As we close out the official first month of this NBA season, I can think of a few better ways to start off November than by playing the Golden State Warriors for the 12th time of the last 17 games this year, but here we are. The Kings faced their first major test tonight as they aimed to exorcise those playoff demons without their leading scorer and reigning Clutch Player of the Year in De’Aaron Fox. Let’s see how they did:
Quick Stats
Outcome: Kings lose, 101-102
Sacramento Kings: 101 pts, 31.4% fg, 31.4% 3 pt, 78.3% ft, 21 ast, 48 reb, 12 to
Golden State Warriors: 102 pts, 48.1% fg, 35.5% 3 pt, 86.7% ft, 32 ast, 36 reb, 17 to
I am so sick of playing the Warriors. Not because they have defeated the Kings in their last three meetings. Not because of the budding rivalry between these two teams. And certainly not because I think they are better than the Sacramento Kings (far from it, in my opinion). I am simply at my wit’s end watching this team catch every break in their matchups against the Kings, despite some phenomenal effort and basketball from Sacramento. The Kings played with palpable heart, togetherness, and grit in what was a slug fest of mostly defense. It all just came down to one final shot – a heavily contested one by Klay Thompson that just, you guessed it, caught the right wind and broke in the Warriors’ favor.
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
The Good
- No Fear Here: More than ever, I am confident that this Kings team has absolutely no fear when it comes to facing the Golden State Warriors. Without their leading scorer, it would be easy to expect a team to enter battle disheartened and resigned to the probability of a loss. Not the Beam Team. The Kings played with aggression and physicality all night long, proven in their win on the boards, 48-36. Kevin Huerter, having another cold shooting night of just 1-5 from the 3-point line, came second in team rebounding with 9 boards, closely behind Domantas Sabonis’ 11 rebounds. As much as I am so sick of the Warriors, I also am looking forward to meeting them again in the future, because I know this Kings team will be ready. The Beam Team is coming.
- Bench Unit: Things started out slowly for the Kings as the Warriors got out to an early 12-3 lead. The Kings struggled to connect on passes and open looks, while the Warriors scored on their first five possessions of the game. Eventually, Davion Mitchell sparked the starting unit by hitting his first two 3-point looks, and Domantas Sabonis started his aggressive attack early by drawing two early fouls on Kevon Looney. But what really ignited this team came from the bench unit. We all got to see that Colby Jones looks like a real deal NBA player in his first year, leading the second unit with confidence and poise. Jones finished with just 4 points and 1 assist in 17 minutes, but led the pace of the offense to keep the Kings’ efficient. Malik Monk was relied upon for his usual spark, entering the game and almost immediately dishing a lob to JaVale McGee to get more players involved. Monk led the bench with 16 points.
- Multiple Defensive Looks: I loved the defensive versatility Coach Mike Brown and the Kings showcased tonight. Davion Mitchell and Keegan Murray shared defensive responsibilities of Stephen Curry, an assignment that would usually only be designated to Mitchell. But Murray’s length and size gave Curry trouble, as Murray got two clean steals during his coverage and caused a few other turnovers. While Murray struggled offensively for most of the game, scoring 8 of his 10 points all in the second half, he didn’t let this affect his defensive impact. Overall, the Kings held Curry to 21 points on 4-10 from distance. Whenever Curry was off the floor, the Kings dropped back into a wide 3-2 zone. This made the middle of their defense vulnerable, where Jonathan Kuminga (12 points) was able to find some open jumpers. However, the Kings’ activity and rotations were constant, earning them some impressive defensive stops, including this big block from JaVale McGee:
JAVALE DENIES KUMINGA 😲 pic.twitter.com/lVcj9nMjKi
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) November 2, 2023
The Bad
- Luck: As I like to say, whenever anything goes remotely wrong in my life: “Sometimes it just be like that.” Like most games against the Warriors these days, this one came down to the wire. Baskets were traded, [A LOT of] calls were missed, free throws were made, and we found ourselves with the Kings up by 1 with just 12 seconds to go. The Warriors ran a frantic action out of Stephen Curry being double teamed that found the ball in Klay Thompson’s hands with the seconds quickly dwindling. Davion Mitchell, the guy you’d want on the ball in this situation, was draped all over Thompson, and Keegan Murray was close behind him on the backside. As Thompson went up for the shot, both Mitchell’s and Murray’s hands were inches away from the ball, and because sometimes it just be like that, the ball of course found the bottom of the net.
The Ugly
- Turnovers: The Kings committed just 12 turnovers to the Warriors’ 17. Small victory there, but many of them came early on in the game when the Kings were struggling to find any offensive flow. There were some sloppy, risky, and indecisive passes that not only turned into Warriors’ points, but also stymied the Kings’ offensive efforts.
The King of Kings
I am proud of so many of our guys tonight. Davion Mitchell stepped up in a big way in the absence of De’Aaron Fox, hitting 3-6 from the 3-point line. Harrison Barnes showed up late but hit 4-7 from deep to bolster the Kings on their best offensive run. Colby Jones made a name for himself with his first major minutes. Keegan Murray showed us a defensive side to him that we haven’t seen before, and can’t wait to see more of. But, with all those honorable mentions aside, tonight’s crown goes to Domantas Sabonis for being the strongest man in the city of Sacramento. He endured a long, physical game where he showed no signs of fatigue or hesitation. Sabonis finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and thankfully, 0 stomps to the chest.
Up Next
Saturday, November 4th @ Houston Rockets – 5:00 P.M. (PT)
Great Game
Agreed — even with my disappointment in the outcome, I couldn’t help but feel so in awe of the effort and play by both squads. I could see us being the 2 and 3 seeds this year, below only the Nuggets.
Too bad, but just one game.
One quibble; Davion was not draped all over Klay. First, he was late to react to Klay’s move because he was ball watching.
Second, with his contest he barely bothered him due to his lack of length and wingspan.
That second point is on Brown, not on Davion. It was a mismatch size-wise and the Warriors ruthlessly exploited it.
https://x.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1719934017691423214?s=20
L2M report says a clean end of the game with no missed calls, which is funny because my eyes clearly see Draymond take multiple shuffle steps before his pass to Klay.
I’m at the point where I want to put the “Davion is an elite defender” myth to bed. It was Keegan who was marked up on Curry for most of the night. It seems Brown has come to the conclusion that length on Curry is what can slow him down. Mitchell just doesn’t have it, as you pointed out. It teams figure they can just shoot over Davion then maybe he shouldn’t be on the court in key defensive possessions.
Armchair coaching: I strongly disagreed at the time with Mike Brown’s decision to sub out Huerter for Davion in the final minute for defensive reasons. Huerter was playing grown man defense, and his length could have really helped on that final possession. Klay pushed off of Davion a bit to get separation, but that’s never called, even in the first quarter.
I really wish the Warriors called timeout in that last play…
Maybe Mike Brown can then put in Edwards for some tougher defense…
he’s elite at some things, not everything. Last year against the Suns, the Kings had to put Kessler Edwards on Booker, not Davion. Overall the team defense was not bad, holding the dubs to 102, and Davion shot well.
Reminds me of the IT years. Dudes would just shoot over him everytime. The size/length of players has increased over the years, and shorter players struggle to defend.
Davion has his spots, but he isn’t a must play defender against PGs.
Reminds me of the IT years. Dudes would just shoot over him everytime. The size/length of players has increased over the years, and shorter players struggle to defend.
Davion has his spots, but he isn’t a must play defender against PGs.
Reminds me of the IT years. Dudes would just shoot over him everytime. The size/length of players has increased over the years, and shorter players struggle to defend.
Davion has his spots, but he isn’t a must play defender against PGs.
Yeah yeah, kings herald was being glitchy this morning for me
I’m hoping Monte realizes sooner, rather than later, that we need to move on from the Mitchell experiment, and find a halfway-decent backup PG. He gives up too much on both sides of the ball to be a viable option.
I’d love to pry Dyson Daniels away from the Pels.
I would really be happy if we could get Jalen Suggs from the Magic and of course Wendwell Cater Jr. Just dreaming.
The Magic do have a ridiculous amount of guards. I think it’s a crime that they have no minutes for Anthony Black, who they took #6 last year in the draft.
They traded for Markelle Fultz, signed him to a long term deal then took Suggs, Cole Anthony and now Black in three of the last 4 drafts. It’s a head scratcher.
Suggs is a worse offensive player than Davion, so he better be a helluva defender to find a role on the Kings.
I liked Suggs in the draft, thought he would be a good two-way player, but that hasn’t happened yet.
To me he seems like just a taller version of Davion: mediocre defensively and can’t shoot.
I see him as a Shaun Livingston clone who can guard 3 positions and also run the offense. No star potential or anything flashy, but the potential to be a glue guy on a winning team. He also just 20 years old.
**double posted
Davion was rather effective on Draymond, no? #23 was -5 for the game, and didn’t go above his average in FGA, despite being much taller than our kid. Mitchell also pushed him into a couple of turovers.
Yes. This is the reason I didn’t want the kings to draft Davion because he’s just too short. Even though I liked his effort yesterday.
that is a slight issue for the kings moving forward, but a bigger issue is Sabonis being able to hit the mid range. And I was all excited when I heard he hit a shot to go ahead, but then I watched it and it was a total break. So is free-throw shooting. I hope we can improve. It looks like the same crap to me. It Hass to improve where they get stuck in the playoffs.
