Update: 7:30 p.m.
The Sacramento Kings went into Miami and defeated the 14-win Heat 127-111. Something was definitely wrong with the tank tonight. Zach LaVine played a big part in short circuiting the tank with 42 points on 12-24 from the field. The big news of the night though, was rookie Maxime Raynaud starting and tallying 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 25 minutes (he was a +12). Fellow rookie Nique Clifford also played well off the bench, finishing with 15 points and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes. Russell Westbrook had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Kings held the Heat to 29% from three and scored 20 points off 13 Miami turnovers.
The Heat were without Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell.
This wasn’t a great win for the tank, but it was a promising performance from the rookies.
From Earlier Preview:
Kings basketball returns tonight in Miami. Sacramento is riding a 4-game losing streak following the loss to Houston on Wednesday night, and this stretch marks their second longest losing streak of the season. And we’re still just 22 games into this disastrous year.
Who: Sacramento Kings (5-17) vs. Miami Heat (14-9)
Where: Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
When: 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET
Watch: NBCSCA / League Pass
There has been a serious drought of positive things to talk about regarding the current Sacramento Kings, but one recent bright spot that continues to get brighter with each passing game is the emergence of Maxime Raynaud. The rookie center out of Stanford had the best game of his young career vs. Houston on Wednesday, posting 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block on a super-efficient 10/15 shooting from the field, and 2/2 shooting from beyond the arc in 32 minutes off the bench.
Following Raynaud’s career night, Doug Christie revealed that starting Raynaud is “on the table,” and he’s considering it. From this humble bloggers view, that decision is a no-brainer. Raynaud has outplayed Drew Eubanks for basically the entirety of Domantas Sabonis’ absence, and the Kings are losing nearly every night anyway. Why not play the younger center with a long term future here? I can’t answer that, but we might see it tonight in Miami, and that’s about the only interesting Kings item worth talking about at the moment. Everything else is terrible business as usual.
The Miami Heat haven’t submitted their injury report yet, so TBD on who may or may not be out for them. The Kings will still be missing Domantas Sabonis and Dennis Schroder.
Go Kings?
Prediction: Kings 117, Heat 100.
Anyway we could just leave DDR and Saric in Miami after tonight’s game? In exchange we will pick up the tab on Rozier’s deal to go along with that young rookie they don’t play. What’s his name…Kasper Jackass or something? No one in Miami can pronounce it anyway. We can help you out, Heat!
Yes please.
Pleeeeeeeeease.
The Heat’s point guard used to play here;
His defense is mostly top-tier.
If we had been smarter,
He could be our starter,
Time to make Vivek disappear!
+1 The Kings are finally committed to the tank!
Don’t know if they chose the tank or the tank chose them.
Kings Win! Miami Vice Dance!
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I have to admit this made me chuckle
OT: Interesting piece over on ESPN that examines the Clippers predicament. Should the Clips decide to retool and continue to try and compete, Zach LaVine could be a target for them and they have ample expiring deals to possibly make it happen
I think the Kings would be better if they just didn’t have Zach on the roster, period. Just roll with more Keon and Nique.
You obviously mean Demar…Zach can play in the modern NBA
Zach hole sun, won’t you pass, and wash the iso away!!!! When/if he cools off.
Well Played!
I guess we can call Golden 1 the Sound Garden until we part ways with ZHS
Zach doing everything he can to convince Pat Riley to not let him get on the Kings charter after the game.
Dear fans,
Look at that! We are in the lead at halftime in Miami. What you don’t seem to understand is that this team is obviously playoff-bound. We have been working hard on our 94 feet of defense and encouraging Zach LaVine with the offer of more basket shots. We believe this season has turned a corner, and the play-in berth is all but assured.
It has become blatant that, as was our plan all along, Maximum Renault (we think is how it is said) will supplant Ewwbanks in the starting lineup. We saw this rookie of the year campaign coming since the draft, and decided to sign Eubanks as a decoy to the rest of the league. Now it is time to unleash the Maxime.
Be prepared for highlights and big dunks. We will show the haters what Kings basketball can be.
Sincerely,
Management
Not super thrilled about this win with Zach taking so many shots. Does it boost his trade value for a trade or make Vivek want to keep him?
He heard the trade interest and decided it was time to show those teams they needed to trade for him. Keep it up, Zach!
Heat were really guarding DeRozan hard. Zach had very good looks and his shot was in rhythm. While I don’t like the style of iso offense the Kings currently use, it does allow players to make decisions and use their skills and Lavine did that tonight.
Raynaud actually had a double double (12 points, 10 rebounds) and was surprisingly effective even against much stronger, faster Bam Adenayo.
Yeah, then they switched Wiggins onto Zach and we started going more to DeMar when Zach struggled. We played that well, for this style of offense.
Usual Kangz mode, just when the tank gains speed they ruin it. I predict they’ll do the usual of chasing the 10 seed, and either barely get it or fall just short. Ensuring another irrelevant pick and a repeat of this year. Sorry that’s just how I see it, zero belief here they are going to tank at any point.
Apparently the Kangz don’t self identify as a small market franchise.
This. Kawhi Leonard incoming.
I was at the game with great seats near the corner and Kings bench. Got to chop it up with Mark Jones before the game and got a photo with Zach Lavine, wishing him a great game! And he delivered on both ends of the court, including a big save of an almost out of bounds ball that led to a transition bucket. Kings played solid defense and were aggressive on offense especially the second quarter. They actually came out strong in the third quarter and didn’t let up their big halftime lead. Raynaud did play well though he was frustrated by 3 air balls, two of them from the corner. Keegan had a solid night, defending Ware and Adabayo who were non factors.
It’s just a game, so we should enjoy it as fans, right?
If that’s how you wanna fan, go ahead.
Winning by a blowout and still leaving in your starters until the very last second.
Doug is such a chickenshit coach.
Just a Vivek yes-man, not a well-vetted competent coach.
I was seriously worried someone like LaVine would get injured. That’s just not smart roster management.
Glad the rooks looked good but having Zach lead you to play-in-chasing wins isn’t going to do this team any favors. Wasn’t listed in the wrap-up but I’m guessing Keon was once again an afterthought.
IMO Zach needs to keep it up and up his trade value. Dec. 15 is just around the corner and maybe just maybe he will get traded. We’ll see.
There’s more than enough tape on LaVine. Half a season with the Kings won’t change that. His albatross contract is shortening a bit, so that’s a positive, maybe?
Yeah, everyone knows who LaVine is. Say whatever you want about his all around game, but he dude has been pretty damn consistent on the offensive end of the floor for years. Someone will be buying his skillset by the deadline.
As long as our FOwnership understands that the return will be minimal.
I’d settle for a bunch of expirings, but I doubt the front office will. It would leave them (ownership) with egg on their faces. Losing Fox for cap space and a couple of picks is pretty devastating and hard to spin as a positive.
Fun win. Would like to try Domas, Max, Keegan, Zach or DDR & Russ when Domas returns, if no moves have been made “yet”.
On a side note, I’m all for picking up CP3 and watching him criticize the players, coaching staff, Front office and Ownership group!
Maybe the new Uber Netflix can follow him around with a camera crew. “The Mayor of Kangztown”
Sign CP3 & DMC. Grab large tub of popcorn. Enjoy the show.
DMC would be a solid youth movement by the Kings. He could learn some things from the savvy vets like DDR, Westbrook and CP3.
Question for the community no wrong answers….
Friend from Seattle and I were talking about the beam.
I know as well as anyone that it’s not going anywhere with how Vivwreck likes to ride some ancient good vibes until the wheels fall off but…
Should the beam stay or go? He brought up that already everyone at large brings up the “beam team” as just that era. Vs a Kings staple.
Get some moth balls and store it in the attic until this team has a real identity. There is no beam in the current team. There is also no reason to be celebrating victories like that on a team that’s on pace for sub 30 wins.
Isnt the beam-making machine on sale? It was posted here weeks ago
Anyone see Zack’s post game quote. He can do that every night if teammates just pass him the ball.
I’m sure Doug will tell them that.
“No need to do plays; just pass the ball to Zach, Read when he shoots, and React in case of a miss.”
Kings could finish with the sixth worst record in the NBA and get the number 10 draft pick or they could have the 10th worst record and get the number 4 pick. If starting Maxime Reynaud is going to help the Kings win a few games, so much the better.
IMO, starting Max isn’t going to get the Kings more wins. Definitely play him, and Nique, as much as possible, but they aren’t moving the needle in the wins/loss column.
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