The Sacramento Kings started the night short two key players, with DeMar DeRozan missing the game with back issues and Malik Monk still out with an ankle injury. The Timberwolves came in looking like a team on a mission, having just lost back to back games to the lowly Portland Trail Blazers. The Wolves outplayed the Kings early and often in this game, and led by as many as 20 during the third quarter. But De’Aaron Fox refused to let this team go gentle into that good night. Fox had already been having a good game, with 21points in the first half, but he exploded in the fourth quarter and lead the Kings comeback and force overtime. But the Kings as a team failed to rise to match Fox’s level, and instead fell into the trap of standing around watching his greatness. Fox would finish the game with a franchise-record 60 points, but the Kings fell short anyway losing 130-126 in overtime.
Some observations about this one:
Fantastic Mr. Fox
De’Aaron Fox’s stat line: 60 points, 22/35 FG, 6/10 3P, 10/11 FT, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block.
Just an incredible performance for an incredible player. A performance for the ages, and it makes me so sad that it ended in a loss. This should have been a career-highlight for Fox, and in ways it still will be, but when you do this in a loss it just doesn’t hit the same. It’s no fault of Fox’s, he did absolutely everything he could. There’s really not much else you can say, you just tip your cap at the fantastic performance.
The Wolves won with depth
The Timberwolves finished with 7 players in double figures, while the Kings had just three. While nobody came close to matching Fox’s individual performance, the Wolves remind us that this is a team game and that depth is crucially important. Anthony Edwards had a great game and finished with 36 points. Julius Randle had 26, Naz Reid had 16, Mike Conley and Jaden McDaniels both had 14, Rudy Gobert had 11 and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 10. The Wolves essentially played an 8 man rotation in this game and got solid contributions from 7 guys, with Donte DiVincenzo being the only big minutes player struggling on the night.
Three point shooting woes, and three point defensive woes
The trend continues. The Kings shot 32.4% from three in this game, 12 for 37 overall, which sadly raises their average the season. The non-Fox Kings shot 6 of 27 from beyond the arc. Keegan Murray was 2-7 from three, included a costly airball in overtime that would have tied the game with a minute and a half left. On the other end, the Kings allowed the Wolves to shoot 40.8% from three, going 20 for 49 on the night. If you want to look at the biggest consistent point of failure this season, it’s that the Kings allow their opponents to make threes, while failing to hit them. As great as the Kings are in the mid range and the free throw line this season, the math simply works against them.
I should note that Ant made multiple threes that were really well guarded. He was simply having a great night shooting after going 0-9 from 3 in his last game against the Blazers.
The other Kings starters
Domantas Sabonis didn’t have a terrible night, finishing with 23 points and 12 rebounds. A solid outing that I don’t want to lose sight of when I complain about the rest of the roster. Sabonis was 0-3 from deep, but we can’t expect him to shoot 40% every night. Sabonis was solid tonight.
I mentioned Keegan’s struggles from 3, but he did contribute in other ways in this game. Keegan had 14 points and 10 rebounds, to go along with his usual solid defensive effort.
Kevin Huerter was way to quiet on offense. Huerter contributed in this game with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and a block, but only had four points. He went 0-3 from three and 2-7 overall. In a game without DeRozan’s scoring, I expected more from Huerter.
Alex Len was the Kings fifth starter. Yeah. Mike Brown continued his trend of making baffling lineup decisions whenever he’s missing one of his usual starters. It went about as well as you’d expect.
What’s the opposite of a mob?
The Kings Bench has had worse games, but the bench unit still isn’t giving the Kings enough help. Trey Lyles had 7 points and 8 rebounds, Doug McDermott had 8 points and was 2-4 from 3. Jordan McLaughlin had 5 points, and Keon Ellis had 3. Keon in particular was a letdown. I don’t know how we get back to the Keon of last season, but he passed up a wide open three in the final minute of OT that he simply has to have to confidence to take.
Get healthy soon, Malik. You are missed.
A moment of appreciation for a great nemesis
The Wolves have gotten the better of the Kings twice already to start the season, but both have been fantastic games. Anthony Edwards is a marvel to watch, even if I hate the way he loves to go off in Golden 1 Center. He’s talked regularly about loving to play here, and I think he should probably just demand a trade so he can play here 41+ times per year. After the game Edwards had nothing but praise for Fox, calling him one of the league’s best point guards and talking about how much he enjoys their matchups. I hate that we keep losing to the Wolves, but the games are fun as hell.