Keegan messed up as well, imo. No business guarding draymond that far beyond the 3 point line, particularly after he picks up his dribble. Either swarm the shit out of him and make it difficult to pick out the pass or sag off hard and you are there to make the full contest on Klays shot (or any other reasonable outlet draymond has).
When your best player goes down, somebody (or bodies) need to step up. Tonight we didn’t have that. Sweeping the Houston games and taking out Portland is a must, now.
So if we lose one of these games the season is over?
No, but it would be a bit concerning if we folded to two terrible teams. Especially when the upper level teams (our playoff competition) keep winning. We should be beating weak teams regularly, if we’re supposed to be improved over last year.
So the “must” wording was hyperbole?
You drama quee- King, you!
I see it as a must win…as in its would be a pathetic showing by the team if they don’t. Especially a team that self-identifies as contenders for a title.
Personally, I think they can easily be a 2nd round team with just an ounce of effort on defense. If they start dropping games to teams like Houston and Portland, then I’ll sadly admit I was wrong.
Every contender loses to bottom dwellers ocassionally. So that’s a nothingburger to me.
As this game also shows, the Kings live by the 3 and die by the 3. They will die with some regularity, unless they can sustain this level of defense against every team (which I suspect they won’t).
I am more interested in seeing if they can protect home court better this season.
That’s part of the overarching issue with this team, their defense was pretty mediocre (to slightly below) tonight. Granted it’s better than the traffic cone defense we’ve grown accustomed to, but it was wasn’t anything to write home about.
stop blaming the traffic cones
Before you go negative on the Kings let’s see what happens before we all decide to tank.Holding the Warriors to 102 points is a positive. No back downs here.Yes if Sabonis would have made 2 more free throws or if Murray or Huerter 1 more three the outcome would hve been different. If. We can.t cry over spilled milk. I have all the confidence the Kings will bounce back. GO KINGS!
102 points, but on 48% shooting and 36% from three. The 102 points is simply a result of the slow pace of the game.
If you found the pace of this game to be slow, I have some really ineffective sopors to sell you.
Pace of 97 last night vs 104 for their meeting last week.
I’m talking about the game as played, which was essentially roller skates.
We haven’t even played the games yet. Let’s see what happens before we decide to tank.Yes last night I would have wanted 2 made more free throws from Sabonis or 1 more three pointer from either Murray or Huerter. Holding the Warriors to 102 points is a positive. Really liked the way we played defense. IMO Colby Jones can be a player.I agree with Adamsite below on Mitchell. Only if he were 6’4″ or 6’5:
I look at it this way, last year at this time we were 0-4. This year we’re 2-2. That’s a 50% improvement.
Strictly speaking, a percentage can’t be calculated starting from zero. 50% better than zero is still zero.
I was told there would be no math.
If you were told how much math there would or wouldn’t be, that’s math.
Great game. Didnt expect anything this close without Fox. Really liking the addition of McGee. Duarte…eh, not a fan. I think Colby Jones looks calm and collected every time I see him. I love Malik but damn he can be sloppy and got a little too dribble-y tonight.
Go Kings!
Every game, McGee is guaranteed to give you 1-4 “hell yeah” plays, and 2-3 “hell no” plays
I’m not even slightly mad
Whatever’s ailing Keegs’ 3pt shooting so far this year, he needs to figure our how to solve it.
Huerter virus- NOvid-3?
maybe he just needs to adjust to that 10 pounds of muscle he added in the offseason.
I’d imagine chasing Curry around all night might take a toll on one’s legs, and that likely has as much to do with the rough shooting as anything else.
He’s shooting has been rough since last year. Seems like he’s not setting his feet as much.
Also, wondering if Keegan’s some injury is affecting his shot.
I am disapointted about this loss….
The Warriors did not play their “A” game, they got tons of un-forced turnovers…and we should capitalize it, and should have won this game….
Kings also did not play their “A” game. No fox and Huerter, Keegan, and Sasha went a combined 1-15 from 3. Many of them wide open. It was an exciting game because of the effort and intensity but both teams were a bit off.
I to am disapointed in those three. Monty drafted traded and used free agency to build a team with players who could shoot the 3. It seems we live or die by the 3. I have yet seen those 3 step up to their obligations. Hope things change soon. Just 2 out of 3 each night would be fantastic.
that’s why I said the Kings not able to capitalize….
It’s not easy and seldom for Curry not on fire, and only been to the line for 3 times…..
