San Antonio shot 58.8% for the game, getting absolutely everything they wanted on offense. They also were 38.1% from three, and made 80.6% of their 31 free throw attempts. Calling Sacramento's defense poor is an offense to Oliver Twist. Seven Spurs players scored in double digits, followed by three more with at least 8. Tiago Splitter and Gary Neal both had 17 points off the bench for the Spurs, combining to shoot 14 of 17 from the field.

Sacramento on the other hand had a much more top-heavy effort. Isaiah Thomas led the team with 21 points and 8 assists (1 turnover) in 30 minutes, and Marcus Thornton also chipped in 20 points in 28 minutes. The Kings offense wasn't bad, shooting 44.6% and getting 22 assists to 11 turnovers, but it wasn't offense that was the problem.

DeMarcus Cousins had 18 points and 9 rebounds in just 27 minutes. Unfortunately, the reason he only played 27 minutes was because he ended up fouling out. Tyreke Evans was absolutely shut down once again by the Spurs, scoring just 5 points on 8 shots in 38 minutes. For all of Evans' faults, that's still pretty remarkable. Jason Thompson was the only other Kings player in double digits with 10 points and 6 rebounds.

The Kings got off to a brilliant start, running the break and getting easy opportunities. It took San Antonio almost three minutes to get on the scoreboard. After that though, it didn't take long for San Antonio to join the party. Neither team played much defense whatsoever, and it was a back and forth scoring affair. The Spurs won the first quarter by a point, and both teams scored 29 points in the 2nd quarter. Penetration was coming way too easy for both teams, although San Antonio was doing a particularly great job of it, getting to the basket whenever they wanted and also drawing contact and getting to the line.

The Spurs, veteran team that they are, came out with a much more defensive approach in the 2nd half, and it paid off big time. The Kings still managed to score 29 points in the quarter, but the Spurs did even better, scoring 39. A big part was due to fastbreak opportunities started by deflections and sloppy passes by the Kings. Rookie Kawhi Leonard came alive in this quarter, scoring 9 points and playing absolutely excellent defense on Tyreke Evans. It really seems that after having huge trouble with Evans his first couple of years in the league, Popovich and the Spurs have figured out how to stop Tyreke better than almost any other team.

The Kings had an injury scare late in the 3rd quarter when Marcus Thornton seemingly bumped knees with Manu Ginobili when trying to fight through a screen. Thornton had to be taken off the court, and while he started walking himself, it was with a severe limp. Later, the broadcast announced that he had a left thigh contusion (the same injury that has caused him to miss many games this year) and that he would not be returning. I guess nobody told Marcus though, because he came back and played a little bit in the 4th quarter. At this point, with just 4 games remaining for the Kings, I wouldn't mind Marcus taking the rest of the season off and getting some extra rest on that thigh, particularly since it's been a bugaboo all year.

The massacre continued going into the 4th quarter. DeMarcus Cousins fouled out after playing just 27 minutes, and despite a hurt Marcus Thornton coming in, the Kings couldn't find their rhythm while the Spurs just kept on rolling. The defensive intensity stepped up yet another notch for the Spurs while Sacramento's offense went down the drain. The Spurs started the fourth quarter out on a 20-6 run over the first 7 minutes of the game, and then it became garbage time officially as guys like Tyler Honeycutt and James Anderson checked in. Of course, Isaiah Thomas never gave up, but it was too little, too late for the Kings. The deficit had become too large, and the Kings fell to 20-42 on the year with just two home games remaining.

Despite the elephant in the room off the court, it is abundantly clear there are still issues with this team on the court that need fixing. The Kings have spent the last three years acquiring youth and talent. First they only had Tyreke Evans. Now they have added Thornton, Cousins, Thomas, Williams and Fredette and will have another high lottery pick this summer. They need to add quality players around them as well, but until I see it, I doubt the Kings will spend that much money in Free Agency.

Sacramento plays again on Friday night against the Thunder, their 2nd of three matchups versus Oklahoma City this week.

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