The Kings not only won a basketball game, but did it in a way that reignited the flames of hope within all Kings fans. The vibes were somber to start, as Houston took an early lead and set a scene for another disappointing night for Sacramento fans. But a classic Dillon Brooks-led scuffle in the 2nd quarter poured some hot sauce on this unseasoned meal and things got spicy. Three technicals were given out and it felt like everyone in the arena was suddenly jolted awake. None more than De’Aaron Fox, who took things personally, and got things started for the Kings at the end of the half. From there, they never looked back, except to wave Dillon Brooks goodbye as he fouled out halfway through the 4th quarter.
Quick Stats
Sacramento Kings: 120 pts, 51.6% fg, 46.7% 3 pt, 60.0% ft, 33 ast, 34 reb, 10 to
Houston Rockets: 111 pts, 44.1% fg, 35.9% 3 pt, 71.4% ft, 14 ast, 53 reb, 16 to
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
The Good:
- Return of the Rain: The Kings shot 46.7% (14-30) from the 3-point line and it felt like eating your favorite meal for the first time after being cast away on a deserted island for months. Everything looks so much better when shots are falling. The Kings were able to showcase their best brand of beam team basketball because so much of their offense ended with the ball at the bottom of the net. Kevin Huerter was efficient off the bench with 13 points on 3-7 from the 3-point line. Most welcoming to see was that Keegan Murray found his rhythm throughout this game, hitting 3-5 from deep. We even got a Keegan smile after he hit a corner 3 to force a Houston timeout. You know things are going well when Keegan is smiling.
- Everybody Eats: When the Kings are playing their best basketball, everyone eats. Tonight, the Kings had seven players finish in double figures in scoring, led by Domantas Sabonis’ 27 points. De’Aaron Fox followed with 22 points, most of which came in the first half when the Rockets decided to find out what happens when De’Aaron Fox gets mad. Ignited by Fox’s hunger, DeMar DeRozan took over the 3rd quarter and put on a midrange clinic. The Kings came out of the half with a well-executed intention of getting the ball in DeRozan’s hands in opportune spots. DeRozan scored 13 of his 16 points in the 3rd quarter.
- Isaac Jones: I’m still waiting on confirmation from Mark Jones via Bluesky on what Isaac exactly translates to in Arabic, but my best guess is that it means “that dude”. What a fun revelation Jones has been off the bench for this squad. Not only is his story to the NBA awesome, but he’s taking advantage of every minute he gets out there. In 18 minutes, Jones contributed 12 points and 2 blocks on a perfect 5-5 from the field. My favorite play was seeing him contest a shot at the rim, grab the rebound, outlet the ball, and sprint all the way to the other end of the floor for a dunk in transition. It’s hard not to love a dude like Isaac Jones.
The Bad:
- Open 3s: The Rockets were led by Jalen Green (28 points) and Alperen Sengun (24 points) before he was ejected late in the game. Green shot an efficient 5-8 from the 3-point line, while Jabari Smith Jr., Dillon Brooks, and Aaron Holiday also cashed in on two a piece. The Kings still showed difficulties in defending the 3-point line, often giving up open looks after contracting their defense into the paint. Luckily, Fred VanVleet only converted on 1-10 of his looks.
The Ugly:
- Board Stats: Houston beat the Kings on the boards 53-34. As a physical and scrappy team, the Rockets secured 18 offensive rebounds.
The King of Kings
There is one word that I am certain of how to translate into Arabic and that is Malik, which, in case you have been living under a rock, means KING. I will be honest and admit that I have been a bit nervous about how Monk would fit in with the starting lineup, particularly next to DeMar DeRozan. Their speed and styles of play are both effective, but also quite different. Tonight, Monk showed that he’s able to fit in just fine. In his second start for the Kings, Monk finished with 17 points on 4-8 from distance and a career-high 12 assists with 0 turnovers. In between DeRozan’s scoring clinic, Monk found ways to not only score himself, but get all of his teammates involved too. Malik Monk is the heart of beam team basketball.
Up Next
Thursday, December 5th @ Memphis Grizzlies – 5:00 P.M. (PT)
Great win! Nice to see better shot selection, some toughness and production from the bench. Hopefully they can keep playing like this.
What was different to you about the shot selection as opposed to their shots just happening to fall this time? Not trying to be cheeky. Genuinely curious.
Just my opinion but not taking as many 3s overall and the ones they took were high quality and not forced. I said it a few chats back, if you are not great at shooting 3s why take so many? This was directed at MB and his spray 3s mantra. I don’t think they are at their best taking a lot of 3s.
Deliberately playing ISO with DDR in the 3rd. Playing lots of two man with Monk and Sabonis. I am convinced Monk should be the PG, he is a much better facilitator than Fox.
And I agree seeing the shots go in definitely leaves a better taste.
It did seem that the shot selection was better, not just taking a 3, but getting a much better 3 within the flow of the offense.
I think this is a good assessment. The shot selection seemed very deliberate last night, like the coach had a plan and the players were in sync. Very effective use of Domas, who was just to big and strong for Sengun, Smith, and Eason; excellent game plan to come out in the 3rd and see if DeMar could cook a little, and the Fox & Monk kept the pace high, both in pushing the ball in full court and keeping things popping in half court.
At least for Keegan and probably for most players the corner three is the shot they make. Most (not Malik when he is on) struggle with threes from further out.
And 1, I think the MB ‘if you are open, shoot it’ command gets them in trouble at times.
Unfortunately, I missed the 2nd quarter shuffling. Does anyone have the link to replays of them? I just need to see this team with life injected into them. Bring me the Rasheed Wallace Blazer team energy.
There ya go:
just popping in to compliment this team on the win. It’s great to finally see Murray and Huerter hit some threes this season. Been a VERY long year for both players. I’m in no way sold on this roster, but I’ll take a win when I can get it.
Well said
Yeah that sums it up perfectly.
I was there. It was awesome. We were all dying for a glimpse of the beam, and the Kings lit the hell outta it. Dillon Brooks is a crybaby instigator.
Dance
Is that the first play set to set DeMar up after 20+ games ?
(With Monk holding the ball near 3 pts line, Sabonis set a screen to free DeMar up, DeMar goes to catch the pass from Monk near free throw line, DeMar shoot with ease –> Bucket)
I like this set play, easy and efficient….
MB don’t overthink it bro keep giving Malik the starts and big minutes like you should’ve all along and maximize this roster. The only mistake was not playing Keon but if they win I can’t complain. The biggest difference last night was the fire and passion, keep Jones in there (and Malik) they fire this squad up and I like the nasty Crowder energy, need that too. This team has some talent to make noise, if MB can do a decent job there’s still plenty of time to turn it around.
I think the ball should mostly go through Malik and Sabonis. Fox is not a great passer, he is more of a two IMO. And Jones is giving them some desperately needed energy and athleticism. And Crowder is giving them some toughness (maybe even more desperately needed), I have noticed not nearly as many soft fouls since he was signed.
I truly believe Sabonis is the best point guard on this team in terms of IQ and seeing the whole game. Fox plays the one because it allows him to constantly have the ball in his hands.
Sabonis is great at the fundamental, solid plays. Monk adds a passing creativity and flair that does not exist on this team besides him.
That was something I liked about last night’s game, Fox was not the primary ballhandler as often, it was running through Monk and Sabonis. Fox is elite at getting his own shot but average at distributing.
Agreed, It’s almost like Monk has more traditional PG skills in his ability to run the PnR and lob game, where as Fox is more a scoring lead guard, kind of like Donovan Mitchell or Tyrese Maxey.
I know I am older than you Adam, perhaps quite a bit, but I think at least Rob and probably Upgrade might get this comp, but I think Fox is really similar to The Wizard of Aahhhs, Gus Williams. Excellent player, lightening quick, he and his brother Roy were my first NBA poster in my room, back in the day when they were really fun.
great memory stretch!
DJ, Lenny Wilkins repping Seattle and NBA Finals of Bullets v Sonics, then Sonics v. Bullets.
I had forgotten about Gus “The Wizard” Williams (and not Walt “Wizard” Williams, the former Terp and King).
I really liked that team. Lonnie Shelton is one of my favorite players ever, and used to practice his turnaround jumper in my driveway. He is my Grant Williams comp.