Like Kyle Draper said before the game, hold him below 25, and the Kings got a great chance…
I think they played decent interior defense in this game…hope the team can bounce back, stay focused….
I think we be under appreciating the defense Keegan played on Curry. He put in a ton of effort on that side of the court. Could be why Curry had an “off night” and also why Keegan struggled with his shot on the offensive side.
Fuckin’ A. If Curry had an off-night (for him), it was because Keegan pushed him into it.
Because it deserves it’s own comment:
Colby Jones is an NBA player.
I am ready for more Colby in the rotation. Guy’s a baller.
When he entered the game, I could see him stealing Davion’s rotation spot in real time. He is a complete player.
Jones has stole Durate’s minutes already…………
I mean, Durate is capable to play the PG, but Mike Brown chose to play Jones in front of Durate…….
appears that Colby has Delly’s role and Duarte has TD’s role … for now.
For now. Colby will be in the regular rotation by mid-November.
This loss makes the end of the month rematch in Sac on 11/28 a must win IMO. It’s in our house and we have to show we can a) get a game against THIS team and b) establish some kind of homecourt advantage, something the Kings are sort of lackluster in. Kings need to try for 10 losses or less at home for the year as a goal. I think teams in the league still believe they can get wins no problem at G1C. Gotta show them they have to fight like dogs to get it.
SO sick of the Warriors. We gotta get em next time.
Stand by my previous Warriors game post…Anytime Davion is riding pine vs a top tier pg our coaching staff is failing. Point, blank, period.
Davion played 29 minutes with a +/- of -3 in a 1-point loss
If…..a very big if…..Davion does actually slow down a top tier PG he cannot score to be a positive overall. If he holds Curry to 15 that is 15 more than he will contribute. Kings lose by 15 or more if Davion defends Curry the entire game.
Was it just me, or were the Warriors not called for a ton of fouls? Yes, things usually kind of balance out, but man, the Warriors were banging into the Kings at a higher rate than Sabonis was banging into them.
Not to nit pick, but Damontas missed alot of free throws that would have changed the outcome.
Something I mentioned earlier—-So far Domas’ shot looks unimproved.
Now it’s super early, but for the Kings to truly be a contender (advancing in playoffs) Sabs had to hit the midrange. Or 3ball at a high rate.
RIP Walter Davis.
Bob Knight yesterday, Walter Davis today. Two Hoop legends. R.I.P. Coach Knight and former Tar Heel great, ROY (1978) and Phoenix Sun great, Walter Davis.
R.I.P.
On a personal note – I was scouted by Coach Knight back in the day; as a 17 year old he explained to me that, in my words – you aren’t good enough to be good enough and advised me to pursue my academics. It was tough advice for those young ears, but the advice that helped guide me – and that worked out well for me. I had met Coach Knight some previous times before and yes – he was a hard ass; like a loud and demanding Drill Instructor; but he was also a great coach and teacher. I was fortunate to have crossed paths with him.
A true genius as to all things basketball, and rather a dope in most other things. He was always cantankerous, but I don’t think he started to get weird until after he quit coaching. Too much time on his hands, and so many conspiracy theories to consider.
He could be hell on reporters, but I recall one post-game interview he was doing with a female journalist (I wish I could remember her name) who had asked him to what he attributed the Indiana victory, and he starts up with something along the lines of “Well, the key thing was that we scored more points than they did.” She held up her hand and said (paraphrasing) “Yeah, yeah, yeah, just answer the question” and he fell right into line without missing a beat.
Growing up in the Midwest, I saw a lot of Bob Knight on television, found him to be a good watch, and his coaching chops are unimpeachable. In the run-up to the 2009 draft. there was a ton of talk about Griffin, Harden, Rubio, Flynn, and Brandon Jennings, but I saw Bob Knight discuss Curry and his elite court vision and ballhandling to go along with his already-great shooting. He said that Curry was going to be incredible in the NBA, and damned if he wasn’t exactly right. I don’t think anyone else was talking that way about Steph at that time, and there were questions about his competition level since he played at Davidson.
Knight also did a lot of charitable work in Dayton, as he and UD coach Don Donoher were old friends, and no one could back ’em in like Bobby, who would regale audiences with tales both fascinating and often blue in their description.
Bobby Knight was one of one.
If they can find a way to put this team down, consistently, I believe we would be real contenders. We’re not quite there yet but man, we’re getting close.
Really reminds me of when it took us a couple of years to figure out and defeat the Stockton / Malone Jazz back in the day.
Still, good to see the team’s ability to find a way to stay competitive. I heard today that they are currently 17th in team defense ranking (small sample size approved.) If they can keep that up while staying close to last year’s offensive output I could see them ending the season with a better record than last year, barring injuries of course.
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