Up Next
No rest for the weary. The Kings have a back to back and host the Jazz Saturday night.
Fox was amazing but man that loss hurts on a number of fronts. Even worse that they’ve got to play again tonight potentially down Demar, Monk AND Sabonis (back stuff usually isn’t good). Brutal beat all the way around. It’s amazing how badly this team needs Devin Carter back and for him to be good.
Nah, Sabonis will take a few aspirins and have another double double.
Fingers crossed! I was shocked he came back in the game last night.
He’s a tough cookie.
Heck, I’ve hit tough cookies with my forearms. They break.
Sabonis does not break.
*I’m talking stale Chips Ahoy cookies.
Crumbl cookies are proud sponsors of the Sacramento Kings.
What does that tell you?
Not only that, you should see him when things get chippy.
They better be Oatmeal and Raisin Sabonis’s jersey up to the G1C rafters someday.
It won’t be a cake walk, that’s for sure.
If you need further explanation, I can use pie charts
Not the way I bake them, my friend.
My cookies have been bought by Nasa to use as tiles for their new space rockets.
Are you, per chance, a Keebler elf?
And just a personal preference, I don’t think I like the sound of using cookies for anything titled re-entry.
I think you need to have your forearms checked out by a medical professional. They shouldn’t break just hitting cookies.
Hope you’re right. Break your thumb, get your chest stomped, your face pummeled nightly, get your knee cap knocked is not as bad as throwing out your back.
Dude will be hurtin’ for certain right now. I fear he’ll be out at a time that the schedule lessens for a short stretch.
Injuries happen, even to NBA minutes leaders (DDR) and Cyborgs (Domas) – I get that – but – has the extended minutes by Coach Mike (Thibo)Brown contributed to those injuries?
I think it’s more the law of averages. The last two seasons (especialy the 2022-2023 one) we had extreme injury luck, much above league average. That was not likely to last.
Other teams can overcome these injuries to an extent, due to depth and playing styles/schemes that allow players to fit in more or less seamlessly. I don’t think the Kings can.
Losing Monk, Huerter and Lyles caused us to limp into the play-ins and I didn’t feel like that was very lucky at all.
But hasn’t played an NBA minute and he’s the savior? Not a Top3 pick. But a late first rounder. Some fans are deluded. Really. Keegan was a top 5 pick. How is that turning out? People around here talk like Carter is The. Next 10x All Star. It’s nice to be optimistic. Not drunk
Cool so go back and read my comment again and tell me where I said any of that. Reading comprehension is a very important skill.
Trade Keegan and cut Carter. Got it.
Devin Carter has never been so he isn’t coming back. I would prefer he was a forward or a center.
Hope he is actually amazing as everyone is fantasizing he is.
I am truly perplexed how people are taking this statement:
To mean this:
My point is that this team has huge depth issues and badly needs a two way wing or guard. Pinning those hopes on a rookie who hasn’t played in months is a tough spot to put the kid in. Absolutely nowhere did I suggest he is or will be amazing.
“and for him to be good” is the takeaway for me. The Kings NEED him to be good because their defense, despite a middle of the league rating, isn’t good.
Bingo. I’m certainly not saying he WILL be good just that they’ve put themselves in place where they need him to be good because of all the roster holes.
How is he back?
He has never been in a game or a practice.
Not a shock non stop injuries are starting to pile up with the way Brownie is running the top 5-6 guys into the ground.
I missed the game. We started Alex Len in place of DeRozan? What is Mike Brown thinking?
Even more amazing, after it went about as well as you’d expect in the first half, HE THEN STARTED HIM AGAIN IN THE SECOND HALF!
If it’s broke, don’t fix it.
-Mike Brown
And it took the Kings almost 5 minutes (not a typo) to score points in the second half.
Even more amazing is that Len was re-signed when he hasn’t done shit for two years. If we had another actual fucking big to play, maybe Brown could’ve fucking played that. But the King’s love giving people “nice guy” contracts. Shitty Vezenkov exit deal the King‘s inked including sending out Davion Mitchell by the way. How far do you expect to get with the timid players Lyles and Huerter when they’ve been declining every fucking year?
We really need another guard that doesn’t score. Too bad Davion had to go.