I get the same Darius Garland/Donovan Mitchell vibe with the Wildcat Duo of Monk and Fox.
It also had me think about how Cleveland went from disappointing the last two seasons, to that 15 win start. Big difference from J.B. Bickerstaff to Kenny Atkinson.
They were finishing games together anyway, why not start games. The best thing about it, is that wild Monk isn’t showing much. The calmer version, that is not trying to do too much all at once wasn’t there last night.
Who knows? Maybe this is the piece that fits. Huerter and Ellis off the bench is different, but maybe that’s all it is.
starting group got smacked in the first lol
7 points?
If Crowder plays eight or twelve minutes when toughness is needed and does not score for the rest of the year he earned his money.
Such a fun game starting at the final few minutes of the first half. The energy level picked up, guys hit their shots, the ball moved, and Rockets melted down. Just a blast to watch.
I really like how Isaac Jones gets to the paint on fast breaks instead of the 3pt line like Lyles normally does. I also like that he is the interior presence when Domas is on the bench, because Lyles isn’t that guy either. I think that may be what this team needed, an energy guy that thrives on being physical in the paint and battling for rebounds, getting put backs, and making the defense have to guard down low when Domas is out.
Huerter and Murray showed signs of life!!! Murray has been a bad shooter in November, and has picked up the shooting in December in his first 2 seasons. Hope this season is the same.
Light The Beam!!!
But we have to have a stretch 4, its what plants crave…
Great documentary reference.
Who has time for that when Ow! My Balls! is on?
Small sample sizes and all that but Isaac Jones mad 40% of his threes in the G League. Not to suggest he is a stretch 4, but there’s a chance he could also provide some spacing if he continues to develop.
We have a forward playing as a forward instead of as a deep shooting threat.
I know the Isaac name comment was a joke, but Isaac is an ancient Hebrew name for “One who laughs or rejoices.”
Jones has been a blast to watch, and may be a tremendous coup for the front office. He busts his ass, focuses on what he does well, and has done well playing in any lineup configuration so far. His athleticism continues to be shocking, even though I’ve completely accepted the fact that he’s a good athlete, and it has added a rim-protection component to Sacramento’s defense.
He’s not shot many three pointers, but there isn’t anything obvious in his mechanics that ought to prevent him from managing something like the league-average. If he becomes a guy that a defense needs to pay lip-service to on the perimeter, well, maybe the stretch four of the future is already here.
And when he goes to the line, I say to the television, “Knock ’em down, Ike.”
I’ve said it elsewhere, he reminds me of pre eye-injury and pre-extension Richaun Holmes. He’s just bouncy and hustle while doing a bunch of dirty work.
You may well have nailed it, that’s a solid comp. And Richaun was a serviceable shooter from distance before he got to Sacramento.
Leon Powe, possibly with more shooting range
Eddie is playing deep tracks only! Good pull.
This is another great comp!
That is an interesting comp. I did see another comp on twitter that said he was giving young Kevon Looney vibes, and I can see that too.
I am on record saying that Crowder likely has a low ceiling for how many minutes he can be effective this year, but I think what he brings fits well. While not a great, or maybe not even good, rebounder, he makes his size felt, he knows where to be on the court, and keeps the ball moving on offense and makes smart reads.
If Isaac can continue being this active and effective, as well as Crowder, I think that eases the burden and expectations on Lyles. He can space the floor, he gets out on the break, and he is a gamer underneath. Having bench 4/5’s of Trey, Issac, Crowder allows a lot more flexibility game to game matchup wise, rather than needing Trey to be great when he is only good.
I think the other thing having effective bench 4’s does is make Keegan’s life easier. For the first 20 games, Keegan has needed to be able to guard the best player 1-4, including chasing quick guards out on the perimeter, crash the offensive boards, be the help on the defensive boards and weak side rim protection for Domas, and then also be an offensive threat. No wonder he loses his legs on his three point shot.
Good read Michael.
My internal franchise comp if I squint hard enough is from an era of the NBA that is gone now, Sam Lacey was a long time ago, he was a center in a centers league. Isaac and Sam have two really common traits, both play(ed) hard with a physicality to their games. They both have/had long wingspans that allows them to play bigger than they really are. Both constantly hustle(d) up and down the court.
