The Sacramento Kings faced off against the Los Angeles Clippers in the final scrimmage game before the seeding games resume.
Paul George started off with the hot hand and the Kings couldn’t generate any offense, but as the game went on the team looked comfortable. It helped that Kawhi Leonard couldn’t buy a bucket until the second half, but the Kings slowly began to click.
Sacramento trailed by 21 at one point in the game, but quickly made a comeback to make things interesting in the final quarter. The Kings would take a four-point lead with 1:30 remaining, but lost it with under 30 seconds. A big three by Nemanja Bjelica Bjelica help the Kings seal the deal for a win.
First half notes:
Richaun Holmes got the start today as the coaching staff felt he was ready to go. Holmes saw a ton of action early as the Kings looked to shake the rust off of their starting center. Holmes set multiple screens and rolled to the basket on multiple occasions, but he struggled to capitalize down low. He’s been an extremely efficient finisher at the rim so you just have to assume that’s the rust coming out. Holmes did look good on his free throw attempts.
Harrison Barnes came off the bench and got minutes in both quarters. Barnes, who just passed the NBA protocol to join the team, looked good. He knocked down a few threes and his defensive length made things tougher for guys like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Leonard hasn’t shot well offensively in these scrimmages and that was definitely evident today. He bricked everything.
Buddy Hield, who has led the team in scoring in both scrimmage games, came off the bench today and made noise too. Hield was active offensively and didn’t make mistakes on defense. His chemistry with Harry Giles shined as he set up the big man for easy looks with crisp passing. If Hield can continue doing that, I’m all for him growing as an initiator. Proving his passing can be consistent is the big factor in that, however.
The Kings did allow the Clippers to bury a ton of triples. The defenders didn’t close out good enough and made some communication errors on switches. George couldn’t be stopped by Bogdan Bogdanovic and that’s where the bulk of the triples came from early on.
Second Half:
Bogi made a three-pointer to start the half. He shot the ball well today, but making him guard George is an incredible tough task. Bogi has looked better after every game, so this is a good trend for him with the opening day coming soon.
Leonard finally saw a shot fall and then everything lit up for the Clippers star. He began to make his shots and that opened the game for LA, who led 73-56 with less than five minutes remaining in the third.
The Clippers took a 21-point lead in the third quarter, but Hield came out and drilled two threes in a row. Then he would assist Jeffries for a three near the left corner and the lead became 12 in seconds.
Giles fouled constantly on both ends of the floor. That’s been an area of concern for the big man and it continued to linger in this game. If he understands when situations require him to be aggressive or passive, those fouls should decrease. Kings trailed 83-73 to enter the fourth.
Hield opened the quarter with a lefty finish at the rim and a triple to follow. Fox, Bogi and Bjelica were also on the floor to start the final quarter. Jeffries would make two baskets at the rim and the Kings started the quarter on a 12-0 run as they regained the lead.
Giles made a corner three. That is all.
Bogi would hit a three that extended the Kings lead to 98-94 with 1:31 remaining. Kyle Guy, Jabari Parker, Justin James, Yogi Ferrell and Corey Brewer did not come into the game as they usually did in the fourth.
The Kings lost their four-point lead, but a much needed Nemanja Bjelica three made it 102-100, Sacramento. Sacramento closed it out to beat the Clippers 106-102.
This win is positive momentum for the Kings as they get ready to play the San Antonio Spurs. Tipoff is Friday at 5:00 p.m. PST.
YES!!!

Live shot of TKH headquarters?
Wait… is this… the first win of the TKH era?
From Boogie Nights to Long Live Harry Jizzler, these are your Sacramento Kings.
My mineral water shot out my nose when he said “Jizzler.” We need to make this a thing.
Whoever plays the Kings next, I’d recommend masks AND a face shield.
That 4th quarter was a lot of fun
There are actual positives!
Leonard did not bring much energy for the first half.

Kings start the upset in the Bubble

Good to see Barnes and Holmes on the court. Good to see Jeffries continue to play well. Harry Giles was….Harry Giles. Plus he hit a corner 3 which was cool.
Rebounding is a major issue with this team. How they come together in the first couple games of the bubble season, and can they win, will likely determine how much of a chance they have at a play-in game.
It’ll be an interesting series of 8 games once the season tips back off. I can see possibilities that this group could come together….and I can see skepticism why they’ll stumble out of the gate.
