Alas, a 6-1 road trip was not meant to be. The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Kings 136 to 110 on Monday night, thanks to some incredibly hot three point shooting and a 29 point effort from Donovan Mitchell.
Cleveland came into the season averaging just 13.2 three pointers made on the season and tonight they had 13 at the half and tied their season-high at 23 for the game on 41 attempts (56.1%, the second best opponent percentage behind that 25-44 effort by the Magic earlier this year), led by Max Strus who hit 6 of 10 from the field. Seven Cavaliers players hit at least two three pointers. The Kings weren’t exactly slouches on that end themselves, making 17 of 44 attempts, but they just couldn’t keep up with Cleveland’s shotmaking down the stretch. The Cavaliers also torched the Kings in transition, outscoring the Kings 31 to 12 in the fastbreak.
Harrison Barnes led the way in scoring for the Kings with 22 points, including making 6 of 10 from three himself. It’s the fifth time in the last eight games that Barnes has finished with 20 or more points, something he had only done twice in the first 41 games of the season. Five other Kings finished with double digit scoring, including yet another triple-double for Domantas Sabonis with 12 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists. That’s Sabonis’ 15th triple-double of the season, a year after totaling 14 all of last year.
The final score may not indicate it, but this was a pretty good overall effort from the Kings, especially on the last leg of a season-long seven game road trip. Cleveland came out on fire early but the Kings hung tough for much of the first quarter. After Harrison Barnes drilled a triple with 3:20 left, the Kings went up 28-26. It would end up being their last lead of the game. Cleveland responded with three more triples to end the quarter to take a 39-34 lead heading into the second quarter. The Kings kept the game in reach for much of the first half of the second quarter with Trey Lyles making it a four point game at 50-46 with 6:21 after a tough take to the rim for an And-1. The Cavaliers then went on their best stretch of the game over the next few minutes, going on a 15 to 4 run. By the end of the half, Cleveland had broken the game open up a bit and led by 15 at the break.
To make matters worse, Cleveland came out of the break still on fire and increased the lead to 21 at 93-72 by the 7:11 mark. We’ve seen the Kings lay down in multiple games where they’ve faced big deficits, but tonight would not be one of those nights. Sacramento responded with an 8-0 run before Cleveland came back and made it a 19 point game after a couple more threes from Cleveland. The Kings kept fighting though and actually ended up winning the third quarter by a single point, but still faced a 14 point deficit heading into the final frame.
The Kings carried forward some momentum into the fourth quarter and scored the first four points to make it a 10 point game, forcing Cleveland to call an early timeout. Right after the timeout, Trey Lyles stole the ball and De’Aaron Fox had the opportunity to cut the game to single digits but just missed a pull-up three pointer. After failing to capitalize on the turnover, the Cavaliers would go on a 5-0 run and from then on, the Kings never got closer than 13 points again. By the 3:40 mark, the Cavs had opened up a 23 point lead and both teams ended up clearing their benches for the remainder of the game.
Despite the final score indicating a blowout, I’m not upset at the effort we saw from the Kings tonight. Cleveland has been playing extremely well of late and continued to do so tonight. The Kings were tired but still spent most of the game fighting to keep it close before it ended up getting out of hand at the end. The Kings still finish with a very successful 5-2 road trip and now come home for a couple of games before returning to the road. The Kings have a day off before they face the Detroit Pistons in Sacramento on Wednesday.
Random Observations
- Keegan Murray started off pretty hot from the field, scoring 10 points on 4 of 6 from the field in the first quarter. The problem was that he finished with 10 points overall and only three more shot attempts.
- De’Aaron Fox fell and hit his right shoulder early in the game and I definitely think he’s looking forward to the All-Star break to hopefully recuperate. He hasn’t said anything publicly, but it seems clear he’s been playing at less than full strength for a while.