Isaac has a much larger offensive ceiling due to the nature of the current league’s 3 point line if he continues to develop. Short time frame with Isaac, don’t want to get over my skis too far…but one of the most athletic dunks in the NBA this year was Isaac in the Spurs game, I think it was that game, maybe the Nets, snatching and stealing a contested apex curve rebound from two Spurs and in the same move, before he came back to earth, turned to his right and dunked the ball. Two very athletic moves in one play. A nice surprise.
He made me remember Slammin Sam Lacey, whose jersey hangs in the Golden 1 Center, I recall. Looney may be the much better comp.
I will gladly take pre-injury Holmes. Somehow, the funnest player since Cousins before Fox exploded into existence
Can we please have Isaac Jones instead of a fleeting version of Holmes?
I hope he stays in the paint instead of being a stretch big. The team needs that physical presence inside, especially when Sabonis is on the bench.
indeed!
Itzhak as it is pronounced in Hebrew.
Isaac Jones in Arabic means where the hell did this guy come from?
I have to single out this line that made me crack up. Great stuff Mirann.
I was also chuckling as I wrote it hehehe. Thanks!
Awesome! I think it means energy and dunks.
I think it translates directly into “deserves a full contract”!
Should the Kings crawl back into the playoff picture, he’d need to be on a full contract to participate. No two-way deals can be in the playoffs. The thing is, there is currently no open roster spot.
Doug can be let go. He is just a warm body in practice, lol.
Dougie MakeNoBuckets
At least any possible roster issue would come after the deadline. If a roster spot doesn’t open up by then then yeah, cut Doug and sign Isaac.
Easy to make a roster spot. Waive some garbage.
Not that easy. Kings are very close to the tax line, cutting a guy like Doug now and signing Isaac would put the Kings right at the cusp of the tax line. It’s better to wait until after the deadline to determine if they want to sign him to a regular contract. Better to leave the powder dry for now.
Neither McDermott nor ORob are fully guaranteed until Jan. 10 (Doug at $750k and ORob at $500k). What are the cap ramifications if either or both are waived before their guarantees kick in?
I think if they are fully guaranteed they are set to make vet minimums of just a bit over $2M, os if those partial guarantees are all they end up getting, then it opens a bit of tax space. Either way, I’d imagine a possible Isaac regular deal is going to be cheap, like Keon Ellis cheap. I’d also think he be signed around the same time that Keon was signed. There really is no reason to rush it.
But why keep a player like ORob beyond Jan. 10 when MB refuses to play him?
No need to cut him yet. His salary could be useful for salary matching in trades, and the receiving team can then cut him and save money.
Agreed, but “beyond Jan. 10” was part of my comment.
Totally agree, especially if Jones is going to eat up those backup center minutes. But as Greg just posted, no need to make that decision for another month.
What if Rodinson is actually played more than Len and given that chance becomes a player like Jones? Will we ever know?
I appreciate your analysis.
I do not care if Vivek pays a luxury tax. We need to win. If we hang on to McDermott and other useless players to save money we are next level losers.
They are hard capped so Vivek’s willingness to pay the tax doesn’t matter. It’s just the CBA rules.
The hard cap is at the first apron. The Kings can go into the luxury tax and still be below the first apron.
Oh, I thought the first apron was at the tax line. How far above the tax line is the first apron?
Let Vivek worry about that.
Penalties are always allowed.
mandatory:
Now just tell the same story over and over and over on each broadcast–as if the fans had never watched the team before.
I feel so bad for Kayte when Jones sets up a supposed witticism by asking her a question she’s been asked dozens of times, and has to play along so that he can spout a thoroughly-exhausted punch line.
He gets calls wrong constantly, and his insecurity about his intelligence that requires him to spout multiple synonym adjectives to describe something that barely needed even one is just pitiable.
The only positive thing about Jones calling the game is that we won’t be subjected to Deuce’s sulking during the pre and post-game shows. It’s a crummy bargain for viewers.
I’ve gotten use to Mark and Kayte but there’s a part of me that wishes they would just call the game action better, no long drawn out stories. no “he’s playing with his food”, “hotter than fish grease” and when Mark Jones referenced the Tupac lyric “I’m not a killer but don’t test me” that was plain weird for a basketball game.
that was weird.
