Los Angeles is known for producing stars on and off the court, but tonight the brightest star in L.A. was De’Aaron Fox.
Fox led the game in scoring with 32 points on 13-19 from the field to go with 12 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, but it was his clutch time heroics that won this game for the Kings. Fox did what stars do and put the team on his back when it mattered most, hitting shot after shot to keep the Kings ahead and the Lakers at bay. Fox scored 8 of his points in the last four minutes, and none of them were particularly easy. He was hitting step backs over Anthony Davis, fading away. Every shot barely hit rim. The Lakers did all they could to pack the paint and he kept scoring anyway.
Fox rainbows it right over AD pic.twitter.com/jCvezsfvvk
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) November 12, 2022
Fox has ice in his veins ???? pic.twitter.com/clnHrd31jP
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) November 12, 2022
That final shot put the Kings up by four and forced the Lakers to call a timeout to draw up a play. Lonnie Walker shot a quick three out of the timeout, but Harrison Barnes got the rebound and then the Lakers wasted quite a bit of time chasing the ball as the Kings played keep away before fouling Barnes and sending him to the line, where he sunk two free throws to make it a 6 point game with 19.6 seconds left. The Lakers couldn’t make a three despite several chances and the Kings sealed the victory to go to 5-6 on the season.
The night didn’t start out nearly as exciting for Kings fans, as the Kings looked lethargic for most of the first half. Players were standing around, nobody could hit an outside shot, and passes were sloppy or lazy. The Lakers built up a 13 point lead in the second quarter before handing it almost all the way back near the end of the half when the Kings went on an 8-3 run over the final minute, including a buzzer beating three by Fox to cut the lead to just 60-56 entering the break.
The Kings came out with better energy in the second half, but the Lakers didn’t go away either. The Kings couldn’t stop the Lakers from getting whatever they wanted in the paint, but thankfully, neither could the Lakers. The Kings finished with 60 points in the paint, barely edging out the Lakers at 58.
Sacramento’s bench was also heavily outperformed for the most part by the Lakers. The Kings got just 36 points from their bench, led by Terence Davis’ 12, while the Lakers got 56. Russell Westbrook was the biggest contributor with 21 points (including a very uncharacteristic 4-7 from three but just 2-10 elsewhere), but Austin Reaves had a huge night as well, scoring 19 points. Westbrook hit a huge three pointer with 2:13 left in the game to put the Lakers up 114-112, but it was De’Aaron Fox time after that and the Lakers wouldn’t score again.
This was a game that the Kings needed to win, and win handily, especially as the reeling Lakers were without LeBron James. The way the game started was very reminiscent of years past, where it felt like the same old Kings who play up or down to their competition. But in the end, the Kings gritted this one out, and have shown some nice resilience so far this year in wins and losses. This was a big win, and now the Kings are just one game away from .500, with a four game homestand coming up. Time to get some revenge on the Warriors on Sunday.
Random Observations
- Domantas Sabonis was the man early for the Kings, scoring 8 of the Kings 13 points in the first 6 minutes of the game. In the end he more than held his own against Anthony Davis, scoring 21 points to go with 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Still, it was another heavy foul game for Domas as he finished with 5. I’m not sure what the solution for this could be aside from finding him a front court partner who can handle trying to guard the interior.
- Another solid game for Harrison Barnes. While not incredibly prolific or anything, Barnes scored 13 points to go with 8 boards and 2 assists. He also go to the line a team-high 6 times. These are the kind of consistent performances we need from Harrison.
- Keegan Murray must love home cooking or something because he seems like a completely different player on the road. After having a bit of a resurgence last game against the Cavs, Murray was almost invisible tonight, scoring just 2 points in 25 minutes. He did have one nice moment when he scored his only basket off a nice pump fake and drive where he scored. Murray seems to be lacking a bit of confidence in himself right now and is mostly settling for spot up opportunities. I’d like to see him involved in more off-ball action and drives to the rim. He’s shown he can be a weapon there.