- The Cavaliers played really, really well. I really like their team construction. Those twin towers are a pain to deal with and the Kings spent multiple possessions passing up shots near the paint because one or both of those guys was lurking. Donovan Mitchell is an inferno, Max Strus is great for spacing the floor and that’s without mentioning pieces like Darius Garland (former All-Star himself) and bench players like Caris LeVert (17 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds) and Isaac Okoro (10 points). I don’t think they’re ready to contend for a title yet, but they’re gonna be a tough out for anyone.
- I thought Kessler Edwards had some decent minutes again tonight. He only had 5 points but once again showcased good defense and even hit a corner three. I’d like to see him continue to get playing time and see what we have there, especially with wings.
Is the ESPN box score glitching or did the 5 kings starters go 0-0 from the FT line in 160 combined minutes?
That’s gotta be some tired legs. Time to give Domas some DNP-rest days, a +/- of -25 when he should have sat this game…
Correct. No Free Throws for the starters. Even being tired, that seems like an issue. No way Domas and Fox didn’t get fouled on a shot attempt the entire game.
Time for Coach Brown to pull out the ol’ laptop again.
Send a mix tape to the league offices ????
At this point, I’m happy with the 5-2 road trip. Gotta do a decent job these next 5 games before All Star break.
I actually had a power outage at my apartment that is still ongoing, so maybe it was a good thing I didn’t watch.
Update: power just came back on! Woooo!!
Just rolling blackouts. It’s all good. Everything’s normal.
Yes a 5-2 road trip is a good thing, but I wouldn’t know it by watching those games. IMO, the Kings this season have a problem of winning ugly and losing even uglier. Tonight was no different.
This team’s problem is not on the offensive end. They have multiple players that can get 30+ points a night. The problem is they let the other team have even more players approach 30+ points a night. It’s the defense.
The 7 core players of the starters with Monk and Lyles just can’t continue to give up 130+ points a night and think they can make a run in the playoffs. If Monte stands pat, then I expect a repeat of last season at best. This team desperately needs a wing defender that can crack the 8 man rotation and give a productive 20+ minutes a night
Yeah, I agree. Even with the 5 wins, I don’t remember a 5-2 stretch where I was pulling my hair out and praying that we wouldn’t blow a lead or lose to a bad team.
Yeah, for a positive road trip, it was bizarrely nerve-wracking and somewhat unimpressive in that several of the opponents were on the second night of a back-to-back.
Question about the long-term potential of Kessler Edwards: he is 23 and still skinny. At one point Kayte said they see him as a developmental prospect. Others here (Adamsite?) have suggested that he is probably out the door. Realistically isn’t it more likely that the Kings improve defensively over the next couple years by the development of skinny athletic kids such as Kessler and Keon Ellis (both of whom show some ability to shoot) than by trading for an impact player such as Thybulle or Caruso? Am I preaching patience as the most realistic path forward?
And then maybe they draft a Giannis ????
not until the Hawks pick conveys
Yeah, there is some truth to that, but I wonder how much time you give to the development to a guy like Edwards. He’s in his third season, Just like Davion, and has shown zero improvement. There really hasn’t been an uptick to build upon. Right now, I’d pencil Edwards down as a longer but worse shooting version of Davion.
I know we like the idea of them being elite defenders, but I’m not sure they are. We keep calling them good defenders when we see Davion’s on ball defense or Edwards’ length in action, but it’s all we see so I feel it gets over highlighted. I mean, are they any better at defense then Huerter? Maybe we typecast Huerter as a shooter and do see what he does on defense, because right now I feel he’s done better than either Davion or Edwards.
When it comes to Ellis, I can’t figure out why he’s not on the floor. IMO, he hasn’t done anything to be displaced by the likes of Davion, Edwards or even Duarte. Ellis has shown he can play both ends of the floor, but Brown doesn’t seem to trust him.
I agree on Ellis. With a little more playing time(experience on the floor) IMO he could be a reliable bachup point guard.