I don’t know what to expect with this group but it has potential for being very interesting. And I love Daquan Jeffries after watching the last 3 scrimmages. His energy is sort of like Rory’s AMPM choices: Too much good stuff.
Jeffries is such a breath of fresh air. Kings were an amazing +24 in the 24 minutes he played.
The on/off stats are crazy for this game. Basically the starters got destroyed, and the bench dominated
That’s because the Clippers started their starters…. LOL.
Hmm I’m gonna have to go back and watch the tape to confirm.
Thanks Tongus Walton.
So what you’re saying is that the Kings 2nd unit embodied their coach yesterday and wouldn’t take no for an answer?
I like the dude, but getting excited over a bench player like Jeffries is so Kangzy.
Nah, what would be Kangzy is getting excited, then either:
A. Signing him to a bigger, multiyear deal then getting pissed when he keeps being Daquan instead morphing into Robert Covington (The Kings special, expecting a limited role player to take on a bigger role).
B. Not signing him and getting pissed about it. (The Acy special)
Or, as Rob would say, Tuesday.
Left foot sprain?
I think it’s Bagley’s aura.
You’re really Tongus in real life, aren’t you?
By the way, you’re dead to me.
obvious photoshop
Yeah, traitor. Tongus should be wearing an A’s jersey.
lol it’s Toomgis (short for too much good stuff). Toomgis is also 7’6″ FYI.
Toomgis, Tongus. Potato, kumquat. Tomato, asshat. Synonyms, you see?
But can he play the 3?
I’ve just enjoyed watching Jerries play in his three game opportunity. Hopefully he carries that over when the games count. Holmes looked insanely rusty to me and missed a ton of easy shots at the rim. Same went for Barnes and Fox as well but it was nice to see the whole squad on the court.
I was splitting my attention between this and the A’s game. This game was a mixed bag. All these scrimmages were, I’m sure. The Kings got through this pretty healthy, overall.
I’m rooting for Jeffries. I think he can find a spot in a rotation, even if it’s not with the Kings. I’m interested to see how this plays out.
Loved the ball movement with the small-ball lineup of Fox, Bogi, Buddy, Jeffries, & Bjelly.
Can’t be great defensively, but it was fast ball movement like the Kings of old.
Fox, continuing where he left off
and where we left off was this, big holes with starting unit, good bench coming in to save us
because our starting QB is infusing nothing
no max for this, kid better find enough energy to compete to set tones
LOL, he’s on his second “scrimmage” after an ankle sprain. The kid just put up a 20,6, and 4 for the season before COVID. I think he’s worth the money.
Max Money? Based on what? Does Fox make the players around him better? Does he take over games against Elite competition? I haven’t seen either and neither on a consistent basis. Max players are special players. Fox is a good player. Great? Great is this: Lillard, Harden, Curry, Westbrook, Doncic, etc. I would even Say Morant is already better than Fox in win shares. Fox’s stats may be a little better. But, Morant is a winner. I refuse to be another Kings apologist. If Fox fails to play great in the 8 game play in and the Kings miss the playoffs. There will still be people here using his ankle sprain as an excuse for his play. Next year will be another excuse. Winners don’t have time for excuses. Ask CP3 about that.
He’s improved every year and is averaging a solid 20, 6, and 4 this year. A tall fast point guard that can defend and score. If his upward trajectory continues he’s definitely worth max and someone you can build around. He just needs to be more consistent and I think that’ll come with more experience.
One minor quibble; he can defend, but he does not do it consistently (yet). His gambling for steals does not make him a good defender. He really needs to learn how to fight over screens.
Instincts are bad and speaks to his youthful kind of game. I think as his game matures on the defensive side he can become a good defender. I can see him getting to a Memphis Grizzlies version of Mike Conley on the defensive side in a couple years.
It is all possible, but it will require (continued) progression in some important elements of his game, which is far from a sure thing.
I would give him the max, but there are enough question-marks surrounding him.
Eh, he isn’t really tall (6’3 is average for a PG these days) and he’s a pretty poor defender at the moment. I mean, he’s fine 1v1 in the open floor and jumps some passing lanes. He’s even fun to watch as a sneaky shot blocker. But he’s an EASY target in PnRs and in the paint. He’ll improve in those aspects, but at the moment overall he’s not good.
