Update: 10:45 pm
The Denver Nuggets are a much better team than the Sacramento Kings and proved it again Tuesday at Golden 1 Center. The Kings bench, which included Keon Ellis entering the game in the first quarter, played well, helping them remain in the game for the first three quarters. Sacramento was competitive for most of the game before the experience and cohesiveness of Denver took over in the fourth quarter. Nikola Jokic almost got to sit the whole fourth quarter before the Kings threatened to come back and the Joker came back in and put the Kings away.
Domantas Sabonis fouled out. Dennis Schroder finished with 3 assists and 3 turnovers in 21 minutes. Russell Westbrook flirted with a triple double again with 14 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds.
Only 5 more months of Kings basketball left.
From Earlier Preview:
The Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets are back for a rematch in Sacramento after the Kings fell 130-124 in Denver last week. This time the game will be nationally televised on NBC, the first time the Kings have appeared on NBC since the infamous 2002 Western Conference Finals.
Cue some John Tesh.
Who: Sacramento Kings (3-5) vs. Denver Nuggets (7-2)
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
When: 8:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM ET
Watch: NBC / Peacock
The Kings are off to one of their worst starts in franchise history, and a loss tonight would be the worst start for the Kings since the 1990-91 season when they started just 1-10. The Kings have lost back to back home games in embarrassing fashion and have given up 130 points in three of the last four games.
This is the second of three matchups with the Nuggets for the Kings in November alone. The first matchup saw the Kings fall 130-124 last week in Denver with Russell Westbrook leading the way for the Kings with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. The Kings actually played pretty well in that game, with a bad first quarter being the only real detriment. Hopefully they can get off to a better start tonight. The Kings will be without Devin Carter due to illness, but let’s face it, he probably wasn’t going to be playing anyway. Domantas Sabonis was questionable with bruised ribs (which he sustained against these very same Nuggets) but has since been upgraded to available.
The Nuggets are a little banged up themselves, with Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray both missing their last game and listed as day-to-day. Both are probable to play tonight but might not be 100%.
Nikola Jokic is having another tremendous season, leading the league in both rebounds and assists so far. He’s shooting a remarkable 64.4% from the field and 35% from three as well, and the Nuggets currently have a top-3 defense and offense. This is very much a championship caliber team coming into Sacramento, so if the Kings aren’t careful it could be yet another rough night in front of the home fans.
It’s a later start than usual tonight with NBC starting games at 8 pm so keep that in mind when you’re trying to find it on your TV.
Go Kings!
The Nuggets tonight are in Sac
For the first of our home back-to-back.
Who DC will play
Won’t matter today
If we somehow get Vivek to pack!
+1 Doug has his core rotation lined up and ready to go!
Let’s see how the Nuggets are, post Malone
It’s finally happening
We can believe it when we see it!
Hey, Vivek
&ct=g
Seeing is believing.
(by the way… the 3-5 Kings are 3-7)
Im just passing the word along.I didn’t say its was gonna be a successful plan.
One might say a concept of a plan
Blow it all up. I love Sabonis, but if it takes moving him, do it. Go all in with Keegan, Nique, Maxi, Carter and Keon….yes, please extend Keon.
What they really need is to get rid of the owner. That’s the way a real rebuild would happen.
I agree.
This.
No disagreement there.
The sooner the better!
Those are the young guys I would build around. I might even keep Achiuwa.
Meh, he’s a retread that couldn’t stick with 3 different teams over the last 5 years. He’s a bench big on a vet minimum deal.
Probably have to give up Keegan, Nique, Maxi, Carter and Keon to move the others.
That is my fear.
The Kings wouldn’t necessarily be sellers, they’d be off loaders.
Just don’t give up any picks to break it down, and if you have to hang on to a few, that’s fine. They can get season ending injuries
I think it would be more like the selling of LaVine’s deal to 2 or 3 smaller deals, but they go just as long. Just a break up of contracts.
None of those players. None are untouchable. Not one of them. In order to move off all those awful contracts teams are going to want a hell of a lot more. Kings are not extending Keon. This is a fact. He’s trade bait along with all those other players you mentioned.
And how can we trust the idiot owner to do a rebuild- the right way. Especially since this shoulda been done after this dipshit let Fox go.
he changes his mind every few weeks. And I love the idea of a rebuild but I just don’t know if they can do it while this owner is here. He is impatient. He is an asshole. I wish he would just leave.
Put me in the camp that I wish Monte were still GM for rumored full rebuild. I don’t trust Perry after the summer he just gave us.
Me neither. Perry is a sycophant or forced to be. Monte pushed back.
And even if the shjthead owner wants a rebuild he still has an organization that doesn’t have enough people in enough good people working for it.
He still treats employees like shit all over the company. Matina is still here.
this team, thanks to this fucked up. Owner is rotten to the core. So will a rebuild work? I have serious doubts. But I certainly rather they were going for a rebuild. But it’s just ridiculous how he changes his mind every two minutes.
The only year Monte or any other GM had full autonomy to make decisions happened to be when Vivek was distracted with Fisher and the A’s.
This is why I loved Citrus Heights Dave’s take on just wait what Perry will do.
uh Dave we already saw round one of his talent evaluation.
this is also the hero who brought us Zach Randolph in his former life here.
Yeah I didn’t say I trusted him I mean of course I don’t. If he’s willing to finally embrace an actual rebuild for once then I guess its a start somewhere.
We shall see how this goes.
Right. I didn’t think that you trusted the little shit.
Vivek trades for Zion and Ja, to rebuild with youth!
You misspelled Poole.
Doesn’t seem right that NBC is subjecting the entire country to this.
Half of the country is already going to be asleep. 8pm start time is just ridiculous.
One look at the Kings’ zone and no one will be able to sleep a wink.
NBC low-key admitting that they made a mistake scheduling the Kings for nationwide TV, so they make it start at 8pm hoping nobody watches it. Scheduled loss…of NBC revenue.
The 8 pm PT start time is just part of NBC’s “Coast to Coast Tuesday schedule. The Dubs vs Clippers game a couple weeks ago was also an 8 pm start time, albeit with a musch more attractive pairing.
Denver Stiffs blog:
“…Irresistable force meets very moveable object…”
My coffee came out my nose lmfao
8pm start lol…NBC and NBA trying to hide this game, when has there ever been an 8pm start haha. I’m hearing rumors of a rebuild, I’ll believe it when I see it. And if they do it they have to fully do it. Any half-assing on a rebuild will get you nothing, gotta fully embrace the suck. Not confident Vivek will take necessary measures.
Not related to game tonight. Question for a Morant trade. Morant for Monk, Carter. Schroder and 2 firsts. Do any of you think a change in scenery would benefit Morant if he came to the Kings as a great player? Thanks.
Made a mistake on above trade. It should have been Derozan and Shroder not Monk and Schroder. No Carter involved. I think I’m losing it.
One, that brings another 40+ mil player into the fold. Two, that is a very Kangzy win-now mode which goes against the rebuild plans, and three, Ja is gonna Ja no matter where he is. We have had enough sulking “stars” already ( which is one thing this current group does not appear to have, thankfully)
Yeah, I want no part of DMC – Special Guard Unit
Morant is entertaining as hell when right but entertaining doesn’t equate to winning or worthwhile. He’s way too much of a head case and the Kings need a real rebuild so I don’t want him. Would I rather watch Morant over our current roster, possibly. I’m not a fan of DMC types on the court though and Morant might be a little too crazy for me to watch. I’m definitely not getting much enjoyment out of this team though so adding Morant sounds at least interesting. My final answer however is no to Morant, he’s too inefficient and out of control for me.
8 PM. Kings. Cursefew.
I’m guessing game will be over by the start of the fourth, at which point DC will insert Keon for the first time tonight. Why should DC change what’s been “working” for him the past two games?
LOL whatever man.
Hmmmm, there is definitely some pressure and talk going on behind the curtain. That little presser makes if feel like something is coming to a head. I feel Doug cares a lot about what is going on. He is of the same cloth as Adelman and Reynolds who cares a ton about the city and fans, but I fear he may be in over his head right now. I’m in the camp that does feel bad for Doug, but totally feel Vivek can go pound sand. Yes, I know, Doug signed up for this knowing the shit show this franchise is right now, but I just feel his intentions are real.
Seems like there might have been some yelling and screaming during those convos.
And yes i agree, Doug is a very nice person with a good heart and intentions, but very gullible and naive.
Sabonis absolutely lost it on someone when he was taken out behind the bench then Doug yelled at him and now they are hardcore ignoring eachother.
Did Vlade care a lot about this team?
I remember the reports when he proudly announced that he finally had autonomy and then proceeded to pick Bagley…
I don’t care about caring; I care about competence. This faux macho presser smells of someone in over his head. And actions speak louder than words, no matter how forceful you utter them.
Nothing but open shots for Denver.
This game is going to take forever with all of these commercials.
I think it is pretty clear that Westbrook should be starting over Schröder at this point. Dennis shouldn’t be getting 30+ minutes a night.
It would be so hilarious yet on brand for the Kings to unload Schroder before this season is over after making his signing such a big deal.
But then again, not sure any team would want that contract of his.
Just tuned in. Dennis Tank Commander business as usual. Keon to keep it competitive tank.
Why in the heck did Doug put Dennis back in? He’s been absolutely terrible tonight and Westbrook was playing pretty well! They also looked better with LaVine OFF THE FLOOR.
lol Commander Schroder
Schröder is so hilarious and clueless, his signing tells me everything I need to know about Perry. Complete incompetence.
Westbrook lets Brown take a wide open look from three. WTF? He just stood there and watched Brown who’s shooting 40% from three.
OMG Westbrook shoot that instead of throwing it at Sabonis’s feet!
Boy, it sure would’ve been nice to still have JV on this team, and if Schroder wasn’t signed. But what do I know?
Another win for the good guys.
19 wins Vivek, you got this. Keep managing.
First game I have watched all year. Disgusting basketball. Watching that starting lineup -they are soulless.
disjointed. Ridiculous. Throw in Westbrook and it’s even more of a joke.
completely unnecessary and unintelligent to have any of the starting players except for Sabonis Not even close to worth watching again
Yeah, my preseason over/under prediction already looks shot to hell. (Wads up post-it note with 35 on it and throws in garbage.)
Gross.
Everyone knows/knew- DDR/Shrood/Levine/WB all useless and not conducive to winning. Past prime and bench.
What in the flying fuck is clogging Viveks brain- impossible to think that anyone could believe this was the way to build a team
Perry’s marquee signing!
The two most useless players on this roster that currently get minutes are Schroder and Monk. If you took away all their minutes you would not lose anything and the team would actually improve if you gave those minutes to Keon and maybe Clifford.
Monk and Schroder are such sloppy inefficient players that don’t even score or play make that well which are probably their strengths. This team not only lacks forwards and bigs but also has no good point guards. It’s basically just a roster full of average 2 guards and a few other guys, I can’t comprehend the incompetence of this roster construction. Never seen anything like it.
No D. No offense. No sense (lineups and who’s playing). No fun. No way am I watching this shit again.
I have not watched a single second of this season, and certainly don’t plan to anytime soon. Already had so much apathy before the season even started.
It was an accident. I turned on NBC and there they were on my screen. So I watched… before I realized I had been entrapped.
never again
Starting lineup should be:
Westbrook, Keon, Lavine, Eubanks or Precious, Sabonis.
DDR should be coming off bench.
I heard Christie got real mad at his ‘haters’ the other day at press conference. Change to that starting lineup and I won’t be one Doug, until then I think your coaching and rotations are a joke.
I would probably do same starting lineup when Keegan comes back but start him at the 4 instead of Precious/Eubanks
The first half was fun.
It looked at first that it was going to be one of those games again in which the Kings hang around by making their 3s to compensate for the lack of defense and size, but that changed when Keon Ellis checked into the game with 5:25 left in Q1 down 9. After that point, the Kings started to get more stops, allowing them to run. The Nuggets ended up scoring only 9 points in those 5+ minutes, compared to 24 against the starters, and the Kings finished the quarter with a 1 point lead (+10 after Ellis came on).
The Kings played all right for most of the second quarter, but the lack of size, defense and simply quality led to the collapse in the second half when the Nuggets made their adjustments and turned it on.
Still, enjoyed watching the first half, which I haven’t said much this year. The tank rolls on.
Oh, and more of this please:
Yeah, I thought they played about as well as they could. They actually tried to play some D, guess National TV was a motivator?
Keon and Nique still only get 14 minutes
Damn I don’t know how to put a GIF of a tank, sorry guys someone help my dumb ass
The fact is Perry signed Dennis for 3/45. A horrible contract. For a player that would get paid 2mil a year as an end of the bench guy. If that. I don’t have any faith Perry is any better than Monte was. Zero.
Badge Legend