Another guard would be great. It would also be nice to know if the Len resigning and Vezenkov exit deal (including losing Davion) were part of Monte’s plans, or if he was heavily influenced by upper management. We also lost our only (not-injured) rookie prospect in Boogie Ellis (who could defend). Then poof he’s gone. Corporate cost-cutting by upper management? I’m convinced this isn’t the team Monte put together, but a result of the domino effect when Vezenkov wanted to leave the NBA. And then there’s Vivek, wanting to hand Len a nice guy contract like he did with Barnes. Its pretty obvious by now there are other actors behind the scenes heavily handicapping Monte, because ridiculous decisions continue to be made.
Pretty sure Len was signed to a vet minimum deal (?). We can debate whether or not they should have re-signed him, but the contract offered was fine.
I guess thats what I’m trying to say. Len did not merit a backup Center resigning and should have slid into Java McGee‘s role by now. The other Center we acquired played 8.4 minutes played last year, and is currently injured. Not enough cumulative “big” recent experience.
Yeah, resigning Len for cheap is not the issue. Not getting other upgrades is the issue.
I think Boogie Ellis is currently playing for Stockton and not a starter for them.
+1 I just looked at the box score for last night’s Stockton Kings game and confirmed Boogie’s status.
I also noted Orlando Robinson put up 26 points in his first action back from his injury. Maybe we can bring him in for some big man depth tonight against the Jazz (if MB would use him).
Brown can start him!!!
If Domas and DeRozan can’t go, we may see both Len and Robinson in the starting lineup!
Awesome news! Thats for the update.
Thanks lol
He’s been called up from Stockton, I just saw on Blue Sky.
We need more guards?
another big wing or forward.
Would be helpful.
It is worth noting the Kings did sign another big, Orlando Robinson. He’s been hurt but is nearing his return. Played for Stockton yesterday as part of ramping back up and played well. Grain of salt with G League numbers, of course, but it would really help the Kings if he can be a playable depth guy.
Hoping for some Orlando magic?
Hoping for someone to be the Batman to our Robin, son.
Man,
I’d
Like a
Forward who could play D and stretch the defense with some 3’s
Me reading your comment…
&ct=g
Hilarious!
I can vent my regret and frustration about a lost game.
Or I can give Fox his flowers.
Fox had an amazing night. The problem is even with 60 they lose.
Can you build a contender around Fox, Sabonis and DDR? Very few assets.
No depth, No length, no defense, can’t shoot 3s. You have only 3 players you can depend on. 4 if you count Monk.
This team is realistically a play in or first round exit.
Does paying Fox 5/350 change that?
A Change of environment would be ideal for Fox: Go home to Hou. A team with unlimited trajectory and a lot of nice young pieces.
Fox will get you picks and wealth of excellent young players. Choosing between Cam, Amen, Dylan, Smith, Reed.
Pels can offer Murphy, Jones, Ingram, Alvarado, Hawkins, Zion Picks
Spurs could offer any combo of Sochan, Castle, Vassell. Picks
Sure, Not one of these players are the marquee talent of Fox.
Roster Construction is currently poor. Fox and Sabonis are not old. But still in their 8th and 9th seasons.
The Kings brass are unwilling to shake up the current foundation. Stay the course.
They will probably let go of MB first. Interpreting the mediocre play as a result of coaching.
Your obsession with trading Fox to Houston is getting old. Your response to Fox dropping 60 in a game is to suggest trading him for young, unproven players. Get a grip.
Did you win? Case closed. Bradley Beal Part 2. Actually Beal has more playoff appearance with a worse team in Washington.
Wilt Chamberlain had 70+ points in a loss on more than one occasion. David Thompson had 73 in a loss. Devin Booker had 70 in a loss. Curry has a 50 point game that resulted in a loss. I guess those guys just weren’t winning players. Better trade them to someone for a bunch of lotto tickets.
To add,
I scored 4 points in a pickup game and we lost.
If you’re not even a fan why you all salty over here?
Trade Fox for nothing?
I too think we are getting close to a decision on Fox. I also know that Fox has a definite value that can be bring definite talent in return.
Why Houston?
Are you in Houston?
He scored 60, the franchise record (100 years last season they told us) and almost single handedly brought the Kings back from a 20 point deficit to get the win!?
Sell at the high! Trade him, it’s the perfect time.
Clever like the fox!
&ct=g
The most impressive thing Fox did last night was putting Gobert on his back side with a couple of effortless shoves!
True dat!
He’s not just a scorer. He’s got superhuman hip check strength.
He has hidden this freakish ability well until unleashing it last night as he could apparently contain it no longer.
I admit I also thought referee #35 might have a last name of Donaghy in the first half. Some very odd whistles last night.
