Feb 28, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends during the second half at Paycom Center. Sacramento won 131-110. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
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You can see how much he’s already learned about the pace of the game. He knows he’s got less time to dunk a ball, or get off the floater or 3pter so he’s being more aggressive and getting shots off quickly.
Not to mention his recent contributions on defense and the glass. Really loving what I’m seeing out of him.
The best part of this 1st qtr is that Mike Brown didn’t call an early timeout. And the fact the Kings are only down 4 is awesome. They played themselves into a rhythm which you need to see. You can’t always call time to stop opponents runs. Players have to stop those themselves sometimes. It’s good to see.
I wish Davion had realized that he had a wide open 15 foot pullup J. Maybe that’s something that takes a few years in the league before he realizes that.
L. Dort performance made me think of the live game that I had been to Golden One few years ago for the first time, and the Kings got blow-out in that game…
Not much the Kings can do if OKC as a team is gonna keep shooting like Steph Curry from deep. Gotta think they’ll cool off and the Kings will start hitting some of their 3’s in the 2nd half. In the mean time, gotta keep attacking them down low as the Kings are winning that battle
OKC has already hit their season average on made 3’s. That said, the Kings are outscoring the Thunder in the paint 30-20. Clean up the points off turnovers currently in OKC’s favor (12-4), you’re right there.
But make no mistake, this OKC team can play. You’re going to have execute better on both ends than the Kings did to win this game.
SGA is quite a shotmaker but it’s hard to tell if he does it with enough efficiency and without detracting from the overall offense to be a guy that’s a net positive in the win column as a lead guy.
If there is a better game, I’d like to know what. This has been a great example of Keegan’s all around ability on both ends. We’ve seen a lot of great things tonight. Couldn’t have come at a better time, too.
Totally agree. Tonight – for the first time all season, we’re getting a glimpse into what Keegan is ultimately going to become…and probably even more.
Weirdly enough, I think Keegan’s going to become what everyone thought Harrison Barnes was ultimately going to be, but never *quite* got there. (Good as he is, and as much as I like HB.)
He’ll get there. I think some of the ball security issues right now are related to the increased level of aggressiveness he’s showing. But I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that – given enough time – he’s fully capable of putting it all together. Maybe even by next season.
It wasn’t on either of them, honestly. But the challenge being “successful” because they switched the foul from Lyles to Metu is just a special kind of ridiculous.
It wasn’t on either of them, honestly. But the challenge being “successful” because they switched the foul from Lyles to Metu is just a special kind of ridiculous.
I know the fans are upset….but right now the Kings have 20 FTA to OKC’s 5 FTA. It’s one sided. Downside of shooting so many 3’s… although OKC has taken 30 3’s and Sac 30 3’s.
Probably should have held onto the challenge considering Tony Brothers is the ref. Hope that doesn’t hurt them in crunch time. This game is looking to go down to the wire
Keegan with 29/14 now. It’ll be interesting to see if this becomes a “coming out” party for him. If so, that might solidify this team has a top 4 club.
His 3PT shot has cratered back to his career norms after a hot start and now his FT shooting is creeping back down. Needs to get that FT % back up over 80% if he’s gonna continue being a 30% shooter from 3
Impressive win. Thunder came into today 6-1 their last 7 games with that 1 loss being a 1 point loss against Miami. They’re playing about as well as any team in the league right now. Wouldn’t mind seeing a Kings/Thunder playoff series
Considered? Sure. But there are at least five players who’ve had better seasons than him. Sabonis is playing at an all-NBA level. Being in the top three at his position and leading this team into relevance is nothing short of remarkable.
Pelicans lost again???? Cool.
No Zion and no Ingram is probably going to tank their standings a bit.
rec’d
Is it a huge surprise, like Draper said, that OKC is in 10th place?
In a sense, yes. I was expecting Chet to play big minutes and struggle a bit.
Not the greatest start I’ve ever seen…..but it’s a long game. I’m hoping Brown lets these guys play through it.
6-0 points off turnovers advantage OKC. That can’t continue.
Love seeing Keegan play this way early.
You can see how much he’s already learned about the pace of the game. He knows he’s got less time to dunk a ball, or get off the floater or 3pter so he’s being more aggressive and getting shots off quickly.
Not to mention his recent contributions on defense and the glass. Really loving what I’m seeing out of him.
He is fighting for those off and def rebound
Excellent points.
Fox coast to coast dunk. Sabonis coast to coast layup.
