After the Milwaukee Bucks snapped the Kings 7-game win streak, the Kings quickly got back in the win column Thursday with a resilient 132-127 victory over the second-place Rockets.
The Kings finished the first half with a 61-52 lead, thanks in large part to a 22-9 run to end the second quarter. The Kings shot 52% from the field and 42% from three in the first half and Domantas Sabonis led the way with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. DeMar DeRozan added 11 points and Malik Monk tallied 10 points and 7 assists in the first half. Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green kept the Rockets competitive.
The third quarter saw the Kings build a 16-point lead midway through, and the Rockets get right back into with an 8-0 run. The Kings took a 90-85 lead into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter was high-paced experience with both teams trading baskets and the Kings creating some distance again, for only the Rockets to clamp down on defense and go on another run, regaining the lead in crunch time. Both Sabonis and Dillon Brooks would foul out of the game late. In the final minute, however, the Kings sealed the victory with clutch free throws from Monk and DeRozan.
The team displayed its balanced scoring attack in front of a national TNT audience with the starting five displaying nice offensive cohesiveness.
The Kings are 1.5 games back of 6th place.
The Good
- Clutch Performances: DeRozan’s 33 points and Monk’s 26 points. They both also hit clutch free throws down the stretch
- Sabonis: Pencil this guy every night under the “good” because you know what you are getting: 20 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists. He did foul out late, but the Rockets are a physical and defensive team, so not too unexpected with how Sabonis plays. He was a team-high +16 on the night.
- Ball movement: The Kings tallied 32 assists and only 12 turnovers.
- Free Throw Shooting: 90% (20-22) from the line
- Keegan Murray: He was aggressive, and we even saw a slight smile after a nifty coast-to-coast basket. He finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 70% from the field (7-10).
The Bad
- Stopping Rockets From The Field: The Rockets are 22nd in the league in field goal percentage (44.9%) and shot 52.7% in this game. When you get 66 points in the paint, it can help that number.
- Fast Break: The Rockets won fast break points 27-19
- The 2021 NBA Draft: It would have been nice to have drafted Alperen Sengun.
The Ugly
- Keon Ellis injury: Keon rolled his ankle pretty bad after accidentally stepping on Sabonis’ foot. After the game, Doug Christie said Ellis looked fine, but that might change in the morning.
Up Next
The Kings take on the Washington Wizards Sunday at 6 p.m. in Sacramento.
Man, what kind of recap is this? Outside of game stats, this is all the recap for the game has on the NBA site…
”Behind by 16 points midway through the third quarter, the Rockets charged back to take a 91-90 lead.”
Wow. Nothing else.
In any case, a W is a W. LTB! We’re over .500 again.
Its the kind of recap that drives people like you and me to The Kings Herald.
Quote from Bleacher Report’s power rankings out today:
Why does everyone ignore the fact that these two things (firing Brown and Keegan’s improvement) are likely related? Mike Brown’s coaching poisoned this team. Getting rid of him is what caused this turnaround.
Informed fans who watch the game > National media looking at highlights and box scores
The writers for The Athletic, ESPN, the publication cited, etc., are consistently anti-Kings. Even with the winning streak and coaching change its, “they are playing better, but; or we like Doug, but…
Its like these writers are active advocates for an anti-King agenda. Its dependable, lazy, tired and best to tune then out.
Yeah, Keegan was launching those long threes without hesitation last night. It was pretty awesome, and he definitely doesn’t seem like he’s in his own head anymore.
Because the Kings have been a well beaten punching bag in the national media for decades and Mike Brown is a well respected coach around the league. And some people are either too lazy or too overworked so take the easy narrative because its difficult to write a nuanced piece around the fact that Mike Brown actually is a really good coach and was exactly what this team needed 2.5 season ago and whose efficacy had faded to the point it was becoming entirely detrimental.
Exactly this. MB is too well liked, so it was easier (and more fun) to write “KaNgz!”
Also, once they wrote that, not many analysts are gonna say “my bad, I was totally wrong about Sacramento’s decision to fire Brown”. Most are going to dig in their heels, double-down, and find all sorts of reasons why they were right all along.
Other than the whole point difference thing, I have seen on a several articles that Christie is playing starters more (which is not exactly true) and that’s why we’ve turned things around. It’s a bummer that Doug is getting less credit than he deserves.