If Ellis, Mitchell, and Edwards were the answer, they would be playing more. They have moments of competent basketball, but few and far between to be regular rotation players. Ellis might be the best of them all, but for some reason he only plays in garbage time now (and hasn’t looked good in those minutes recently).
What minutes recently? Hasn’t played at all. IMO Mitchell is taking all those backup minutes in order to up his trade value.
Ellis has played 28 minutes in the past 5 games, all garbage time or end of the quarter on a defensive possession.
Ellis is the next version of Mitchell. This team needs something else.
I honestly think Davion was an attempt to build trade value. It’s hard to argue that a guy that can’t even see the floor is worth another team picking up. If he strung together even a few solid games like Barnes, his “potential” increases his value.
I’m surprised Edwards hasn’t played more before the last few weeks. He showed enough to take minutes from Keegan in multiple games last year (before Keegan’s defensive leap). A few 5-minute stretches this year doesn’t give him much time to find a rhythm though and people think he’s not worth playing.
Mitchell is a good defender but a below average NBA player. He cannot play at this point because his defense stops one player while his offense stops the whole teams offense.
When Mitchell is in there is no need to guard him. 4 vs 5 and it doesn’t turn out how Vivek thinks it does.
It was a solid road trip, but you’re right with the ugly wins and losses. Our offense doesn’t seem to be much of the issue. They seem largely disinterested in stopping the opponent’s offense. The disparity in fast break points last night was a difference of 16 alone. IMO, the goal for the trade deadline needs to be assembling a roster that can get past the first round of playoffs. Right now, they feel like a quick first round exit team.
Very pleased with a 5-2 road trip . Do feel with current roster has little chance of winning a playoff series . Need at least a legit wing defender as current bench just not good enough . Monk, Lyles and hope !
I think that sums it up nicely. It’s a very successful road trip but on the other hand did little to assuage the long term concerns I have about this team, especially from a defense and physicality standpoint.
Domas with another triple double. Amazing.
One of the next steps in the development of Keegan should be stopping to shy away from contact when he’s getting in the paint.
Maybe Keegan should spend the summer training with Domas, getting used to banging with a big man.
One other reason to help Keegan is to get him the ball more. The first half against the Cavs he scored 10. If that continued in the second half he would have around 20 or even more but only has 3 touches in the second half. Something wrong for one of the best shooters on the King’s roster. Go wonder.
Hey Keegs – I understand you’re spending time with Domas. How’s your Summer going?
As bad as Monk is defending on ball, he might be a worse off ball defender. He leaves his man in the corner open on almost every possession. Sagging to the paint (when 3 other Kings are already there) to help protect only to have his man wide open hit a 3. Show him the damn film! This team gets murdered by open corner 3s.
Also, get Keegan the damn ball. I am looking forward to the day when he calls for the ball and gets a little more selfish offensively.
5-2 road trip is a solid showing. Finish strong before the break, rest up, and got get a 4 seed!
Monk is just Buddy Hield if Buddy Hield knew how to dribble and pass a basketball. A step in the right direction for sure, but the same frustrations remain with horrendous defense and at times mindboggling decision-making.
Ouch, but not a totally ridiculous comparison.
Ouch is right. Buddy could’n defend.
Buddy chose not to defend.
Same thing.
Worse than a player that cannot play defense.
While I like Monk’s personality, and enjoy watching him when he’s on a roll. This is exactly why I’m not exactly losing sleep over the idea of him playing elsewhere next year.
Or even the rest of this season, for me. He has flare, which can be enjoyable like you said, but the substance is lacking often times.
Noticed the same issue with Monk’s off-ball defense. Also noticed how many times Donovan Mitchell easily evaded heavy on-ball defense by his namesake, Davion Mitchell. Guarding fiercely and hounding the ball works on some players but not elites like Donovan who got downhill repeatedly to create his own shot or spray to wings like Strus for easy look 3’s.
I don’t know how the Jazz ever let Donovan Mitchell go!