Referee #35’s favorite Twilight character is Jacob. And he hates Burger King, Elvis, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and that Tut guy in Egypt.
And he won’t eat a Royal with Cheese
Excuse me?
Have to agree
He played and amazing game. I love him as a player. Is he what this team needs? I am not sure at this point.
You said it yourself. He “almost single handedly brought the Kings from a 20 point deficit to get the win!?” They did not get the win. Fox often single handedly does a whole lot. This TEAM is not winning when he single handedly shines.
The idea is to win. The goal is not to watch Fox shine while the team loses.
If he had just passed the ball more often to those players who shot 6 for 27 from three last night, we’d have had a better chance to win?
What about passing for two point shots as well?
Should we win games or focus on individual statistics?
Do you see all the assets Hou has? Why? Fox is from Houston. Rockets have tons of young talent to build around. That’s why Hou
Who does Houston have that is equal to Fox in a trade?
In quarters 1-3 the Kings were handedly beat, but the 4th quarter and Fox were brilliant. They went into the final period down by 16 and were up by 4 with 90 seconds to go. That’s an impressive turnaround.
All that being said, I about threw my slipper at the tv when Trey Lyles jacked a completely unnecessary 3, while up 4 and in the bonus, with 1:40 to go and 14 seconds on the shot clock. He then proceeded to foul Ant for an “And 1” on the very next play to let the Wolves back in it. That dumb fuckery cost the Kings the game, IMO. HERE is the shot
I had the exact same reaction to that specific shot. What made it worse was that I believe a couple other guys (Keegan and Huerter?) passed up wide open shots for Lyles to jack up that abomination. Just a disaster of a sequence.
That’s fair, but at the end of the game, there was a scrum for the rebound, Keon grabbed it and threw it out of bounds, robbing the team of the final possession. All that being said, without Fox, this team loses by 50 points.
Keon is feeling out the reality of the NBA on a nightly basis. He either gets better or stays the same at this point.
Hoping he gets better.
Not sure. Wolves have issues. No backcourt. At all. Conley started nice. Ran out of gas in the second half. DDV has been garbage all year.
The run in the 4th qtr is no surprise. If Edwards is off the floor team Wolves apart. Wolves finally put Edwards in Fox at the end.
Wolves won’t go far until they address their guard situation.
was it an Ugg slipper?
No, one of those fluffy sock like slippers with the tread on the bottom.
Right there with you. I smacked around a fluffy teddy bear in a drunken rage.
I tossed my lunch, and then my TV
Eh… Wolves combination of poor coaching, zero backcourt and Edwards off the floor beginning of the 4th kept the Kings in the game.
Finch didn’t call a timeout until the Kings had a 14-0 to start the 4th.
Edwards was sitting. Fox was feasting. Wolves got away from distribution in the 4th and started ISO only.
Yes Fox had an amazing game. But no one was defending him either.
The Kings took advantage. Ultimately the better player won out. No one on the Kings could contain Edwards.
That last 3 was just incredible. Man was triple defended and still hit it.
Luck. Edwards is shooting 48 percent from 3 this year. Small sample size. He’s hitting crazy shots like that all season. So far.
I think it imperative to point out that if Mark Jones authored the box score, it would undoubtedly say that the player who dropped SIXTY last night was
De’Aaron Martez Fox Him
All the fish grease has evaporated due to the intense heat.
It can get heated when they put you in the weight room
I find myself unable to handle our broadcast for 82 games anymore. I watched it on the Minnesota broadcast last night, since they have one of the best local crews in the league.
“LISTEN….”
That’s seems to be her go-to thing this season.
I have League Pass. Always listen to the other teams broadcasters. Katie is awful.
I just wish she wouldn’t have conversations about things while we’re in the middle of a play. It’s kind of like listening to a podcast while watching a basketball game sometimes.
I like Katie, and wish she would lean in more to her knowledge and less into monologues. She always uses thirty words when ten will do.
I think Kayte is the most knowledgeable person the Kings put on television. The idiots they put next to her make her job very difficult. She has to talk more to prevent the idiots from speaking.
Really enjoyed Minnesota’s broadcast as well. Felt relaxed with just the right spacing between words/saying stuff and also just observing and not saying stuff. Conversely, when I watch the Kings broadcast, Jones makes me feel spazed out and overwhelemed, and Kayte just makes me angry – when she has to stick to her guns and drive her point home – instead of real-time responding to what is actually happening on the court.
some positives:
(1) Fox dropping 60 against the Twolves and McDaniels. That could have flipped the script in this matchup, where it seems to me that McDaniels used to have an edge on Fox in the 4th.
