On this universal day of love, I woke up with hate in my heart. I hate when the Kings lose basketball games. And coming into tonight’s second night of a back to back in Denver, the Kings rolled in on a two-game losing streak after a defeat in the Phoenix desert last night. The Kings have been on a brutal road-heavy schedule this month, and the All-Star break couldn’t come soon enough. But before they could head back home for some much needed rest, they had the opportunity to either quell some anxieties with a big road win against the Nuggets, or break hearts everywhere in the city of Sacramento this Valentine’s Day. Let’s see how they did:
Quick Stats
Outcome: Kings win, 102-98
Sacramento Kings: 102 pts, 43.8% fg, 27.3% 3 pt, 78.9% ft, 21 ast, 48 reb, 15 to
Denver Nuggets: 98 pts, 39.3% fg, 36.0% 3 pt, 83.4% ft, 26 ast, 45 reb, 13 to
Fitting especially well for Valentine’s Day, that game felt like a rom com. It started out with a lot of hope as the Kings demonstrated consistent effort on both sides of the ball, despite some cold shooting. Tension ensued as the Nuggets gained a 15-point lead in the second quarter. But over the course of a long, hard-fought battle, the Kings never gave up and found their way back into the game. And like any good rom com, there was a dramatic finish, filled with chaos, a clock malfunction, and the ever present potential for heartbreak. But, ultimately, the Kings got their happy ending and now get to enjoy a week off with the good vibes of a win.
The Good, The Better, & The Best
The Good:
- Containing Jokic: The Kings held Nikola Jokic to just 15 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds tonight. It seemed like Jokic was looking to pass and get his teammates involved for most of the game, helping Aaron Gordon (25 points) and Michael Porter Jr. (19 points) find easy shots, but as he tried to ramp up his scoring in the fourth quarter, the Kings did a good job of containing him as a unit. Chris Duarte gave the Kings some great minutes in the fourth quarter, providing quick defensive rotations to double Jokic and recover to shooters. In a game that came down to just a few possessions, holding Jokic to just 11 points was critical for the Kings to get this win.
The Better:
- Continuous Effort: Early on, it seemed like this game was going to get chalked up to an expected loss. I could hear the reasonings ringing in my mind by the second quarter as the Nuggets gained a comfortable 15-point lead – “it’s the second night of a back to back for the Kings”; “it’s hard to beat Denver three times”; “they didn’t have time to get adjusted to the altitude here”. Luckily for us, the Kings weren’t ready to fall back on these excuses. Even when things looked bleak, it was clear that the Kings were trying. They were getting after loose balls, pushing the ball in transition, and trying to fight over the massive screens set by Nikola Jokic. It was this continuous effort that kept them within range to make their comeback later in the third quarter, where they outscored the Nuggets 30-21 and got themselves within just 3 points.
The Best:
- Winning: At the end of the day, there’s nothing better than winning. Had the Kings lost this one, there would still be a lot of good things to say about their effort and hustle. But winning just makes all those things feel ten times better. Denver didn’t make things easy by any means, and the Kings had to overcome some very cold shooting. Overall, they shot just 27.3% from deep and 43.8% from the field – that kind of paints the picture of how they quite literally clawed their way back into this one, fighting for every bucket they got. Domantas Sabonis finished with another double double (duh) of 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Harrison Barnes had a productive night of 20 points on 6-9 from the field. Down the stretch, the Kings got timely and disciplined defensive stops that set them up for ultimate victory.
The King of Kings
Your clutch king has arrived, Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox scored the Kings’ final 10 points in a row to close out this game in and old-fashioned Fourth Quarter Fox performance. Just when you thought he couldn’t possibly make ANOTHER huge shot, he found his sweet spot in the midrange to lace the net and ice the game. Fox finished with 30 points and 8 rebounds.
Up Next
Thursday, February 22nd vs. San Antonio Spurs – 7:00 P.M. (PT)
This is a Nugget, by the way 😄. Go Kings!
Classy post.
I feel like with the Mike Malone and Tyrese Haliburton connections, the Nuggets and the Pacers are a lot of Kings’ fans second- and third-favorite teams. Both are smaller market teams again and again exceeding expectations.
I’m probably wrong but will continue to believe that anyway.
