The Kings just gave us a 48 minute reminder that they’re not very good yet.

Arctic-cold offense, 36% shooting, a 58-to-39 rebounding disadvantage, and limited energy led to an early and permanent deficit in the 96-78 loss in Denver on Saturday night. The Kings looked every bit an exhausted, overwhelmed young team on the end of a 3 games/4 nights opening schedule.

Aside from some promising flashes from De’Aaron Fox (18 points, 4 boards, and 8/13 shooting) and Skal Labissiere (13 points, 4 boards, and 6/12), the Kings (1-2) were a cold mess and showed little of the enthusiastic-if-erratic competence from the previous two games. Fox, particularly, flashed in the second half; he had an array of his amazing driving-layups and even added in a elbow 3, but he could never get the rest of the Kings offense defrosted.

The Kings played an absolutely abysmal first half, with only 34 points, a 32.5% shooting clip, a 32-to-18 deficit on the glass, and a 6/7 assist/turnover ratio. After the startling lineup of George Hill, Buddy Hield, Justin Jackson, Zach Randolph, and Willie Cauley-Stein put the Kings in a hole early, Joerger replaced all the veterans with youngsters… and that didn’t work, either. Aside from Skal, who had 7 points on 3/7 shooting with 3 boards (and the only positive +/- of the Kings half with 10), none of the youngsters played particularly inspired basketball to end the half.

The Kings will head to Phoenix for a matchup against the Suns on Monday, followed by Boogie’s return to Sacramento on Thursday.

Game notes: