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Timberwolves 138, Kings 134: Sacramento’s comeback attempt falls short

The Kings couldn't overcome and early deficit and Minnesota's hot shooting.
By | 45 Comments | Mar 4, 2023

Mar 4, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) fight for possession of the ball during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The Sacramento Kings made a valiant effort steal another comeback victory, but fell short against the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing 138-134, ending Sacramento’s 5-game win streak. The Kings trailed by as many as 17 at one point in the third quarter before mounting a comeback and giving themselves a chance down the stretch, but a few key mistakes and inopportune misses let Minnesota leave with the win.

Minnesota won in large part thanks to their tremendous three point shooting, making 20 of 39 from beyond the arc. A disheartening number of those threes were completely uncontested. The Timberwolves spent the whole game driving into the paint and then making extra passes once the defense collapsed, and their shooters showed up. Minnesota was led by Anthony Edwards’ 27 points, and seven different Wolves players finished with double-digit scoring.

The Kings were led by Kevin Huerter’s 29 points. Red Velvet was 6-9 from 3 and 11-15 overall, and had a really great shooting night. It was good to see him back in his old form after a very rough February.

De’Aaron Fox had 25 points to go along with 7 assists, but it felt like a quiet night for him. He missed some shots he usually makes, and forced some questionable shots down the stretch. He appeared to be in pain for most of the fourth, which could have played a factor, but he wasn’t able to fully takeover in the fourth like we’re used to seeing.

Domantas Sabonis finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, his 51st double-double of the season. Trey Lyles gave the Kings some huge minutes off the bench, finishing with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Lyles was a huge part of the third quarter comeback to give the Kings a fighting chance.

Keegan Murray was essentially non-existent tonight. He had 0 points on just two shot attempts, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in 20 minutes of action. Mike Brown sat him down the stretch in favor of Kessler Edwards, who was playing some really good defense. Edwards didn’t do a lot on offense. His two shot attempts were a missed layup and a made three.

Midway through the third this game felt like it was about to be a blowout but as we’ve seen many times this season, the Kings simply refuse to give up on games. This time the comeback fell short, but the game ended up being a lot more entertaining down the stretch than I had expected. It just didn’t break Sacramento’s way tonight.

Sacramento will have a chance to get back on track on Monday as they host the New Orleans Pelicans.

Operation M.C.N.A.I.R.

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Kosta
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March 4, 2023 9:47 pm

Not fair. This guy has like a 10-foot wingspan.

comment image.

Last edited 1 year ago by Kosta
Klam
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Nostradumbass 18
Nostradumbass 19
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March 4, 2023 10:45 pm
Reply to  Kosta

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ManilaBayCleanerCrew
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March 4, 2023 9:52 pm

Conley has done more to this team than Gobert did IMO. I want to see how Minny handles KAT returning to the lineup.

BeTheBall
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March 4, 2023 11:20 pm

I’m guessing we won’t see that until next year (unless he’s traded in the offseason). I’m not sure in what world a calf strain legitimately keeps one out for 3+ months.

murraytant
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March 5, 2023 10:26 pm
Reply to  BeTheBall

I think “calf” is a euphemism for Achilles- not a direct Achilles tear but the Achilles is the final common pathway for the tendonous structures in the calf. That’s the issue- a fear of a KD type Achilles.

rockbottom
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March 4, 2023 9:58 pm

Amazing three point shooting by both teams . Fox not superstar tonite just Star . Next game up !

murraytant
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March 5, 2023 10:28 pm
Reply to  rockbottom

no defense- they shot 60%- ridiculous and the 4 straight in the 4th was the killer.

PhilippinesForSacKings
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March 4, 2023 9:59 pm

Not mad about this loss, but man, opponents go off beyond the arc more often than not against the Kings. Even those not shooting very well becomes Peja or Steph against this team, sheesh.

I hope we can have a stretch of games that opponents do the opposite of going off from beyond the arc. Because it’s just the difference oftentimes.

Jack
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March 5, 2023 7:23 am

I’m mad about this game. Some of the worst defense we have played all year. If this was the start of the season I might, just might, understand it but trying to move up or stay constant without at least some defense would help. We usually do well the fourth quarter but last night just stunk up the court. I don’t understand why we can’t learn to play some reasonable defense. When you score 134 points you should win every game but not us. Offensive rebounds killed us. Straight line drives killed us and a lot of there 3 point shooting was when nobody was within 10 feet of their shooters. There are two parts of playing basketball, one being offense and the other DEFENSE. When coaching we stressed defense a lot and beat teams who were as skilled or better more times than not. Offense wins most games but defense wins championships. Defense is a constant. You don’t have to be a superstar to play defense. The first and most important aspect is you have to buy into it. Next as I told my players is if you put the work into it I can coach you on defense as much as you want. I believe the Kings can play defense. They don’t have to be number one but somewhere in the middle of the pack would do it. Lastly you have to do it all 4 quarters not just the fourth. Thanks. GO KINGS!

murraytant
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March 5, 2023 10:31 pm
Reply to  Jack

Jack- we agree- Kyle Anderson made 2-3 of them and took about 2.5 minutes to get the shot off (there is no shot clock when he has the rock)
No D was the issue.
and Monk + Keegan + TD were nonexistent.
Kessler Edwards played good D but perhaps he just looked good compared to the rest of them.
Bad scheme + lazy.

GFunkClassic
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March 4, 2023 10:02 pm

For home court advantage to be useful in the playoffs, we need to actually have a home court advantage

RikSmits
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March 4, 2023 10:05 pm

You can’t win them all, but that was disappointing.

I guess Traffic Coney, the Kings defensive mascot, was in attendance again.

RikSmits
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March 4, 2023 10:58 pm
Reply to  RikSmits
HongKongKingsFan
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March 4, 2023 10:15 pm

Fox is forcing too much, sometimes….

He need to find open teammates in late 4Qtrs……..

murraytant
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March 5, 2023 10:32 pm

teams are doubling him and he has not adjusted + his right hand and left wrist are bothering him

Jman1949
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March 4, 2023 10:33 pm

Antman put the brakes on our streak!

comment image&ct=g

cloudyeyes
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March 4, 2023 11:14 pm

I understand Fox scores a lot in the 4th but…
Houston: Fox bailed out by a foul from Gordon on the three.
Clippers: Fox missed a few clutch shots before making the final one.
Clippers (again): Fox clutch miss and bailed out by foul on Sabonis.
Timberwolves: Fox missed the three, game over.

The team keeps going to Fox for the final shots and I feel like Fox forces things way too much on the final shots. He is shooting 33% from the three. There were other dudes he could have passed to.

Last edited 1 year ago by cloudyeyes
RikSmits
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March 4, 2023 11:19 pm
Reply to  cloudyeyes

Fox by all metrics has been one of the better (if not the best) clutch shooters this season. But I agree that 3’s aren’t his best shot and at times the decisionmaking could be better. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that apllies to (almost) every single star in the NBA.

This game was lost on the defensive side.

Last edited 1 year ago by RikSmits
BeTheBall
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March 4, 2023 11:21 pm
Reply to  RikSmits

100%

Daydreamer
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March 5, 2023 6:38 am
Reply to  RikSmits

Defense and 22 of 30 on free throws.

UpgradedToQuestionable
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March 5, 2023 7:26 am
Reply to  cloudyeyes

Fox is only his name- he’s actually human

Last edited 1 year ago by UpgradedToQuestionable
Jack
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March 5, 2023 7:35 am
Reply to  cloudyeyes

IMO Murray doesn’t get enough touches in most games. He is the best 3 point shooter according to stats we have. He only shot twice in 20 minutes last night. What if like you guys are saying Fox when driving the lane passes the ball to him a couple of times or Barnes, Lyles or Huerter things might be a little different. All those guys are good 3 point shooters. Look what the Wolves did last night with drives and kick outs.