I don’t know what the defensive scheme is, but there needs to be an adjustment. Sure, denying shots at the rim is a good scheme, but leaving shooters open for 3s is probably just as high a percentage shot as a shot at the rim.
Especially when the other team is shooting AND MAKING a really high percentage of 3’s. Not like 1 or 2 quarters but the whole game.
I still feel the Jazz robbed the Cavs in that deal. They got two very good starters in Lauri and Sexton (who are now Utah’s best players), a role player in Agbaji, 2 picks swaps and 3 unprotected firsts! FWIW, I’d deal Fox for a return like that.
Good players and the draft ammunition to get some others. It was a rather good deal.
That core in Utah probably wasn’t winning a title, I don’t even think they got past the second round. Ainge sold high on Mitchell and Gobert, and as stated below, got a hell of a return. And for how good Mitchell looks, this might be the third or fourth time in his career his team looked elite in the regular season or had the best record for a sizable part of the season. We don’t know what will happen this year, but in the past, his style of iso and dribbling the air out of the ball in the playoffs hasn’t worked for his teams. They have legit spacing and defense around him this year though, so maybe he’ll do a better job of keeping the ball moving and moving without the ball come playoff time.
Much like the recent Portland issue with Dame Lillard. You have an All-Star performing on a high level with a team that has decided to reload and your team is a small market, non-Free Agent desirable location.
You end up with getting Lauri Markannen, draft picks that turn into Kessler Walker (The Cavaliers also sent the Jazz rookie wing Ochai Agbaji Collin Sexton, and three unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027 and 2029) and two pick swaps (2026 and 2028) for Mitchell.). They fired Quin Snyder and went with an up and coming coach for their up and coming team in Will Hardy.
That’s how you trade Donovan Mitchell – and recall, Rudy Gobert had already ben traded.
Apologies to Adamsite, Hobby916 and Kangzzzzzzz for replying before reading lower in the thread as they already supplied better comments than my own redundancy provided.
Many times I have seen him open but his teammates fail to get him the ball. Maybe they are afraid he might be better.
Can a color analyst be traded or cut?
I switched to the Cavs broadcast last night. I’m glad I don’t have to listen to Antoine Carr for every game, but their PBP guy is really good. Overall they did a better job of calling the game rather than talking over the game.
My affordable stream left me no choice. I move around the house during a game so I need my earbud audio. I find myself out in the garage totally tuning out the audio as a result of the four possession stories that MEAN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
In a blowout, sure, whatever. But they do it in close games too. It is just terrible to listen to. Not sure if they have lessons for analysts and PBP people, but someone needs to work with them to make listening to the games more enjoyable.
Jerry needs to slap some sense into them.
Figuratively speaking, of course.
You can’t imbue sensibility with violence.
So Jerry should just settle for slapping them a bit.
I’d love it if every so often they did the televised game was just the radio broadcast.
Didn’t Vin Scully do it where he was the radio and tv guy at the same time? I remember him doing that and it was great. We need Gary Gerould to be that guy, and not have the other 3 be part of the crew.
I enjoyed the Bulls announcers. Good PBP, fun banter, respect for the Kings, rooting for the Bulls but not homers.
So, what’s the story on Matt Barnes, who is now cursing J. Anderson on Twitter?
Barnes manhandled a kid announcer at his kid’s HS game. Swore at the refs. Made a spectacle of himself. The usual Matt Barnes horseshit.
How the Kings continue to employ this jackwad is beyond me. Barnes’ explanation is that the kid got fresh with him, but I cannot fathom putting my hands on someone else’s kid, especially in a HS gym environment. And at 6-7, 225 lbs., it is well beyond reason. It is assault. It is bullying. It is inexcusable.
There have to be a million alternatives to seeing Barnes on the broadcasts.
https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article285135332.html
I’m not sure that’s the term I would use. I promise I’m not trying to be a dick, I just wouldn’t necessarily describe the video as Barnes “roughing him up”. I’d say he verbally threatened him, which is probably just as bad.
manhandle verb
Manhandle (per Mirriam Webster): To move or manage by human force.
And I don’t want to get lost in the semantics of the convo. It was overt intimidation. It was bullying. If it were my kid, I’d be up the high school’s ass as to why it can’t provide my kid with a safe environment.
Zero tolerance for this type of shit.
I agree with all of that. I’d say he threatened him, because he did. But he didn’t move or manage him. If I were the kid I would press charges because one dick move deserves another.
The hand on the shoulder was at the very least, an attempt to manage him.
Disagree. Some might say putting a hand on your shoulder is sign of friendship. Obviously not applicable here, but still. I don’t see any signs on the video that the hand on the shoulder was violent or aggressive. His words however, if true, could be quite damaging. This might actually grow into something big.
Barnes wasn’t giving the kid a congratulatory shoulder rub. He wanted to get his attention and get him to stop. The hand was/is a show of force. It is precisely why Barnes made contact. To get his attention. To get him to stop. To impose his will.
Marty, you’re taking a photo. Someone doesn’t want you to take the photo. While emphasizing to you verbally and forcefully that they do not want to have the picture taken, they put a hand on you. Is that OK?
Now that you have answered that, run it back, and instead of your adult self, you are a teenage kid taking photos for your high school paper, and the person in your grill is 6-7, 225 lbs. Now is it OK?
I never said any of it was, or is, ok. I choose my words carefully.
No it’s not ok for someone to put their hand on my shoulder, but I wouldn’t say I was being manhandled either. It’s ok to disagree.
I’d say he was threatened for sure.
In the simplest of terms to alleviate any a doubt…Barnes is trash.
He is a POS, no matter what terminology is used. Been that way since at least High School.
He also should not be on the broadcast based upon his issues in life, before this even happened.
The Kings/NBC seems to have the worst judgement for selecting former athletes on the broadcast. Kenny, Matt, Mike. It’s amazing.
Maybe a shit storm from fans Twitter or X, whatever, will put pressure on the org to make some changes.
Twenty years of a shit storm begging for a fourth grade defense.
Nothing.
One that’s a bad look for everyone involved. Long story short, his kid was playing in a HS basketball game and got a tech. Barnes started yelling at the ref from the sidelines. Game was a livestream broadcast, and the PBP guy (a student) started giving running commentary of the outburst. Barnes went over, put his hand on the kid’s shoulder to get his attention and talk to him, headlines ensued.
You do not touch someone else’s kid. And at an athletic 6-7, 225 lbs., you really do not touch someone else’s kid.
That seems pretty extreme. Especially if we’re talking about simply trying to get a person’s attention. Manhandling makes it seem like he tried to rough the kid up. If we’re talking about assault here, then it shouldn’t matter if it’s your kid, or somebody else’s. You simply don’t do that. However, the videos I’ve seen look incredibly mundane without any physical assault or even rough intentions.
I’m of the school of thought that Barnes (like his good buddy Demarcus) is complete human garbage, and I’d assume that given his history there would be no time wasted when getting out a video of him physically assaulting or knocking the kid around. However, from all the various video angles of his interaction with the kid, the hand on shoulder thing seems to be a pretty run of the mill interaction that’s getting blown up. Almost to “he tried to knock him out” levels.
I think the words Barnes used would clearly qualify as verbal assault.
I’d press charges just to be a petty-ass Lakers fan.
I’m definitely looking forward to the release of the recordings. It’ll be fun to watch him squirm.
Even reading the tweet response to that one individual in the article should be enough to have the Kings release him. Is he really the kind of guy they want representing their organization?
I hate seeing his face on the broadcast. He should just record his podcast and never come around the organization again.
He also got inducted into the Sacramento sports hall of fame, which is a slap in the face any of the stand up guys in that group (not you, Kevin Johnson)
Agreed.
But you know, Kayte has a DUI, and police were called to her home for shooting an opossum. Business as usual.