The best part of this 1st qtr is that Mike Brown didn’t call an early timeout. And the fact the Kings are only down 4 is awesome. They played themselves into a rhythm which you need to see. You can’t always call time to stop opponents runs. Players have to stop those themselves sometimes. It’s good to see.
Shai Gildick Alexander and Luke Dork
Slow down a bit and post up Sabonis. Nobody can come close to stopping him on OKC.
Keegan’s got 10 points in the 1st qtr!!!!!!
And four boards!
Excellent point. Keegan played some good defense as well. He’s coming along nicely.
Metu just cannot stop himself from leaving his feet vs smaller players
much better there
Monk sucked his last game. I bet he has a strong game tonight.
SGA really just gonna be allowed to push off all game?
Davion on Shai is a joy to watch.
Fox is aggressive at driving into the paint
Great stop by Davion, but he could definitely have gotten something if he just drove to the rim
I wish Davion had realized that he had a wide open 15 foot pullup J. Maybe that’s something that takes a few years in the league before he realizes that.
Thunder has some good perimeter defense. Once the Kings get into the paint though, it’s a different story.
So far, the Monk bounce-back game is a no-go
Monk misses two open 3’s, Dort makes two. Make or miss league.
Got to get up into their face on those threes.
Seriously, what happened to Monk’s 3PT shooting…
Shooting 28% from deep since December
L. Dort performance made me think of the live game that I had been to Golden One few years ago for the first time, and the Kings got blow-out in that game…
Shooting ourselves in the foot on both sides with threes. Don’t contest on defense, then brick 4 straight on offense
Indy is losing to Denver without Jokic in the lineup. Crazy game basketball is.
lol Deaaron Fox doesn’t even try on defense
How are we not contesting Joe? Threes are his entire thing
So you can get a tech for just talking on the bench now. Cool
I think that’s how coaches get most of their techs
Kings are wearing out OKC inside. Good. Keep wearing them out inside. They can’t keep up over 48 minutes.
Keegan’s blurry finally learning how to be assertive in the nba
Just like the La game, these Monk Davion minutes not going too well
Isaiah Joe is shooting 44% from 3PT this season and the Kings keep going under on screens….just giving him open looks
OKC is making shots, Sac isn’t. That’s really the difference right now.
Outside of his TOV’s, Domas is having another Domas like game.
Keep going inside and get to the line
Whos more annoying to listen to, Stan Van gundy or Kayte Christenson?
We’re playing defense without fouling. Unfortunately, that’s a result of not contesting anything.
I don’t like the last play….2 sec is enough to get Kuerter for a open shot
Not much the Kings can do if OKC as a team is gonna keep shooting like Steph Curry from deep. Gotta think they’ll cool off and the Kings will start hitting some of their 3’s in the 2nd half. In the mean time, gotta keep attacking them down low as the Kings are winning that battle
OKC has already hit their season average on made 3’s. That said, the Kings are outscoring the Thunder in the paint 30-20. Clean up the points off turnovers currently in OKC’s favor (12-4), you’re right there.
But make no mistake, this OKC team can play. You’re going to have execute better on both ends than the Kings did to win this game.
Looks like the Kings shooting 21% from 3 and the Thunder shooting 57% from 3 is the story of the game.
Like to see TD instead of Monk for a change.
not sure why TD fell out of the rotation
Inconsistency
Monk had a better start to the season, I guess
Kinda like Monk
Both have that microwave game and feel. If they are on, leave ‘em in. If they are not, sit em.
Which is why I thought TD should be penciled in for at least 5 early minutes per game
Me liking Keegan Rebounding.
Sloppy start to the 3rd for both teams
HB for the lead
What a pass by Domas and nice strong cut by Keegan to get to the line!!! I love this kid!!!
Buddy-style passing from Huerter there
SGA is quite a shotmaker but it’s hard to tell if he does it with enough efficiency and without detracting from the overall offense to be a guy that’s a net positive in the win column as a lead guy.
Harrison Barnes…. Foul Bandit.
Velvet with the shooter’s tidy bowl 3
Wow…that was a nasty fall for Keegan. Glad he seems to be ok
This might be the best all around game from Keegan all season. Wow!
If there is a better game, I’d like to know what. This has been a great example of Keegan’s all around ability on both ends. We’ve seen a lot of great things tonight. Couldn’t have come at a better time, too.
Totally agree. Tonight – for the first time all season, we’re getting a glimpse into what Keegan is ultimately going to become…and probably even more.
Weirdly enough, I think Keegan’s going to become what everyone thought Harrison Barnes was ultimately going to be, but never *quite* got there. (Good as he is, and as much as I like HB.)
