebounds.

As the Warriors continue to build momentum, their depth and versatility are beginning to shine, making them a team to watch as the regular season approaches.

Mauricio Segura is owner/writer/photographer for Golden Bay Times and a reporter at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Barbara Mason: Robinson out a month for knee injury, GM McNair says DeRozan will be big help on defense

Sacramento Kings center Orlando Robinson will be on the shelf for four weeks following an MRI indicating he sprained his MCL in his left knee. (NBA.com photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast on Barbara Mason:

#1 Injuries don’t take long to make themselves and in an NBA camp there is no exception as the Sacramento Kings center Orlando Robinson will be out for a month due to a knee injury he sustained on practice.

#2 The injury happened during practice last Thursday when Robinson hurt the knee in training camp at the Golden One Center. After tests from an MRI revealed he had sprained an MCL in his left knee. He’s been shelved and will be evaluated in four weeks.

#3 The Sacramento Kings general manager Monte McNair said that he believes in the defense and that McNair believed that the Kings lacked the defense to be competitive. After acquiring DeMar DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls believes that DeRozan can be a defensive presence as well.

#4 This season coming in Domantas Sabonis has been a force and the Kings will rely on his offense scoring this season as well. Last season during the 2024-25 campaign Sabonis scored 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and had a 59.4% field goal average.

#5 De’Aaron Fox is someone the Kings are looking forward to in getting help with ball distribution, scoring and getting the ball either to Fox or dishing it off to someone who will score. Fox last season averaged 26.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and shot 46.5% from the field.

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