(2) an entertaining and close finish while down two of the team’s best three offensive weapons and initiators.
(3) I thought McLaughlin impacted the game.
(4) Too Short at halftime.
a criticism: With two of the top three offensive weapons out (Derozan and Monk), Keegan still had the same role. I would think in that situation, Keegan’s role would change. There should be another player to take on the toughest defensive assignment (Ant-Man) so that Keegan can focus more on offense. Keon is a possibility. Colby Jones might be another possibility because he showed last season that he is capable of playing good D.
In now world can Colby Jones do anything to slow down Anthony Edwards.
I also ponder if Keegan is being used correctly offensively. It’s like he still is unsure of his role, other than taking open 3s when applicable. Is he supposed to drive, pass to the initiators, cut, screen? I don’t know the best roles/spots for him within and offense, I am just curious.
People don’t seem to realize.
Demar will keep Keegan from ever developing. Those are facts.’
I never said Colby Jones could be an Ant-Man stopper. No-one on the dubs could stop Lebron either, but they put different guys on him, including HB at times during his rookie contract. Colby guarded Shai well last year. He might be serviceable if given a role other than one-possession substitutions and garbage time. And that might free up Keegan to be more aggressive on offense. that’s the theory.
Well Brown won’t play Colby unless he has no other options, like Keon at the end of last season, so we may never know.
Have you seen Colby Jones play basketball?
As a HUGE Mitch Richmond fan (and Chris Webber fan), I am stating:
De’Aaron Fox is the greatest Sacramento King of all time.
I’m still going with Webber but Fox will hopefully ultimately change my mind.
NBA JAM teammates: Webber and Fox.
I think that would beat Pippen and that other player on the Bulls.
He might be better than Richmond as a King, though Richmond had more all star appearances, I believe. But Webber consistently got this team to the playoffs and instantly changed the culture of this team on his arrival. If Domas comes through like that I’d probably give Domas that title before Fox. I’d have to seriously consider it, at the least.
I still admire the power and grit of Rock Richmond. But his cast of teammates and the front office and coaching left much to be desired.
He spent his prime in Sac and his individual accolades are singular in their account.
Webber had the advantage of Vlade, the early enthralling Jason Williams and then a steadier, clutch Mike Bibby, a developing Peja, with my memory recalling a well blended bench under the auspices of Hall of Famer Rick Adelman and Geoff Petrie.
Comparing today’s stars to the ghosts of yesteryear is just so much What’s The Best (movie, meal, vacation city) –
Given how far today’s Kings have improved from 2 seasons ago – I am a happy fan with this competitive team. Are they championship contenders? Not to my eyes- but that does not diminish the consistently high level of play that De’Aaron and Domas bring to the court every day. For this franchise they continue to do more and better.
I would be surprised that after it is all said and done, hopefully many seasons from now, both players have their #5 and # 11 (and the great Bob Davies #11) retired in tribute to their efforts and achievements. Just my opinion, the Kings are lucky to have these 2 fine men representing our team and city.
I expect that the Championship or Bust crowd will throw shade or just disagree on principle and that is a debate we could hold. That is why communities exist.
And since you didn’t ask:
(Michael Jordan – IS the absolute greatest I have ever seen. Hands down. Lebron and Kobe is a good argument. The 39 11/12 year old Lebron is as impressive and unique a display that elevates him greatly in this fan’s fan universe. Nothing like it.)
My only argument regarding Webber’s greatness in relation to those teams is that you could’ve put anyone around Webb and he was going to elevate those folks to greatness, as somewhat evidenced by the JDub for Bibby trade. Vlade could’ve been almost anyone, Peja came a year later but he could’ve been Rick Fox, Webber set the tone for those squads.
You do make a compelling argument on the Richmond side, tho, having to do more with much less.
The Championship Or Bust crowd suck. Hard.
And 100% agree, there’s not really a debate about Jordan vs…
Its Jordan, then rank them however you want even tho we all know Kobe comes next…lol
The wolves have 3 road wins on the season. Two are in Sac. <sad face emoji>
The Pelicans will have 20 wins against us this season
Anyone hear how Sabonis is doing? Can’t imagine his back (or whatever it is) will feel better the next day.
DDR?
Scheduled loss tonight vs UT?
I doubt Fox will be full strength after that effort.
If Fox is at half strength, that’s still 30 points!
This proves that Fox’s critics here are right. He’s been taking plays off all these years!
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