KEEGAN
In the face! Keegan touched the rim?
do I have to keep saying it? monk started the season on fire, and has been garbage ever since
Keegan just dunked in traffic yall!!!!!!!
THAT DUNK need to be in NBA TOP 10 !~
Sabonis is the only man that can make Keegan smirk
Don’t piss Keegan off
Domas is getting another trip dub. He’s a rebound away.
He might get there on turnovers, too. He’s got 6 now.
Quadruple-double watch!
Keegan still need to work on his ball handliing….
but really good to see him attacking the rim
He’ll get there. I think some of the ball security issues right now are related to the increased level of aggressiveness he’s showing. But I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that – given enough time – he’s fully capable of putting it all together. Maybe even by next season.
Josh Giddey looks like a high school basketball player, dudes like 5’8’ 130 pounds
Anyone else think Domas’s hand wrap looks thicker and more extensive tonight?
Game has been as advertised between the 2 best stories in the West this season
Damn Davion got schooled by shai there
Davion gonna play great defense on SGA but the sheer size difference means that he’s gonna keep getting his shot off over him regardless
Foul on 15, Davion Mitchell – playing too much defense on the NBAs stars.
This is Keegan’s best game of the year so far. Happy for the big guy
That would have been something if Lyles had managed to finish that layup off that Domas pass.
Triple/Double for Domas in only 27 minutes. Lol
And Keegan with another double double!
The learning is almost scary-quick.
Keegan: 0 rebounds
Coach: “We can’t have Keegan logging 30 minutes with 0 rebounds.”
Keegan: “Got it, Coach.” (Logs back-to-back 10+ rebound games.)
Kings outscoring OKC 27-15 so far in the 3rd qtr.
Regression has hit OKC this quarter from deep. No longer hitting all their 3’s
Murray isn’t playing like a rookie tonight.
You can call it a hunch, but I would bet on Keegan’s TS% going up after tonight.
That was remarkable by Shai.
Monk knows that shooting from behind the 3-point line isn’t mandatory, right?
Shooters gon’ shoot
Great end to the qtr for De’Aaron!!!
Big answer from Fox to end the 3rd
Gallo del Cielo officially likes our chances.
Tony Brothers has something to say about that.
Just keep them under 30 this quarter again and get them into foul trouble
Man, I hate Metu’s body language sometimes.
What the hell was that foul call on Metu?
It’s Tony Brother
So this is getting overturned
Yep….from one King to another….LOLOL.
It wasn’t on Metu
It wasn’t on either of them, honestly. But the challenge being “successful” because they switched the foul from Lyles to Metu is just a special kind of ridiculous.
Perfectly put.
I know the fans are upset….but right now the Kings have 20 FTA to OKC’s 5 FTA. It’s one sided. Downside of shooting so many 3’s… although OKC has taken 30 3’s and Sac 30 3’s.
Tony Brothers used to be a good ref, but since his suspension, he’s been bad.
Oh this was on the floor
This wasn’t worth challenging imo
Agreed. Too early in the 4th.
Yeah. I really don’t think so either. I think Brown did it to get some rest for Domas/Fox.
Probably should have held onto the challenge considering Tony Brothers is the ref. Hope that doesn’t hurt them in crunch time. This game is looking to go down to the wire
Guess there’s no more over the back in the NBA
BALL DONT LIE!
i would’ve done the “too small” gesture to Giddey
Trey is pissed keep feeding him.
Kings stop missing gimmes
Don’t understand Coach Brown’s unwavering faith in Monk. He should not be playing.
I need like an hour of absolute silence after listening to Kayte nonstop for 2 and a half hours
She’s like an earworm.
Fox needs to stay away from those threes and stick with going to the paint.
I know Monk is there to bring energy off the bench but he’s been too out of control for a while now.
THAT’S MY ROOKIE!!!!!
I feel like Harrison Barnes should be touching the ball on every offensive possession
Keegan at 22 and 11!! A breakout night for our ROOK.
MURRAY MANIA STARTS NOW
Hands down the best game of Keegan’s rookie year.
Keegan is having an impressive game !!!!!!!
This is who I think Keegan can be on a regular basis by the end of this rookie contract.
This might be who Keegan becomes by next season. He seems to have the kind of BBIQ that’s going to allow him to make a HUGE 2nd year jump.
Keegan’s definitely getting DPOG
Brothers is wearing a #2 jersey under his uniform
Keegan!
KEEEEEEGAAAAN. MUUUURAAAY
I thought that might be a career high for Keegan. Once he figures things out, this team is very, very dangerous.