So go Nuggets! unless they’re playing the Kings.
Another good recap, Mirann!
I also liked Fox’s postgame comments about how the team builds itself strategically around Fox to finish games, and about how the confidence of the team in him makes his own confidence strong.
It left me with a good feeling about the state of the team, at least from his point of view, before the break.
This is precisely what I’ve been seeing/saying—-Fox being gimpy means less/almost no 4th quarter Fox last 25 games or so-and the Kings are built around staying close and letting Fox win it/have the ball.
The O is setup for it. But I think Brown has needed to help the adjustment at end of games while Fox struggles-like runnin some plays. Or deliberately getting Keegs involved. Not simply let Monk have the ball.
And great win. Great to see Fox-hoping the rest means healthier and more finisher Fox (cause he’s unstoppable when right).
Wonder if Fox was deferring cause not feeling great until realized (or brown told him) that Fox at 75% is still by far the best option at the end?
Has there been anything at all reported about Fox health wise that would lead one to assume innate inconsistent motor was not the culprit?
Nothing reported but anyone watching the games can see the way Fox is often limping, grimacing, and in obvious pain. He chooses to play through it. You can choose to hold that against him, but blaming “inconsistent motor” rather than the obvious state of being banged up is rather asinine.
No, it’s an excuse.
I find it asinine to buy into a injury that hasn’t been reported by anyone, anywhere or even mentioned by Fox because of what you “see”
and “injury” that makes him appear disengaged? How would an injury do that? He could favor a body part, without having the fan base question if he is giving effort?
I am also miffed with the non-reported injury part. Say if something wrong and avoid speculation. The team’s reporting on injuries has been wonky in the past.
But having seen my father fighting rheuma and other ailments has made me understand that constantly fighting pain is emotionally draining and tiring, can definitely cause someone to appear lackadaisical and/or disengaged.
I agree that it’s an issue the Kings aren’t reporting injuries. They’ve been terrible about that for years now.
Remember them not reporting Keegan’s avulsion fracture last season.
Appears very minor that wasn’t inhibiting play, not like something demonstrably afffecting Fox
but there are two issues, whether or not he is significantly injured which is highly specious, and whether not that injury warrants inconsistent effort.
if having a injured body part affects energy Domas should’ve been catatonic last year. One would think it could affect other aspects of game but energy expenditure? Particularly in a yo yo fashion.
It is not asinine to wonder if he has an inconsistent motor especially when no injury has been reported. That is the problem – if he or the team says nothing, all fans can go by is history, the eyeball test, and results. ALL of those things point to inconsistency.
He was great last night and got the team the win. However, his play over the last month has just as many questionable efforts
I always look forward to your wrap ups Mirann. Nice work. I didn’t quite see the game in the same way you did but shoot….we won the game.
I also awarded Fox the DpoG chain because IMO his all around effort secured the win for us. Despite neither Fox or Domas securing a spot in the All Star game and despite the amazingly slow pace of this game this was a big win for the Kings and a bad loss for the Nuggs. Personally I don’t think had a clue why the Kings won. So I’ll just say tonight…..the best team won.
I think the team needs the week off and it will probably help us to recapture their groove far more than Fox’s or Domas’ participating in the All Star game…..lame as it is.
Keep up the good work. I find your recaps….win or lose to be well written and to capture the feelings of so many King’s fans. Enjoy your time off because I have a feeling you will be writing many more recaps about unexpected Kings wins and also crazy losses.
Excellent win. Thank you, Mirann!
Also, I really hope we can now stop with that “scheduled loss” crap.
Hear, hear.
Terrific second half . Fox was his best clutch self and Domas was the typical amazing productive Domas . However, the key to the comeback was Barnes . Made big shots and plays to keep Kings in range . Makes the break more enjoyable and only 11 road games to play gives reason for optimism .
I agree. One of the other 3 starters stepped up, not like the Suns game, and things came out differentlly. Now if we can get Huerter and especially Murray back in the game on offense we will be fine. Murray might had 6 points last night but his defense us fantastic. So were others. Although his offense wasn’t there great to have Lyles back. The only problem I have with this year is our 3 point shooting. It really has for the most part piss poor. I thought that was one of the Kings strong points. My wife said this morning during the next week all of the Kings shooters should go in and have eye exams.
Time to dance
OT.
Zach Kram of The Ringer has an interesting metric called Points Created which essentially speaks to the most productive players and also has been instructive in predicting the MVP.
The top five names: Joker, Embiid, Tyrese, Luka and Domas.
Fancy seeing Domas on the list. No matter what metric is used, Domas not making the All Star team is absurd.
Sengun is 9th on the list. We could have drafted him, instead MM took Davion. I know many on this board including myself were clamoring for Sengun. Passing on him has turned into a big what if. Just imagine always having one of Domas and Sengun on the floor at all times.
On nights when Tyrese has a big game, I think about the Sengun pick. We most likely would’ve picked Tyrese the next year and maybe traded Fox for a wing or kept both with Sengun. Then Keegan the next year or maybe Paolo considering they would’ve been really bad… I love Fox but I’m pessimistic on how far Domas and Fox as THE duo can take us.
The Ringer has ranked the top 100 players at the all-star break
You can filter by team.
Kings have 2 in the top 25 and that’s it.
Boston has 2 in the top 26 and 5 in the top 100(top 50 actually)
Minn has 2 in the top 27 and 6 in the top 100
Denver has 2 in the top 20 and 5 in the top 100
Doesn’t prove anything, but maybe we just need upgrades in our 3rd-6th best players.
Yes, I wanted Sengun. I remember talking to my friend about the guy before the draft. Big miss.
One thing is for sure, this team remains inconsistent both in good and bad ways. If you had told me the Kings would shoot 43% from the field and just 27% from 3, in Denver, on a SEGABA, and would win…I’d call you crazy.
I watched the game last night and then looked at the stats this morning and thought the same thing.
Weird, right? The stats show Denver couldn’t hit the side of a barn, but they didn’t seem that bad while I was watching. Looking at the final score if seems like they only played 3 quarters of basketball.
What is really strange is Denver took more shots than PHX did the previous night. The Kings however had more rebounds in the Suns game (50) then in the Denver game (48), and on fewer FGA by their opponent. You’d think with Denver shooting so poorly the Kings would have had a ton more rebounds, but they didn’t. Weird stats.
For sure. Can we call this the rarest of anything Kings…a defensive win?
My affordable stream used Denver’s broadcast team. I had no idea color analysts didn’t talk over five possessions. What a concept.
I really hope they move on from both Kyle and Kayte. They don’t add much to the game or make it enjoyable to listen to.
It’s very obvious that they don’t want basketball in general which makes the viewing experience a bunch of white noise. Jerry would tell you that Zaza Pachulia doesn’t go left when he’s 10ft from the rim.
80 days ago, the Kings beat the Warriors 124-123. Domantas Sabonis had a line of 9/10/8. It was the last time that he did not post at least a double double (up to 37 now, I believe).
80 days. Almost three months of double doubles or better. Not an all star.
Also, does he have the biggest face in the NBA? Dude gets pasted in the mug on an almost non-stop basis.
Looking forward to several more years of watching Sabonis ply his craft for the Kings. Simply an amazing (and amazingly underappreciated) player.
I know many of us have said something like “Fox is the best player on the Kings but Sabonis is the most important player,” or some variation of that.
I’m now in the camp that Sabonis holds both titles of “most important player” and “best player” on this team. He hasn’t missed a game this season and I firmly believe the team would be dead in the water without him.
I think they mesh well together. Better than either Fox-Tyrese or Tyrese-Sabonis, imo.
Ahh, we’ll never know: Tyrese-Domas is an assist fantasy team. Surround them with shooters and maybe they’d average 40 apg as a team. For good fantasy measure, make that a Kings team.
Last night we saw Fox as he was last season, the Jerry West Clutch Player of Year De’Aaron. That said, he’s stepped up his shot attempts these last two games (26 last night, 31 against PHX) and up this season to 20.7 FTA/game from 18.2 FTA/game or about 2 1/2 more shots he’s putting up. Minutes per game is up at about over 2+, scoring from 25.0 last season to 26.7 so far this season. 3FG% is 37.6% up from 32.4% last season and interestingly (to me) very close to his 37.1% in his Soph season before he fell down with around 31 % (+/- 1) for the next four seasons.
As a 3 point shooter – Ty Haliburton, in his fourth season, is averaging the lowest of his career: 40.0%.
Lastly – as for the win last night: sorry, but for all intents and purposes, it was a “scheduled loss” in that it was an expected one. Semantics. Denver performed like we’ve seen Sac do many times this season – let the lesser team hang around and well, whaddya know, they came through and won. Denver now with a three game losing streak, and not the Kings. Kings win one they “shouldn’t” making up for one (but only one) of the ones they “should”. Life in the NBA.
Next. (not until Wemby and Pop visit G1C a full week away)
I think Fox’s ability to get a good shot late in the shot clock is something both Domas and Tyrese lack. And it’s hard to get assists when you don’t have the ball in your hands, so I think that would hurt both their numbers.
But as you say, we’ll never know.
Excellent point K-fan.
In the 4th quarter, and really anytime in the playoffs, shot creation reigns supreme, and Fox is one of the best in the NBA at that. It was nice to see him with a virtuoso performance to close it out last night.
When I watch games with my buddies we have made a drinking game of Sabonis hit in the face, no calls. To be fair he does have a large target.
My realization is that game to game Fox has the highest ceiling on the Kings but Sabonis has by far the highest floor. Basically Fox is the fussy sports car and Sabonis is a tank.
Domas is cranially gifted, that is for certain. I notice it especially when he played against Philly last month, and he was defended by Mo Bambi, who is cranially challenged.
Sabonis is on a pace for 76 double doubles this year. The all-time record is held by Hakeem Olajuwon, with 72 in 1992-93.
Just for clarification, that’s the post-merger record. The all-time is 227 by Wilt.
227 in one season? This sounds a lot like the 20k women that he says he slept with.
Wouldn’t let me edit….the 227 was consecutive. He posted an entire 79 (65-66) game season followed by an entire 81 (66-67) game season.
WOW. Some of Wilt’s numbers are insane, not even counting the 20k
He holds the record for second and third-longest continuous streaks with 220 and 133.
…with your grandmother.
Talk about some Double Ds!!!!
His sexual conquest record is also consecutive and not concurrent.
I’ll bet he was an all star that year.
That first half was fugly, but hanging around to give yourself a chance late on the road is good.
Fox closing that win out was a very Superstar type performance.
Much better going into the week off with a W, but the team really could have used the break a week or two earlier.
Rest up and let’s push for a 4-5 first round matchup with Denver.
A couple more challenging games to end February, but March looks much better. Could easily see them go 12-4 in March and move up and out of the play in range.
I loved last nights game. Ugly basketball, yes, but the game was physical and it came down to effort, and the Kings gave greater effort. Even with playing a high paced game against PHX and flying into Denver, they didn’t let up at all even after falling behind in the first half.
Watching how Fox took over the last few minutes of the game was really fun. Slicing into the lane with the soft push shot, dancing through the lane parallel to the backboard before flipping the lefty jump hook. He looked like he was moving in slow motion and was still too quick for the defense. The poke away from Reggie at the end was a statement. Fox being the scalpel to Domas’s sledgehammer is the identity of this team, in my opinion, and it was good to see that back last night.
I listen to the opposing announcers every road game, and some home games as well, because it is interesting to get another teams perspective. If you only listened to opposing announcers, you would think Domas was the imminent MVP. He has a lot of respect around the league, and I wonder if he will still end up on the all-NBA team at the end. He has been one of the five or six best players the last five weeks.
Three things hustle wise I thought were signficant:
It was notable how often HB crashed the boards last night. Even without getting a rebound, he made the Nuggets get a body on him. I wish he did that every night, but it really helped last night as Jokic and Gordon are a handful inside.
I am really enjoying how many shots Keegan challenges. He seems to think he is a shot blocker, and his instincts are good. He really goes for it, and that is a big help to Domas.
The Kings were so handsy and stubborn on defense last night. Lots of deflections, lots of bodying up on people. I hope that can continue without committing too many fouls.
The vibe has seemed off for me, coaches and players, for a bit now. I think the 15 of 19 on the road got to the team a bit. 17 of the next 28 at home to close, we still haven’t had a run where everyone was playing well. I am excited to see how the look post break.
As if I didn’t write too much already, but I will add to my Pookey-ish-ness:
Idk how many listened to the Denver broadcast team last night, but Scott Hastings was kind of a bitch. The entire first half he acted like the Kings were committing felony assault every time a Nuggets player went into the key and it wasn’t being called. Even in the 2nd half, so many times his tone was dismissive even to Denver, rarely offering any insight as a former player. Once it got close in the 4th, he did a good job and really added to the broadcast, but he was so annoying for the first three quarters.
I should add, as a player, I never liked him. He had to be one of the least productive players ever to have a career that spanned almost 600 games. He was a pretty common type of that era, back up bigs who would come in and bang and foul for 8-10 minutes a game. Hastings was sort a Hydrox to Greg Kite’s Oreo of that prototype, or a much less accomplished Marc Ivaroni.
MM’s coming with references from the way-back machine…the only thing I remember Ivaroni for is the picture with Bird and that he was a coach. I do remember a little of Kite from the Bird-era teams, but I don’t remember Hastings as a player, like at all.
Scott Hastings is a modern era Darrell Imhoff.
Wilt scored one hundred points off of him one night so I have heard on UTube.
Since we are going Ancient, Wilt played with an original Twin Tower as his wing man. Nate Thurmond. He was David, chiseled from Michelangelo stone. A force. Imagine trying to drive the lane on those two big men.
Nate was the first NBA player to record a quadruple double. I am hopeful Domas joins him this season.
Darrell Imhoff! I always thought Billy Paultz was the next generation version.
I became a fan of the NBA in 1978, after reading an article on Kareem in the Cub Scout mag “Boy’s Life”. My grandfather was a casual fan, but he immediately told me about Nate Thurmond, one of his favorite players. It is fascinating to read how many Centers regarded him as their toughest player to go against.
Great reference JP, I love NBA history.
Michael I started the game listening to the Nuggets announcers. They were overly critical of almost every set play one would think they were all stars in every league they played in.
I switched to Geroud and really enjoyed his description of the game, but mostly the excitement in his voice in the 4th quarter as “the Kings now are in a two possession game and with Fox and Domas this game is now there for the taking, but they have to improve their free throw shooting down the stretch”.
Within a 15 second description of the game he showed he can be an excited, but fair, announcer about the Kings play and their issues all at the same time. He is a treasure to listen to.
and it doesn’t take him 4 plays to get to the center of the idea he’s trying to get across.
We will be free some day, some day.
Nice to see you commenting on the main board JP, I read the game thread after to catch your thoughts there.
I love the economy of words GG possesses, just absolutely perfect for radio.
The ease with which Fox gets any shot he wants, is, at times, nearly beyond belief.
In the last couple of minutes, everyone knew that Fox would be looking to eat, and there just wasn’t anything Denver could do to stop him. Re-watch those possessions, there aren’t any moments where Fox looks to be in a hurry, he’s just rolling along to get where he wants to go.
If I had to guess, I’d say that Fox has some nagging injuries, and there are nights when he can’t overcome them. Those suggesting a lack of effort simply dismiss how Fox approaches the game. That man battles as best he can at all moments.
I’m hopeful that everyone will be able to rest and rehabilitate over the next week, and come back ready to run opponents to death.
Andy, I flat enjoyed the look on his face after each successive score in his ten point Fox Run as smiled and he looked at the Nuggets players. As you say it was that look that “there wasn’t anything Denver could do to stop him.”
Fox can play on my team any day.
I thought those possessions were illustrative in an unusual way. Fox is the fastest player in the league, and at some point he’ll slow down a bit, although he’ll never be slow. He wasn’t relying on speed in crunch time.
Fox advanced into the defense very deliberately, almost seeming as if he was following a specific line he’d mapped in his head, and making adjustments when needed. He may have been doing exactly that. Fox doesn’t get nearly enough credit for how damned smart he is.
He is an artist.
This season other teams have built a wall to stop or hinder him from getting the mid range shot that he was deadly at last year. He has adjusted, as you say, and uses the halting, gliding speed changes to counter that defense and he is sinking more of those shots lately.
Its a travesty he is not an All Star, but I am glad he is getting the rest.
See you all next week at the turnaround.
Meh. No triple double for Domas? Weak. When do we finally talk about his inconsistency?
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