- De’Aaron Fox is going to get a lot of praise tonight and rightfully so, but Terence Davis deserves his laurels as well. Davis scored 12 point on 4-6 shooting and he was a big part of Sacramento retaking the lead and the initiative at the start of the fourth quarter. Davis scored 7 of his points in the final quarter.
- There was a short period tonight where Coach Mike Brown sat both De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis at the same time. Fox needed to rest and Domas was in foul trouble so I get it, but man, our offense completely dies when one of them is not on the floor. Monk has proven that he’s a better playmaker than we expected, but the offense runs through Fox and the Ox and when one of them isn’t in, the game tends to grind to a halt for us.
- I still can’t believe we got Kevin Huerter for a lottery protected first rounder and still have him under contract for four years. One of the best trades in Kings history and I’m not exaggerating.
Go Kings!
Tonight’s Fox is a stud.
Still too many goddamn layups and points in the paint against this team.
I lived in Chicago 1985-2015. Fox’s game at the end reminded me of the many times the Bulls were playing badly, Jordan would take over in thee fourth quarter, saying, “Never mind. I got this.” And he would just win the game. Not team basketball or even good basketball. But it is stardom and a win. So Foxy took care of the Kings last night. A win!
Strange you say that. I was born and raised in the 80s in Northern California. My family is from the Chicagoland area however. One of my cousins was a well known DJ with Bulls season tickets. I spent a lot of time in Chicago and was a huge Bulls fan in the 90s. I remember going to a Bulls-Kings game in the early 90s and was mad that the Kings won. I watched every damn Bulls game on WGN in the 90s. And I had the exact same thought as you watching that 4th quarter. Fox looked like he knew what the outcome would be and it was beautiful.
Star Fox Final Smash
Fox is playing like a star and delivering like one
Kings won 5 of last 7 and the two losses were influenced by admitted bad ref calls in last 2 minutes.
All games are tight, and Kings win most
Murray is too tentative- we know he has the skills, but he won’t show out. This won’t happen but he could use a blowout win and total freedom to shoot.
Brown says game was ugly- yes it was, Poor rhythm
The one-man team is coming to town, Five ought to be able to beat 1.5.
Kings all alone in 10th slot. Play in baby.
If this team could find a rim protector it would sure help because it’s just a layup line. Their 3 point defense has actually been really good but Sabonis just can’t protect the rim.
Fox was ridiculous in the 2nd half. The Kings defense hasn’t been very good but 0 lakers points the last two minutes. They did the same thing against Cavs. That Mitchell/Fox guard tandem is pretty good at stopping penetration when their locked in, it’s just hard to do it for 48 minutes.
I know it’s been tried before but what would it take to get Myles turner? Change of scenery and team dynamics may make it work this time. Should of went after bol bol when he was available for next to nothing.
Demarcus?
Kings beat LA!
Dance like it’s 2018!
Woo HOO!
Baby Steps ..
These are the kinds of trap games former Sac teams have lost…Huerter had multiple key plays on offense and defense. What a homerun of a move that’s been so far. Fox came through in the clutch. His midrange game is much improved. The dude is leading the team. Sabonis is proving his worth. I don’t see any reason why we can’t be a very good team.
Absolutely and that is an important indicator of growth.
I see 4 reasons:
And one more reason: defense
You have defense twice. You’ve watched these games and you don’t think Kings overall defense has improved? I just don’t understand that. The team is much more engaged.
I think our depth is showing up with each game we’re competitive in. Monk, Mitchell have been playing well. Lyles and Metu have been playing well.
We’re seeing the birth of consistency. We’re competing in every game and learning how to win.
After last year, the Kings defense had no way but to go up. Keep that in mind. And to be a ‘very good team’, I think this defebnse is still far from being good enough.
Engagement is fine to a point, but I don’t subscribe to the idea that defense is 90% effort. This team lacks defensive talent and has some holes that are difficult to cover with effort and schemes.
The depth is okay-ish, but I am not sure it is good enough to overcome the inevitable injuries to key players and still be a ‘very good team’. Hope I am wrong, or that we will stay very healthy.