Watching last night it became obvious how truly horrible our shooting guards have been playing. Monk was out. Huerter was on another planet. Keon is learning how to score.
Monk comes back and finally starts. Huerter returns to form. Two shooting guards contributing and we win. Keegan hitting the double digits helps as well.
Great assessment. Rockets are a very physical team, their defense is what the Kings should be emulating: no stupid 1-5 switches on high screens out near half court, tons of offensive rebounds, and scrapping to get every 50-50 ball.
Kings did seem to do a better job at fighting over screens instead of just lazily switching. It was noticeable. They did give up too many open 3s, but they made the Rockets work harder for shots.
Bizarro Kings, but I’ll take it. It’s crazy how this team can have one of their worst games of the season and then 48 hours later look like a playoff lock. The best thing about that game is that was just flat out fun to watch. I missed that. A team can still be fun in a loss, but the team really hasn’t been much fun in wins either. Last night was different.
Also, what a 3rd quarter start for the team. We haven’t seen that in what felt like ages. Normally it’s the Kangz who come out flat in the third. What a refreshing change.
If you had told me before the game that the Kings would give up 18 offensive rebounds and would be out boarded by 19, I would have put money on a loss. Like I said, bizarro
Kings.
Good stat: 34 assists to 14. It’s nice to finally hit some shots.
Lastly, Keon DNP/CD? Even Colby Jones got a few minutes at the end.
Ellis wasn’t great in the Spurs game, and I am guessing that Brown wanted to “send him a message” for his poor play.
Wasn’t great, but wasn’t bad either. He was 3-6 with 2 threes, 8 points 3 boards and a block in 17 minutes. Maybe there was some sort of message to be sent, but I’m not sure what it is.
I think it was the end of the 3rd quarter sequence where may have thought Keon let his emotions get the better of him with the silly foul and the inexcusable turnover on the in-bound. Not saying I agree, just that I could see where Brown could do that.
I think the message all year has been SHOOT THE BALL.
When he shoots and when he participates in the offense Brown lets him play.
Again, he was 3-6 with 2 threes in 17 minutes. That’s more shots per minute than what Huerter, Monk, and Keegan all did last night. I don’t think the issue is his shooting. There may be something that we are not privy to.
One can only assume that, at some point, Brown will feel compelled to “send a message” to Isaac Jones about something or other. For whatever reason, the coach is compelled to keep his lowest-paid players in their place.
Ellis defends better than anyone on the roster, and is making 43% of his threes this season. If you want him to shoot more, maybe run a couple of plays for him each game.
MB mentioned that the team failed to run a called play during the Spurs game. I wonder if Keon was responsible for that.
There was also the reports of yelling in the locker room. Maybe Keon was apart of that?
James Ham made some comments at the beginning of the season that Keon was not looking good in preseason and practice, without pinning down if it was being in shape or injury or attitude. It could be with how his playing time and efficacy has pinballed a bit, that there is some issue with he and MB on his role and expectations.
That was a wild night for him. He will go four games with no shots then shoot the ball for a few minutes. He can do it but needs to figure it out.
Game log shows different, but he probably needs about 6 shot attempts per game to be effective on the offensive end.
Game Logs
Shows he is averaging about three shots a game when you remove the anomaly of the 17 shot game.
Wild that he can shoot 17 shots for a very high percentage then vanish.
That was the game with no Monk, DeRozan, Sabonis. He did what was asked of him in the offense that game. He might need some plays ran to get him more open shots from 3. He shot 15 that game!!! holy moly
It was an awesome game. He can do it. I am assuming Brown tells him to shoot because that is all Brown says about it in public.
I have been a big Keon supporter and I still am. I have noticed almost every game he has a sequence of a horrible turnover, a bad shot and a bad foul or some combo of those.
He really needs to work on his ballhandling, IMO it is the weakest part of his game. He is still young and inexperienced hopefully it will come around.
I agree. He is at the point in his career where the offensive skills in the NBA are learned or he simply does not have it. It is a typical second or third year player situation. When he shoots the ball he plays more minutes. It is simple.