BeTheBall
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March 4, 2023 11:19 pm

Just once, I would like to see the defender not leave his man in the corner to go hang out near the basket. That was the cause of at least 6 wide-open (and made) threes tonight.

murraytant
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March 5, 2023 10:34 pm
Reply to  BeTheBall

at least 6

LALakerHater
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March 4, 2023 11:26 pm

comment image

Hello? Anh Phoong? Yes, something is wrong. The Kings can’t seem to stop the other team from scoring.

Last edited 1 year ago by LALakerHater
DutchKingsFanInUK
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March 5, 2023 12:38 am

Just some piss-poor defense by the Kings. Allowed thirteen three pointers from the corners, of which Minnesota made nine. Most of these were wide-open. That just can’t happen if you want to win games. Kudos to the Timberwolves though: some excellent shot-making from them on a B2B as well.

TheBufferZone
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March 5, 2023 3:10 am

Leaving guys wide open for 3s over & over again was painful.

Also, they played D against us well in the paint. Whenever Fox or Monk drove to the basket, they collapsed with a double team & it was a missed/blocked shot. I felt like that happened to Sabonis a lot, too.

We’ve gotta be able to adjust & kick the ball out, or else all of our opponents are going to copy this game plan.

Last edited 1 year ago by TheBufferZone
Jack
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March 5, 2023 7:38 am
Reply to  TheBufferZone

Agree. This is what I commented above.

Hobby916
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March 5, 2023 5:10 am

Lack of defense gets them this time. They overcame that in the previous games, but tonight was…yuck.

BabalooMagoo
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March 5, 2023 6:42 am

Defense?, we ain’t got no stinkin’ defense!

Marty
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March 5, 2023 7:52 am

I blame it on the schedule.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 5, 2023 8:22 am

Welp, you won’t win too many games when you allow your opponent to shoot 60% from the field and make 20 threes. That’s the ball game. It won’t matter how good the Kings offense is when you play defense like that. On to the next one.

Jman1949
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March 5, 2023 8:23 am

OMG! Ten plus hours after a devastating loss and only 26 comments here!

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 5, 2023 8:27 am
Reply to  Jman1949

Lol!

Klam
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March 5, 2023 9:43 am
Reply to  Jman1949

Lmao.

Bluejohn
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March 5, 2023 1:13 pm
Reply to  Jman1949

That’s funny!

Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
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March 6, 2023 9:03 am
Reply to  Jman1949

Depression, rage, and despair are SOO last season.

Last edited 1 year ago by Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
ForKingsandCountry
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March 5, 2023 8:44 am

I mentioned it in the Clippers post-game thread yesterday but I fully expected this to be a loss. The T-Wolves are a really bad matchup for the Kings after the Conley trade. They are bigger, and more athletic and those teams tend to give us a lot of trouble. I do not want to see this team in a 3-6 matchup because I think they would beat us in 6 games. The defense was bad but I think it usually will be against this team.

Jack
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March 5, 2023 9:33 am

No problem if we play reasonable defense. An learn to box out.

murraytant
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March 5, 2023 10:35 pm

giving up offensive rebounds hurt as well.

And yes, FKC- you warned us

eddie41
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March 5, 2023 9:51 am

Kessler played well. That’s good news going forward. He might earn a role.

oh yeah, nice 5-game win streak after the all star break.

ajonez81
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March 5, 2023 10:30 am

Tuff L, love the fight in this team though. I always feel like they are going to find a way to hang around and make a run, way different this year. The kings are super fun and entertaining but starting to wonder how this style will fair in the playoffs because historically it flops. Hoping they show some growth defensively in this stretch run.

UpgradedToQuestionable
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March 5, 2023 3:42 pm
Reply to  ajonez81

Is there a past or present team or Coach that you would compare this team to?

… Nellie’s Warriors? D’Antoni’s Suns? Adelman’s Kings?

murraytant
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March 5, 2023 10:39 pm
Reply to  Klam

I saw him limping

tough games wthout him

LAC withstood a 51 point quarter from the Grizz and outscored them 24-2 in part of the 4th to win. Memphis one game ahead of Kings. One game!

and duds lost to Fakers.
west was tight, now tighter.
Davion has to step up- this is not OKC here.

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