I see a team that needed late game heroics to beat two bad teams, and hasn’t won a blowout yet. The margin of error is slim, and a ‘very good team’ does create bigger margins of error. Maybe we’re getting there, as you say, but I haven’t seen it yet. Too many bad quarters, periods with lack of focus and effort, mental mistakes etc.
But the season is still young and there is plenty to like.
I just want to push back against the very good team-idea. Let them first be a decent time for a sustainable period of time before we start talking about good or very good…
Well said!
The exact points . Well thought and spelled out.
GFunk: They CAN BE a very good team.
Rik: No they can’t!
The four D’s of dodge-, er, basketball.
But this time the Kings barely avoided the trap!
Dance!
U (gly) + U (gly) = is still double u. Take any W you can get.
Honest – I turned this stinker off after three minutes into the 2nd Q – I had enough. I turned it back on with a couple minutes left.
The teams flaws seem more evident when they play bad against bad competition. This team picked itself up and thats what they needed to do if they are going to be a playoff caliber team. Or play-in caliber, as well.
ugly win gets an ugly dance. but a happy ugly dance.
Hmm… Kings beat the L*kers and 7 out of 9 highlight clips from the game on nba.com are L*ker clips. Some kind of bias here?
Lakers are a big market with a lot of eyes on them, unlike the Kings.
They’re selling a product and giving airtime to the better selling products, which isn’t the same as better playing.
It’s not a bias, it’s business.
Sounds like a
biasiness
That makes this sport simply biasketball.
“The Milwaukee Lakers moved to Los Angeles where there are no lakes. The New Orleans Jazz moved to Utah where music is illegal”
Love that movie
They had been the Minneapolis Lakers—land of 10,000 lakes. THAT was appropriate. Everything else is inertia.
Minneapolis Lakers
Yeah I fudged it up. Sorry internet. Actual quote:
Soon it was commonplace for entire teams to change cities in search of greater profits. The Minneapolis Lakers moved to Los Angeles where there are no lakes. The Oilers moved to Tennessee where there is no oil. The Jazz moved to Salt Lake City where they don’t allow music.
“Dude, do you think Shaq got rich playing in Orlando?”
“No, Shaq got rich playing in college. Everybody knows that.”
Perhaps, but providing highlight clips as of the other team had won is awkward at best. I don’t see what the NBA gains by trying to make fans feel that the final result was different from what it actually was.
They gain Lakers exposure. This isn’t Houston Rockets science.
I’m hoping there’s a Leaker at nba.com who’ll expose this bias.
I’m not sure that will Bucks the trend.
But at least someone will have to take the Heat for it.
Are you trying to steal my Thunder?
Not at all. That would be stirring a Hornets nest.
I’m watching you like the Hawks, RPO.
Don’t take offense. These are just Spur of the moment comments.
Now I got my Knickerbockers all in a bunch.
Just be a Warrior. You’ll be fine.
I’m not sure what that will Net me.
Great chatting with you, Rik, but I’m gonna have to Nix this conversation (yeah I know you already used that team name…). Time for this ‘Murican to head to bed. Have a great day!
Thanks, good night!
Thank you RPO & Rik,
You two made my night with all that Jazz
We need more of this kind of exchange, not the widely opposing views about a player being trash or not just because he under-performed for one game or two.
I was just happy to be a Trailblazer with RPO on this one.
That’s no Bull
You all are fast with these puns. Like SuperSonic fast! (Yeah, I am still pissed Seattle tried to take this team.)
Awesome exchange. I was Jazzed to read them all.
RPO was firing on all Pistons. I was lumbering along like a Grizzly.
The whole thread is just Magic,
Wow, another Nugget!
So, between RPO and Rik, who’s the King?
RPO is a word Wizard.
I give all the credit to MaveRik. He initiated the whole exchange!
Don’t be Cavalier about your own contributions!
The NBA should use these team name themed puns to Sell Tix to more people.
Pace(r) yourself, my friend.
Are we still fucKING doing this??
😛
Yes, and I’m conjuring every sPELL I CAN to come up with these.
We need to get to 76 posts, Kosta!
Ok, I’ll take a set of Clippers to my enthusiasm.
Am I too late for this?
Penis!
I think this belongs in yesterday’s CL1T discussion.
Let me add this one that was seemingly blotted out – I would like to see it rise from the ashes like a sheep in wolves clothing.
Huh! All those teams and it took the weekend to include a Sunsday
yep! saw that. at this point, so what? makes me angry but I also laugh
Look at the fakers, look at Westbreak and AD !!!!! (oh, yeah, Kings won the game) but the LAL looked good
Solid victory over the great satan.
Got the win and beat the spread. We tried to tell you.
Fox was firing lasers.
This team has definitely improved. Fox is definitely playing like an All Star. They’re winning these close games. In the past, they were losing them most of the time.
Not sure what the ceiling for this team is. It looks like a play in/low playoff seed if everything spins right. Like Minny and The Dubs tanking the rest of the season.(I don’t see it)
This 4 game home stand will answer a lot questions. Warriors, Nets, Spurs and Pistons.
To be considered good.
You have to take care of home court.
There’s no reason 3-1 should be the minimum. None of these teams have a good record. But the Spurs just beat the Bucks and Pop doesn’t tank. Nets are starting to gel after a slow start.’Kerr has shortened the Dubs rotation and they are starting to play better.
There are no easy wins. Despite what the record of these clubs tell you.
Spurs beat the Bucks who sat Antetokounmpo and Holiday with injuries. They also missed the OKC game as well. Point is, Milwaukee is either resting or not aggravating Giannis or Jrue’s injuries. And Middleton has yet to play this season.
I think the Spurs present a challenge, especially Keldon Johnson, for this Kings team. But the Kings should be able to beat them at home. The real challenge will be beating the Warriors if they don’t rest anyone tomorrow (they play the Spurs Monday in SF) and beating Brooklyn on Tuesday on TNT.
It’ll be interesting to see how these upcoming games at home play out, that’s for sure.
Can the Kings KO the Nets with KI and KD?
I doubt Kyrie will play.
Fox has been playing some of the best basketball I’ve seen on a Sacramento Kings team. His mid game is on fire, he’s hitting the 3, making free throws, and playing solid defense nightly.
Bones has been assertive on offense and defense and its good to finally see.
Barnes came out of retirement the last 2 games, big help if this team plans on making it to the playoffs.
Huerter played Houdini a couple of nights ago (disappeared for 3 qtrs.) but was on point for most of the Lakers game. We can’t afford those lapses, tho.
Mitchell performances have been decent, if a bit down from what we’re used to.
Probably because Monk has been playing out of his mind this week. That block in Cleveland was exceptional and it ignited the whole team. Great effort!
Murray has been working out his Houdini act, not a fan. This team can’t afford any of its core rotation disappearing for stretches. Need to see Keegan back to being assertive. His defense has been mostly good, though.
While this team is much improved they still show signs of playing to the level of their opponent, the occasional stretch of collective mental lapses, etc.
The good news is they show continued improvement as the season goes on. If they keep developing their chemistry and their game plan they might actually have a shot at .500.
Keegan Murray is a rookie doing rookie things. I still think he is awesome.
At least we now know he is human and can post on TKH if he so desires.
If Keegan is not a robot, how come he can’t get past that “I’m not a robot” check, and log into The Kings Herald and comment?
OT: We are not alone!
Klay and the Dubs benefited again from another crucial late-game missed call…
00:44.4 To 00:34.0Q400:36.3Foul: OffensiveKlay ThompsonIsaac OkoroINCVideo
Comment:Thompson (GSW) does not give Okoro (CLE) the time or distance to avoid the contact and turns his shoulder to deliver contact, which dislodges Okoro during the pick.
And you tell me the refs aren’t bias. Do you have to kill the kid to get a foul called. Huerter was right the Kings don’t get a non call like that. Because they are the Warriors they don’t foul.If something like that happens we should all go on the floor and protest. Let’s see the league fine us all. No the league would take away 10 games from the Kings. Forget it. It’s hopeless.
Badge Legend