More like Three-gan Mur-ROY
Keegan FREEGAN Murray!
Man that was great defense by Fox on SGA and just good offense by SGA. Nothing you can do there. At least keep making it difficult on him
Keegan: 5 for 6 from 3.
Rest of Kings: 7 for 29 from 3.
Keegan is making the 3-point shootout next year, mark my words
OKC 15 made 3’s. Sac 12 made 3’s.
Sac 20 FT’s made. OKC 7 FT’s made. Ballgame.
36 points for OKC so far in the 2nd half compared to 66 in the 1st half.
Lotta time left so don’t wanna jinx it but goes without saying that Keegan has post game interview locked up if the Kings can hold on
Dort gone. That’s huge
I’m not going to advocate giving up open 3s and ORBs, but that OKC possession took over a minute.
Dort just fouled out. Big development in this game.
Another garbage foul call
Shai is going to get those. I hate star calls. I’ve long hated them for a reason. This is crap….. but it is what it is.
How come the refs don’t observe the cheating?
Dang the Thunder are another good flopping team… I didn’t realize how good they flopped.
Man if Keegan hit that the arena would have exploded
That just barely hit the rim. Wow
I think that’s close…but it seems like the ball that hit the rim.
Looks like it grazed the rim but I’m not convinced that Tony Brothers will get it right
Glad to be wrong. Good work, Brothers
OMG the Murray take to the rim was Ala Sabonis
Keegan with 29/14 now. It’ll be interesting to see if this becomes a “coming out” party for him. If so, that might solidify this team has a top 4 club.
KEEGAN DRIVES!!!!! PUTS THE GAME AWAY!!!!
They are charging the beam
I could have done without that chaos
Good thing they were up 10.
Kings turned into the Kangz there for a split second.
Game’s not over yet
Fox has got to stop smoking free throws.
His 3PT shot has cratered back to his career norms after a hot start and now his FT shooting is creeping back down. Needs to get that FT % back up over 80% if he’s gonna continue being a 30% shooter from 3
Oh for fucks sake.
😂 😂
Huerter fouled and no call. The last 40 seconds of this game is stupid
What a bullshit non foul call. But….at least it won’t cost the Kings the game.
Isaiah Joe has something to say about that.
Inbound the ball the game’s over.
forgot the “might”
And, the Kings can advance the ball to the frontcourt after taking time. That’s why Brown did so I would suspect. Yep. That’s why.
Was a timeout really necessary?
OKC took time.
Unless you meant the timeout Brown took after that Isaiah Joe made 3.
Kings come on already. Get the ball in, make a damn FT and finish this
Even better there. What a bizarre final minute
Fox puts it away.
Whew.
KEEGAN SMILED AGAIN
Fox fouled on the last play no call… Can we complain about the officiating in a win? I swear this officiating is derelict.
26-18, just like we all predicted in early November.
I had no idea
Impressive win. Thunder came into today 6-1 their last 7 games with that 1 loss being a 1 point loss against Miami. They’re playing about as well as any team in the league right now. Wouldn’t mind seeing a Kings/Thunder playoff series
Exciting.
I’m a big fan of the Thunder…. They don’t flop all that bad and they have a point guard. Way better than the Pelicans
I’ll say it again:
Keegan FREEGAN MURRAY.
I’ll take 29 and 14 every game from here on out, thank you very much.
Keegs coming out party!
Needed this game, given the coming two games.
Great game, OKC could be scary good next year once Chet comes back.
I mean shouldn’t Sabonis be considered for MVP in context? Or is MVP just another all-star fun friend popular kid party?
Considered? Sure. But there are at least five players who’ve had better seasons than him. Sabonis is playing at an all-NBA level. Being in the top three at his position and leading this team into relevance is nothing short of remarkable.
Sacramento is now up 2 games in the loss column on New Orleans for the 3rd seed atm.
Yes they are.
And 4 games clear of the knife fight happening between the 6-11 teams.
Good point. This is certainly the more important factor.
Lakers down three to Memphis looks good
“Darvin Ham telling the refs we don’t want to foul so don’t call one”. That is some smart coaching.
Next play a non foul call through the shoulder by Schroeder
Lakers win… Incredible….. You heard it here
Grizzlies really choked the hell out of that game at the end
The refs choked the Griz…. The NBA/Lakers really needed a Lakers win to keep whatever is going on down in that shit-hole flowing.
I’ll be honest, I like seeing Memphis lose, but sucks that it means the Laker win
Badge Legend