The Kings kept it close into the fourth. De’Aaron Fox added a few more highlights to his 2018 reel. Justin Jackson produced again, Buddy Hield went nova for a moment, and Bogdan Bogdanovic hit his regular daggers and dimes. Sacramento forced 25 turnovers and didn’t get blasted defensively. For the most part, the youth had some promising moments playing against strong competition.

The Golden State Warriors also happened to win 119 to 104.

There was no big Warriors run, no massive haymaker by the champs against the Kings feisty youngsters. Even after a Hield layup-steal-layup four-point play brought the score to 99-98 with under 8 to play, the Warriors nuclear-powered offense kept punching. It was slow, methodical control from a true dynasty of the sport.

Despite playing nearly 18 minutes of uninspired, sloppy offense in the first half, the Kings stayed relatively close thanks to uninspired, sloppy offense from the Warriors. A barrage of threes from Jackson and Bodgan to start the game boosted the Kings to a 20-7 lead, but the Kings youthful starting lineup gave that lead up quickly and the veteran bench core of George Hill, Garrett Temple, Vince Carter, and Kosta Koufos didn’t fare much better. It was mainly thanks to Golden State miscues—they had 12 turnovers at the half—that the Kings were within 58-52 at the half.

Sacramento enjoys three more home games on this stretch, starting tomorrow against the Dallas Mavericks.

Game notes: