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The tank picks up a loss thanks to the Spurs

Rooting for De'Aaron Fox like the good old days.
By | 23 Comments | Mar 17, 2026

Feb 21, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (18) looks up in front of San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) in the first half at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Update: 9:30 pm

The Sacramento Kings picked up another loss Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs. The 132-104 loss puts Sacramento at 18-52 on the season.

Maxime Raynaud led the Kings in scoring with 32 points and 9 rebounds. Nique Clifford was close to a triple double with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan combined for just 10 total shots.

Our old friend De’Aaron Fox had 15 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes. Our other old friend Harrison Barnes had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

From Earlier Preview:

The Sacramento Kings are the NBA’s best worst team. They’re 5-5 over the last 10 games, good for the best record out of the 10-worst NBA teams over the same period, excluding the New Orleans Pelicans who do not own their own first round pick this year. This is a clunky way of acknowledging that 8 other NBA franchises in a similar position understand that losing is the move right now, and the Kings are the outlier. Surely they will be proven correct, and everyone else is wrong.

Anyway, De’Aaron Fox and the Spurs are in town tonight.

Who: Sacramento Kings (18-51) vs. San Antonio Spurs (50-18)
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
When: 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET
Watch: NBCSCA / League Pass

I thought we could rely on the Kings losing to the Jazz on the second night of a back-to-back over the weekend, but they managed to win with 8 active players, and 38 minutes of DeMar DeRozan. Some franchises just want it more.

The Spurs, though? The Spurs got this, right? San Antonio hasn’t released their injury report yet, so TBD on any significant absences that may close the massive talent gap between these two rosters, but this just has to be a loss for the tank tonight. There’s no other way around it. One last parting gift from De’Aaron Fox.

Prediction: Kings 112, Spurs 108.

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Jman1949
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March 17, 2026 11:42 am

With the Spurs on a back-to-back,
Will they rest Wemby here against Sac?
They often force feed him,
But here shouldn’t need him.
Let’s just keep Vivek under attack!

Jman1949
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March 17, 2026 11:45 am
Reply to  Jman1949

+1 Wemby just looks at the Kings among the little people!

comment image&ct=g

alec26
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March 17, 2026 10:36 pm
Reply to  Jman1949

On TV, he was towering over Maxime Raynaud at the end of the game.

Marty
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March 17, 2026 12:43 pm
Reply to  Jman1949

This fanbase just will not be rattled.
No passion left, there’s no reason to battle.
They should lose, yet they win,
Just more junk, for the bin.
Big picture, they should move to Seattle.

Jman1949
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March 17, 2026 12:54 pm
Reply to  Marty

It ain’t opera or ballet, but…

comment image&ct=g

scottymusprime
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March 17, 2026 12:14 pm

Ultimately, all the winning the Kings have been doing boils down to ego. DDR’s Ego demands he start and shoot. Christie’s ego demands that he not look like the fool he’s been all year in this seat. Vivek’s ego demands that he look good for a commissioner and celebs who belittle him when they aren’t taking advantage of him. I don’t fault Russ because who else is going to run point? But the ego of NBA 2.0 has rotted and spoiled.

UpgradedToQuestionable
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March 17, 2026 2:46 pm
Reply to  scottymusprime

Yes, it’s ego, and insecurity and something else;
It takes a special kind of stupid…
comment image

But I am happy and impressed with the Spurs, so a tip of the hat to them. They, and Detroit made some amazing transformations in the past two seasons. And yes, Wemby, Wemby, Wemby – but it takes more than The Alien to win like they are winning. And big shout out to Motor Cade as well (and expected CoY JB Bickerstaff)

Last edited 7 days ago by UpgradedToQuestionable
MillersCornrows
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March 17, 2026 7:47 pm

But but but the Kings played sooooo good against two teams out-tanking them and they thereby were building culture!

MillersCornrows
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March 17, 2026 7:50 pm

The Spurs came into Sacramento with the requisite amount of determination and energy…ok Jones. Whatevs.

Amonk81
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March 17, 2026 7:52 pm

Congrat Vivwreck. The kings are the worst run organization in all of sports. Now go out there and win a ton and ruin your lottery ticket to any hope.

actually, the moment this owner took over it ruined all hope

Last edited 7 days ago by Amonk81
MillersCornrows
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March 17, 2026 7:54 pm
Reply to  Amonk81

Hey now. Listen, one thing that fans don’t understand is that they should be grateful to see Westbrook pass Mark Jackson AND Steve Nash tonight in all-time assists.

Amonk81
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March 17, 2026 9:07 pm

Ha

MillersCornrows
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March 17, 2026 7:57 pm

Listen, there’s nights when the opposing team is going to go on runs like we’re seeing tonight with the Spurs. Thanks for the insight Kayte!

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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Nostradumbass 14
March 17, 2026 8:20 pm

LOL, just saw the halftime score (not watching the game). Logged in to say this is why the Kings need to do everything they can to maximize their draft potential, which means lose out. The gap between them and real contenders is just so vast. STOP STRIVING FOR MEDIOCRITY!

Amonk81
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March 17, 2026 9:11 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I really hate them. That they’d be this stubborn.

Should be playing G leaguers and young guys almost exclusively……like everyone else is doing!

Shut down DDR, Russ.
Precious too. Why the F is he getting so many minutes.

Klam
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Nostradumbass 18
Nostradumbass 19
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March 17, 2026 10:20 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I have a very bad feeling that our recent stretch of wins is going to come back to bite us by the time the lottery occurs…

RikSmits
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March 18, 2026 7:12 am
Reply to  Klam

You’d think so?
What could possibly go wr- right?
There’s nothing to feel bad about. It’s just sit back and laugh at the shit show as it unfolds before our very eyes.

RikSmits
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March 18, 2026 7:15 am

It’s sort of impressive that this game was basically garbage time for 3.5 quarters.

I really don’t know what kind of proper analysis of players you can apply when it’s all just one pressure-free garbage time session.

Yeah, Maxime scored points. Yippie?

Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
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March 18, 2026 8:37 am
Reply to  RikSmits

12 more losses to go. If they need help to lose to the Nets, sign me to a 10 day and I can personally guarantee that L.

AirmaxPG
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March 18, 2026 8:34 am

So someone finally had a talk with Doug?

That’s the minutes/level of involvement we need from DDR right now (if any).

Of course even at full strength we aren’t beating the Spurs, but he runs Demar out there for nearly 40 minutes in must-lose games against teams we are vying against in the lottery?

Just a clueless “organization”, from top to bottom.

Ralfmouth
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March 18, 2026 8:56 am
Reply to  AirmaxPG

You’re right. The term organization has never been less applicable in NBA history.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 18, 2026 9:19 am
Reply to  AirmaxPG

Yeah, there is no explanation in playing your “stars” big minutes against bad team, then basically benching them against good teams. There is no “chemistry building” or “development” in those kind of fluctuations. It’s just stinks of a team trying to squeeze out a few meaningless wins for the sake of pride.

TerzoM
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March 18, 2026 6:41 pm

Wow did not realize SAS is 2nd in the west. So glad Fox and HB40 could give a big Fuck-You to Vivek. Tank on!

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