But at this point he’s got a high floor and good upside to dream on, so yeah, I have no problem with giving him the max extension.
Now, if they AREN’T sure about giving him the max extension, then they should look to trade him now at his peak value. NOTE: I’M NOT SAYING THIS IS WHAT THEY SHOULD DO. (Unless, of course, the offer is AD-esque.)
Based on the fact he is clearly the best player on the team and is still on his rookie deal. Couple that with fact that Sacramento is a small market team an is arguably the least favored market for free agent, so the team needs to act wisely and lock him up long term or face the reality that he will walk. Yes, I’m saying the Kings have to overpay for star power, that is just the reality of things, IMO.
To put it simply, if you don’t believe the Kings should max Fox, what should they do with the money?
They should rebuild AGAIN Adam! Because that’s worked out so well the last 6 times the Kings have done so….
I am sure we are open to hear a better plan if you have one.
Individual stats are good, but I’d love to see his +/- for the year. Is it positive?
He isn’t infusing energy to the unit
I’d rather see a bulldog competing than stats
He needs to start setting tones, not reacting late in quarters to get his silent points etc
I don’t know if he’ll be worth the money or not. But for various reasons (ranging from Fox’s ability/upside to the Kings PR/ego) the Kings absolutely will and should give it to him.
I actually found the game quite boring. Clips were without Montrez, Lou and Pat. Kawhi was already thinking about the Lakers on Thur.
Clips rolled out the end of their bench most of the second half.
Kings played hard most of the game.
The thing that really concerns me is Fox’s motor. Or lack thereof. If Fox doesn’t play balls out for that 8 game stretch, Kings won’t have a chance at the play in. These 8 games will say a lot about Fox’s valuation as a Max player.
Yeah, I watched most of the second half…IIRC, the Clips were up 15 to 20 when they turned it over to the bench.
I mean, this Kings team probably needed the win for their own mental health, but any deep analysis should take this into account.
Wins or losses isn’t really the point of these scrimmages. Clippers went 0-3. Do you think they won’t be ready for the Lakers on Thursday?
Context is everything. I think we’ll find out in the first 2 real games whether or not Sac can really compete for that playin spot. And that includes winning both games, I might add.
The biggest victory of the day: no injuries
Nailed it!
Nice win. Good team effort. I think the defense improved today and that helped the team as well.
Only saw parts, and I realize this is only a scrimmage, and I realize it was just his second game back, but Fox needs to attack the basket early like he was doing in the 2nd half.
He seems like he wants to get everyone involved and does a lot of passing from the perimeter early. But he’s best when he’s getting in the lane attacking the basket, drawing fouls, and kicking out.
I’d like to see him driving to the hoop more in the first quarter once the games start counting.
Taking some positive momentum into the play-in is a good thing.
Letting Barnes and Holmes get some game pace is good, and Fox’s ankle seems to hold up well.
All good things; now it’s time to see if they can translate it into something when it matters.
“F#ck it, it’s just a scrimmage!“- Bjelly, probably.
Love Buddy mussing with his hair in celebration.
Any comment on late game situation by coach Walton ?
(as I thought Bogi did not have a great game, and not shooting the ball well, but Walton played Bogi and let Buddy sit)
Don’t know if it was just because the scrimmage game, but I think it would be better to bench Bogi and play Hield…
p.s. We played a ten players rotation, with Len could probably can play in those 8 games, it would become 11 players rotation…….I think a 9-10 players rotation is the best, but who would be the odd man out ?
(responding to your P.s.) Giles seems to be the obvious odd man out. Holmes and Len have to be ahead of him on the bigs depth chart because they impact the game so much more, especially on D.
Plenty of potential for Giles to improve, and I think he just needs a lot more reps and game time, but with the team currently in a playoff race they gotta go with the best 10 guys that help the team right now.
I also think we’ll be seeing more Fox + the B’s (Bjelly at center, with Barnes, Bogi (or Baze), and Buddy). Everyone on the perimeter and Fox running a lot of PnR/P up top with Bjelly. It would be a pretty cool offense anyway…. maaaybe they can hold it together on D. But it would mean less minutes for bigs overall.
We’ll get you guys next game. Good game and good luck to you all in your bubble matches–the playoff race should be quite intense.
Are you the one we have to share Sanjesh with? Not that we are jealous, or anything…
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