Yeah, he is still figuring it out on offense. I notice a drastic difference in his confidence and aggressiveness when playing offense vs defense.
Right now he is completely reliant on others getting him open shots. Like a lot of young guys he cannot create his own shot at the NBA level. And I don’t want him trying to.
He also generally plays with 3 other volume shooters, much like Keegan, so the shots go to Monk, Fox, DeRozan, Sabonis. So the shots are going to them, generally speaking.
As it should be at this point. Huerter and Monk play with same players and are also shooting guards that score. This team is built to score 125 plus a night in order to win.
Hopefully it comes to him. The effort is there.
He’s just trying to keep pace with Sabonis’ insistence on picking up one or two completely stupid fouls each game. His fifth last night was case in point.
He uses all of his fouls. Not too bad for a relatively small center with no help until the last couple of games.
Brown has not changed his depth chart at SG. Monk starts now so it is different.
Monk, Huerter, Ellis
Huerter was rolling so he stayed on the floor. Ellis needs to learn how to score if he wants to play.
Also, Kings scored the last eight points of the second quarter. That was big.
A fun watch once Fox went into Proctologist Mode and fully hollowed out Houston’s defense. If that man really decides to score a bucket, I’m not sure that he can be stopped more than five-to-ten percent of the time.
I also love the shots after the game when Fox and Recee are laughing together, and just enjoying one another. Young, talented and rich, with a beautiful family to boot. I’d be envious if I wasn’t so happy for them.
I can’t blame Udoka for going after the refs, Sabonis fouled the hell out of Sengun on the play in question, probably more than once. I had a real sense that as the second half wore on that the refs were giving the Kings a very friendly whistle for the most part. I don’t know if it was the endless complaining by Brooks and Sengun, but it seemed like the officials were in a peevish mood in regard to making calls for the Rockets.
As a Kings fan who watches Fox and Sabonis being repeatedly assaulted during games, I admit that I won’t lose any sleep over it, but Udoka may have had a point about a number of calls/no-calls.
Agreed, Kings were finally the beneficiaries of a friendly whistle last night. Udoka did have a point. However, Tari Eason reportedly being held back from running into the stands is unacceptable.
I wonder if a suspension will be issued
There sure should be.
He just wanted to meet Jack.
He don’t know Jack
the obscenity was “Don’t trade me Jack”
and Jack was prescient about Eason- has liked him for years
One thing I’ve enjoyed about the Kings in the Mike Brown era is the lack of players arguing every call. It is exhausting watching players in this league crying constantly at the refs. With that said, is it possible that the Kings need to “lobby” the refs more frequently to get some calls to go their way as the game goes on? I don’t think it is a coincidence that the moving screens were called after Fox kept pointing them out.
LOL, those are some purple and black colored glasses you are wearing. Fox and Monk are complaining continuously and Domas is also throwing his arms up more often.
Maybe they’re not as expressive as some other players but they complain plenty.
I definitely have a purple tint to my glasses! I concede the point on Monk. I think expressive is a good distinction. I still believe that Fox and Domas are pretty reserved for the abuse they take.
Monk complaining usually ends in about 5 seconds and with a smile. I don’t think anybody has a problem with that.
Fox never shuts up. I’m not sure if I love it or hate it. On one hand it reminds me of Larry Legend because most of the time he’s chirping at other players. And when he does chirp at the refs he’s usually pretty diplomatic and he rarely crosses the line. But he def talks. The entire game, that dude talks.
“The name Ishak means “One who laughs” because Sarah laughed when she was told she would have a child.”
Monk being in the starting lineup seems to be keeping the ball out of Domas’ hands. Since teams have figured out the DHO, he is a liability running the offense as the primary. I like having a more traditional distributor as opposed to a center (who has skills, especially for his size) lose the ball constantly when he is the primary handler
Last night’s version of this team looked not only like a legitimate playoff contender, but a team that could do serious damage in the playoffs. Let’s see if they can keep it up for more than one game in a row. The schedule’s been relatively easy so far. Maybe they’re doing the play-to-the-level-of-your-competition thing again. At any rate, there’s clearly enough talent on this team to make some real noise. They just need to keep doing it.
Badge Legend