Anyway, nothing new here: national writers don’t watch the Kings. What is cool though- I’ve caught a lot of NBA YouTubers doing pretty astute analysis on the turnaround. I don’t know if it’s because these guys have more time on their hands to watch non-marquee teams. Or because of their low profiles, they are more likely to criticize a respected NBA-lifer and point out the things that MB was doing wrong. Some of their takes have been pretty good!
What a fun, thrilling game. I thought the team showed some real grit. I am loving this version of the Kings!
Additional good:
Additional bad:
From the beginning his offensive game hasn’t looked pro ready. His defense is good enough, and his energy is good enough that it’s not a complete liability, which is nice. His drive game looks good, similar to Davion which I’ve seen mentioned before.
Monk’s chemistry with Domas is great to see.
When was the last time the Kings had a duo that had such a well-clicking two-man game?
Theus/Theus?
Joe Kleine’s left foot and his other left foot?
You’re as old as I am Rob.
I will never forget the 85/86 season. Spent a chunk of my savings on a season ticket, went to every game.
That bench combo of Bratz-Olberding was a problem. Kings legends.
And R Kelly.
No No No, not that one! wWe’re old enough to know R Kelly is the former Stanford center, named Rich.
I always thought that Olberding and wrestling’s Paul (Mr. Wonderful) Orndorf were the same guy. In my defense, I never saw the two of them together.
Olberding – Mr. Wonderful!!
The compiest comp ever comped.
Well done.
Norm Van Lier and Darrel Imhoff.
Domas/Huerter DHO was great
Bibby/Webber?
Shock and Hawes
.
.
.
.
I kid…
I’m loving Devin Carter. Helped spark the run on offense shooting those 3s when we beat the Celtics. Had a shoulder problem yesterday right? Tough game to play in against a physical team. That’s how you learn.
Can we pick up Jonas Valančiūnas and get a Lithuanian connection going? I’d love to see him as a backup or bruiser to bring in against big teams.
Lithuanian Lasagna (Domas) and …? Bolognese?
Baltic Bolognese.
Okay, I’m officially a Doug fan now.
Love this!
https://x.com/SacFilmRoom/status/1880105151773700583
That is an awesome interaction. I think it also speaks volumes to the respect Doug has with the players, which started long before the head coaching job
Keegan Murray was the silent but deadly fart in the Rockets’ evening, Insanely efficient, double double, solid defense overall. He was a bit of an afterthought to Houston, who focused on shutting down the PnR and then Fox. The poison that they picked was DDR, who made them pay dearly, but Murray’s contributions were crucial.
DDR. While I have promoted the notion of dealing him for roster balancing (bringing in John Collins via a three way, for example), last night showed his importance for playoff basketball. As noted above, Houston made adjustments, and DDR was the there to make them pay. This does not happen if your roster has Collins but not DDR. This does not happen if your roster does not have Fox to take up the time and attention of Amen Thompson. Still not a fan of the roster construction, and it’s hard to convert trash to treasure (sending out Huerter, for example). But last night we saw the features and benefits of having all of Sabonis, Fox, DDR, Monk and Murray.
Fox’s offensive struggles were discussed a bit in the post-game thread, which did not really take into account his clutch free throws late. But what I did not realize until it was brought to my attention this AM was that Fox held his assignments to 3-13 shooting, with 4 steals, 4 deflections and a block, while scoring 19 points on 17 shots (the most inefficient of the starters but not as egregious as I initially thought).
The bench continues to be an issue for the Kings. Huerter is an odd man out, Carter is green and really only important in the absence of Ellis. Lyles is adequate? The starters are working their collective arses off to overcome the overall lack of bench support.
A Fox and 1: 40 minutes last night, including 21 minutes in the 2nd half – he picked up the minutes that Ellis would have played after Keon rolled his ankle. Kind of impressive.
Well said!
I appreciate all the passion esp reading the game threads. We have the Fox-haters and the Fox-hopefuls but obviously all of us love our team (not so much Vi-wreck). For me I’m taking it one game at a time lol, it seems impossible to see what’s ahead with this roller coaster of a Kings Fan life. Go Kings!
I appreciate this context. I thought he had a couple/few shots that he normally makes that either rimmed out or were blocked, but otherwise played a very solid & balanced game. His ability to blow up plays defensively is probably second on the team to Keon, and his defensive versatility (i.e. ability to guard perceived mismatches) is right up there, probably just behind Keegan/Keon.
By comparison, Monk’s game seems to “pop” quite a bit more (acrobatic finishes, crazy/hectic drives, tons of body language & screams of “AND ONEEEEEEE!!!”). While Fox mostly seems to play a deferential offensive game until he feels like he’s needed. It’s weird b/c I still feel like of the 3 high-usage guards, Fox has the highest ceiling on any given night… though maybe that’s why ppl are down on him when he doesn’t dominate, because we’ve all seen what he’s capable of?
I will say, Monk’s PnR game is legit, and I’m totally comfortable with him/Domas being the primary offensive initiators when sharing the floor. DDR still feels like a black hole to me though, where his efficacy boils down to whether he is draining 20 footers or not that night… you can almost hear any offensive flow grinding to a halt as soon as he squares up his man.
It felt like Fox saw that Monk and DDR had better matchups and he simply tried to provide what the team required from him the time it was needed, defense, rebounding, playmaking. He missed a few gimmes at the rim, but I thought he played well overall and we don’t win that game without his defense.
Thanks. That’s one of many things Fox did last night that helped win the game.
If nothing more, and imo it is much more, DDR’s game is excellent practice for the playoffs where the half court game takes ascendancy.
The trick is blending it with a good transition game on turnovers and quick inlet passes after an opponent’s basket.
My eyes are telling me that Monk may have the highest ceiling of any guard on the Kings roster, and may be currently passing Fox in his capabilities. Monk’s finishes at the rim have been next level lately while Fox has been floundering more often in his drives to the basket.
Yea, honestly I think DDR is too important to trade now too. I also have promoted DDR for John Collins, but DeRozan’s clutch game is really TOO clutch. Hopefully we could still find a way to grab John Collins another way without giving up a major piece or too much draft capital, seeing as how he’s only signed through next year anyway I believe.
Agreed. What DDR does well is a rarity in the NBA, and works well for this team. Obviously there has been a learning curve, and maybe MB’s insistence in trying to implement his system, versus adjusting the system to fit the talent, made that curve more arduous. I think we will see the synergy continue to improve.
I mean, it is good already. They put up 132 on a team that had been giving up an average of 108. They are 3rd in the league in opponent FG%, holding opponents to 45%, and the Kings shot 50%.
HOU also leads the league in outrebounding their opponents, by 5.3 on average. They only out-rebounded the Kings by two last night, 46-44.
The Kings were ready for a battle last night. Fantastic win.
https://www.si.com/nba/jazz/news/jazz-kings-trade-talks-involving-john-collins-insider
I would not want to mortgage the future for Collins, but I’d be okay with Huerter, Lyles, and a pick.
What’s I think might be killing us with these negotiations is how abysmal Huerter has been the last two years. If he was just shooting at a respectable rate he’d be an asset that Utah could easily flip for another pick to a team in need of vet shooting.
Collins looks like he would be a really good fit on this team, as constructed. That being said, I’m not sure I’d want to lose yet another first round pick to raise the ceiling (NOT the likely outcome) from losing in the first round to winning a couple games in the second.
Collins could have been had for much less a few years ago, and I feel like Ainge always asks for WAY more than is justified. Huerter and Lyles isn’t much.
Could the Kimgs trade Lyles and Huerter by the deadline and then sign Lyles once free agency starts this offseason? I think he has value on this roster, both chemistry and role.
Listening in on the local Houston Sports radio this morning on a tune up taper run the announcers were lamenting what a quietly excellent game Keegan had with his 3’s and quick drives to the rim and noted, more than several times, what an excellent and decisive offensive rebound he had over a well positioned Sengun late in the game…”He was the back breaker” mentioned one, while his partner replied “DDR wants you to hold his beer.”
Both said the Kings Malik to Sabonis pick and roll may be the best in the game right now.
Thanks for adding that JP.
I love Keegan. He is turning out to be a much more physical player, and gifted defender, than I was expecting, and I was high on him pre-draft. The way he just snatches rebounds out of opponents hands is so impressive.
His increasing confidence to grab a defensive rebound and push the ball is a fantastic addition to his game. I also think he is becoming much better at attacking the closeout, he had two nifty baseline drives for dunks last night.
His Erving-esque finish was the chef’s kiss to a fantastic game.
I have long thought that his best comp in my fandom has been Jamaal Wilkes. A small forward with enough defensive acumen and intensity to gaurd up or down at a high level, very solid rebounder, excellent outside shot, and very effective running the break. Borderline All-star, All-defensive team candidate, and key player on championship teams. That is what I expect Keegan’s peak to be.
Michael,
Those baseline drives were fabulous. Fox had a weak side cut to the basket and pass for 2 from Sabonis.
I would like to see the Kings incorporate more of the weak side slash to the basket.
Keegan is developing a rounded game these past two years indeed. If he becomes a Jamaal Wilkes that would be tremendous for the team and franchise.
Fun game to watch!
I watched it again this morning!
Silk! And I guess that would make Keon = Michael Cooper with them long arms
Boom! Well done. I always regard Coop as the OG 3&D player.
Twas a bit sad yesterday to hear of the passing of another great from that era, Mr. Gus Williams, the Wizard of Ah’s. The first NBA poster I ever put on my wall was his, where he posed with his brother Ray and Mom.
Gus was always my personal comp for Fox. One of the quickest guys in the league, a scoring PG in an era where it was a bit rare, able to make the outrageous defensive play with sheer athleticism, an all-star talent whose peak produced an All-NBA nod and MVP votes. He was a genuinely memorable player.
My memory is that the Royals tried to acquire him on more than one occasion Michael. A great player.
Excellent post Rob.
There’s a real difference between teaching to your students and talking at them. As a teacher and coach, I love DC’s approach and messaging. Mike Brown was like the critical teacher that just kept talking and talking and the players were the butter stretched thin over too much bread. MB is a great basketball mind but DC understands the importance of teaching vs talking. And uplifting. Still very much in the formative stage with DC obviously, but man what a teacher.
The good news is Keon is in the DPOG picture, and looks okay – no wrap on his ankle or anything.
Hopefully they immersed his leg in the nitrogen tank for a minute and 30 seconds. He is shooting so well from distance that I hope he doesn’t miss time.
That was a very solid win, but man does this team need some length on the wing and frontcourt. I could see the game slipping away if there were another 2 minutes on the clock and the Kings had to go it without Sabonis. Lyles backing up both Sabonis and Keegan, who each approach 40 mintues a night, is not sustainable. The Rockets depth of Adams, Eason and Whitmore is far better than what the Kings currently have, and that doesn’t even take into account Jabari Smith Jr. who was out with injury.
If this momentum is going to continue beyond the deadline and into the playoffs (hopefully), Monte really needs to shore up the wing/big depth. I read that Toronto is open for business. IMO, even a minor piece like Kelly Olynyk could potentially help if he could absorb 10ish minutes per game.
I think Adams had the biggest impact off the bench (I think he was +16 in the +/-, highest on HOU). Without a backup C, Murray and Lyles were simply outsized. Also, I still think we should try to pry Eason away if the Rockets ever open that possibility.
I get the sense they’d prefer to keep Eason and instead move Smith Jr. I imagine a lot of that has to do with contracts.
The only problem Houston has going forward is how to pay for all of their young talent when their rookie deals come to end. Green and Sengun have their extensions kick in next year, but Smith Jr., Eason, Thompson and Whitmore are not far behind. It’s financially impossible to give them all max rookie extensions.
I have been reading that HOU (probably Ime) is pretty ambivalent regarding Jabari, and with two dynamic talents in Eason and Whitmore, and the versatility of Thompson, I think he is the one who could be had. I have been wondering if they could talk themselves into needing a shooter enough to send him for KH & a FRP.
The problem is…Huerter shoots a lot of 3s, but he doesn’t make a lot of 3s.
They would really need to think he could have a bounce back season.
I think teams have pretty in-depth knowledge of every player, at least good teams, and Houston’s front office has been pretty effective the last couple of years. I don’t know if him having a bad start to this season, even with last season being barely adequate, would be a huge factor in their assessment of his value. I am under the assumption, especially with the firing of Brown and the general air of displeasure and disfunction wafting about regarding player roles, in addition to what they know or have heard that the public will never be privy to, that most teams feel like Kevin has caught a case of The Kangz, and would revert back to career norms in a different situation.
I agree about Hou probably preferring Eason to Smith Jr, I would too if I were them. The issue just comes down to timing and cost, they are either going to lose Smith Jr for nothing or they’re going to have to trade a few of their pmayers
NorCal,
To your point re Adam’s impact on the game, he walked over from the Rockets bench when Keon twisted his ankle and was prone on the floor with a towel in his hand to put under Keon’s head.
A classy move that isn’t often seen in today’s NBA from a player who knows the Long Road Back from a serious injury.
Good on him.
I’ve always been an Adams fan. I remember Willie Cauley-Stein went at Adams one time, and Willie just sort of bounced off, like a little kid mad at his dad. Adams barely even reacted.
That is hilarious that you bring that up. For some reason it popped into my head a few months ago and with some searching found a clip. WCS just kept pushing his chest, and each time bounced back a foot or two.
Here’s the clip:
I think Adams is saying “It’s OK, it’s OK” just trying to calm Willie down. Willie finally breaks free and shoves Adams, Willie goes backward and *Adams doesn’t even notice*!
Carl, that’s a great clip, thank you. Adams just walks Willie right off the court backwards about ten feet. Amazing strength. You know what, maybe it is the way he is just built, do you think Domas is stronger?
He showed the effects of his surgery last night. Hopefully he gets back his foot speed, except when he plays the Kings. He is massive. I have always liked his game as well.
There were times where it was obvious that he wanted to move in a certain direction but his body (feet) simply couldn’t do it as fast as Adams could read the situation. He fell down 2 or 3 times just moving around but his feet stayed behind, I hope he fully recovers. The NBA is better with a healthy Steven Adams playing every night.
Good win and a nice bounce back game after getting steam rolled by the Bucks. There’s moral victories and then there’s morale victories. Houston’s style is irritating and its good to see we’re not letting stuff hold us back from doing what we need to do to win games. Gritty win. I’m hoping for another morale victory against the dubs on Sunday, let’s go Kings!
What a crazy back and forth to end the game. Roller coaster.
Just one observation. The “just go play” offense under Doug has been working great, but that does not work on out of bounds plays lol. Doug, gotta draw up at least a few out of bounds plays, please!
On the post game thread I asked and was answered on how to post a giph. Sadly I Can’t seem to cut and paste from giphy.com with an iPhone. Do others have this issue please ?
Idk about iPhone. But normally it is…
Giphy.com and search for your gif.
Click on the gif.
There is an arrow (looks like a paper plane to me) just under the gif. Select that.
Then below the gif, again, is a “copy gif link” button. Hit that.
Paste on TKH comment section.
“ blob:https://kingsherald.com/1f415858-30ae-419c-8436-e666742a7dc5 “ just does this
try and choose the Link (usually the top button, Copy GIF Link, with copy GIF in the middle and Cancel below.
Glad to see The Dutchman refer to the Monk-Sabonis pick& roll. I’ve watched the NBA since Nate Archibald played for the Kings (!) and that is elite timing, by both of them. Monk IS THE POINT GUARD for this team. Sabonis is an elite offensive center and screener. Period. And with Murray, I noticed not only the no-hesitation 3’s but also at least two poster-level finishes against the close-out. That’s what I’m talking about. And I’m becoming a Doug fan myself. As an old guy, I can appreciate DeMar. He’s the vintage muscle car of 2 guards. Back in, turn around. Better appreciate him because we probably can’t trade him. The small, shallow front court is still an issue, just not one for Doug. McNair? McNair? anybody, McNair?
Thank you for capitalizing the T in “The Dutchman”.
Btw did y’all see this?
https://www.si.com/nba/jazz/news/jazz-kings-trade-talks-involving-john-collins-insider
Interesting. It looks like in revolves the idea many of us have been kicking around here with Huerter and Lyles going to Utah. Collins is an upgrade from Lyles, whom he’d be replacing, and Huerter is obviously on his way out of the rotation. What concerns me about this possibility is paying Collins $26.8M to come off the bench in likley limited minutes behind Sabonis and Keegan.
Put me in the camp, that if DDR were moved for Collins, it would make better sense to the rotation, but you do lose DDR in the clutch. If you could some how retain Lyles AND get Collins, that would help the much needed depth.