Bad looks all around.
The number of people with a DUI conviction would shock you. You would have very few friends or colleagues using that as a level for acceptance.
Did she hit the opposum?
Kayte at least understands basketball at a high level.
No it wouldn’t, I’m a recovering alcoholic. 13 years sober after a suicide attempt. I probably have more friends with DUIs than all of you combined. 🙂
If I got a DUI I would lose my job for sure, but I’m in charge of a vehicle so it’s different, kind of.
…..so having a DUI conviction has not eliminated your ability to be a decent human.
A whole bunch of people have DUI convictions and they are not trash. They made a mistake.
Like you.
I didn’t call him trash. I would simply say, if it were my company, he would not be one of my representatives.
And I was never convicted of DUI. 🙂
Barnes is trash. Kayte made a mistake that millions…including you…have made.
If you remove everyone with a DUI or that drinks and drives from a job there would be nothing.
Hey, a girl’s gotta eat.
Manhandling includes to “move or manage by human force.” Emphasis mine. This 6-7, 225 lb. former professional athlete did not like what the high school kid was saying, so through physical intimidation he sought to have him stop. 100% inexcusable. Right out of the Barnes playbook, though. I’ll give him props for consistency.
Man, if we’re at a point in society where we ignore or condone this kind of action – where a kid at a school function has no protection from a (very large) adult – I’m glad that my life is far more finished than started.
I’m not saying that….at all. I’m saying he wasn’t manhandled.
Look at it this way.
He’s your kid. You go up to Barnes and punch him in the face. You end up in court. The judge asks you, “Why did you punch him?”
“He put his hand on my kid’s shoulder.”
Judge: “Anything else?”
If I punched Barnes, I would deserve to wind up in court. It’s called assault and battery. And if Barnes laid an unwelcomed hand on my kid and attempted to intimidate him, all while in the environment of a high school-sponsored event in which my kid was a participant, Barnes should face severe consequences, up to and including assault, and the school then needs to review its protocols to better ensure the safety of my (and other) kids while they are on campus and participating in school functions.
Punch him in the face? Is that really my only option here, Marty?
I think we agree pretty much on everything except the word “manhandle”.
A curse of my profession I suppose, scrutinizing every word.
Words matter to me as well, Marty. They have been my life.
Manhandle (per Mirriam Webster): To move or manage by human force.
Manage (per Mirriam Webster): To make and keep compliant.
Shrugs and moves on.
Must always wake up and choose violence.
This seems to suggest children are property. And worse still, property of their parents. And it assumes all forms of touch are dangerous, unwanted, and problematic. That seems deeply cynical and extraordinarily mistrusting of the world.
What also concerns me in this thread is the absolute condemnation of Barnes as ‘human garbage’. I am not a great fan, but I think it prudent to refrain from ultimate verdicts on a person whom I have never met and know nothing about, particularly his life history, lived experience etc.
To work in the NBA do you have to maintain a certain moral standard? As a journalist there are professional ethics, is he a journalist?
I have never met Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Jeffrey Dahmer, etc., and I am pretty sure those are “human garbage”. One’s actions go a long way, and Barnes seems to fit that bill (although to a lesser extent than the above mentioned). There needs to be some sense of morality that people are held to in society.
It is much simpler without twisting it narrative you are struggling with.
It is high school basketball in a high school gym with a high school kid as an announcer. Trash is yelling at a referee and threatening a kid while touching that kid all inside a high school gym.
Simple.
He also has a public-facing position for a high-profile company. It’s not like he’s a state worker buried on the third floor. Companies get to choose who represent them and yes the standard can be quite high, for some companies at least. 🙂
True.
Barnes has a proven history of looking out for himself at the expense of others.
Too bad Vivek put him back in the public with an association to the Kings.
Yeah, I don’t know where to start if that was the “suggestion” that you got out of this.
Barnes is trash. Anderson states that known fact. Barnes does more trash stuff.
Badge Legend