I agree…the team needs to ADD an impactful big-wing to come off the bench, not just replace the only one we have in Lyles with someone slightly better. I still think we need to add a PF/C, the starters are needing to play way too many mins every night.
With Huerter not playing much these days and me thinking Collins is better than Lyles then the 2 plus a first should get Collins. My other thought is trade Fox to the Heat for Hero, Ware, Jovic 2 firsts and 2 seconds. Hero would replace Huerter, Ware Len and Jovic, an up and coming 6’10” PF could replace Murray for periods that would help Keegan get some bench time. Ware who IMO is going to be really good take Len;s place. Starters: Monk, Derozan, Murray, Collins, Sabonis. Backups: Carter, Hero, Ellis, Jovic, Ware. The problem is you need Ellis to get his minutes.
Remember and IMO some of this is positional. That’s what makes these things work.
I like those ideas. Especially the MIA one. And per your rotations I think eventually Herro replaces DDR as a starter.
That’s what I was thinking.
Miami won’t trade that much for Fox, when Herro is just as good, younger, and cheaper. AND two promising young players. AND 2 first round picks. AND 2 second round picks?
I just saw a trade on fanspo that showed a Fox trade for Hero Highsmith and Ware. I would take out Highsmith for Jovic or keep the trade as is. Forget the 2 seconds and leave the 2 firsts. As with fanspo. Can’t hurt to try. GO MONTE!
They could keep the starting 5 the same.
Ellis, Collins, Carter get the main minutes off the bench (unless another Jazz player is included. I like Sensabaugh).
I like that Collins is generally consistent with production every, unlike Lyles and Huerter. Collins could play 25 minutes off the bench and still produce. He is more of an offensive threat than Lyles.
Huerter isn’t helping most games.
Inmy trade idea I could see Collins where you put him and insert Hero at shooting guard and move Derosan to SF. No problem with that,
If there was a 2021 redraft and the Kings had drafted Sengun instead… Luke Walton might’ve gotten an extension and Kings wouldn’t trade for Sabonis. Just saying!
McNair drafts older players – he would’ve passed on Keegan and grabbed Jaden Ivey instead.
If they had drafted Luka, Vlade might still be the GM.
If they would have moved to Seattle, Vivel wouldn’t be the owner *ducks*
lol Monk from no joy to joyous
You have been posting some fantastic clips, appreciate you taking the time to do that Terzo.
You are most welcomed. For the love of our team and our fan community
As funny as that clip is, DDR probably should have made that pass to a wide open Monk instead of going hero ISO ball. Thank goodness it paid off in the end.
That was the most egregious example last night, but there were at least two other times that happened last night where DDR completely ignored wide open shooters. He also went 2 of 3 in those situations, so accept the good with the bad?
Something I meant to bring up yesterday…ADJUSTMENTS!
The Kings don’t win that game if DC doesn’t make adjustments and go primarily to the 2-3 zone in the 4th Q. It didn’t always work, see Green and Brooks hitting open 3s, but it stopped the easy points in the paint that HOU had been getting through 3 quarters and it put pressure on a poor shooting team to hit jump-shots.
Why are there so many negative comments on Twitter and elsewhere suggesting the refs handed the game to the Kings? If they’re complaining about Brooks’ away from ball foul, that’s a bad take as it was reviewed. There were several missed calls both ways and that’s being objective. What other calls would they be complaining about?
But Brooks has such a pristine reputation for clean play
Because the TNT broadcast desperately wanted HOU to win.
They even said the Rockets were playing 5v8 in the 4th Q, completely ignoring that the Rockets were fouling heavily throughout the entire game without it being called, then the whistles came out. Just because the refs didn’t call the same type of fouls in the first 3 quarters doesn’t they weren’t fouling, it just meant they weren’t being called. HOU plays a physical brand of ball where they slap opposing players arms constantly, sometimes the refs “let them play”, other times they don’t.
HOU got 24 FTA (17/24) to SAC’s 22 (20/22) and 10 FTA to 13 FTA in the 4th Q, respectively. Seems like the refs were calling it pretty even to me, SAC was just better at hitting their FTAs.
Brooks just can’t help fouling at the worst possible times cuz he a knucklehead.
Badge Legend