The Kings and Jazz faced off for the second time in three games and once again it was a thrilling finish. After Kevin Huerter won the game with a go-ahead three last Friday, tonight saw De’Aaron Fox score a go-ahead layup with 0.4 seconds left, and a desperation Lauri Markkanen three that went in was deemed too late, giving the Kings their 20th win of the season.
DE'AARON ICES THE JAZZ 🥶 pic.twitter.com/OF8VpyT9ma
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 4, 2023
This game had quite a few parallels with Sacramento’s first matchup with the Jazz, as Sacramento got off to a hot start but wasn’t able to blow the game open. Utah kept hanging around and hanging around and eventually took the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
That’s when Fox simply took over. After getting off to a slow start himself, Fox scored 22 points in the fourth on 9 of 10 shooting, dominating from midrange and attacking at every opportunity. Every time Utah scored, Fox was right back at them with an answer, including one absolutely thunderous dunk to put the Kings up by four with just under a minute left.
DE'AARON CLUTCH SLAM pic.twitter.com/nCZtaUgQd8
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 4, 2023
The last minute was not without its own drama of course. Immediately after Fox’s dunk, the Jazz called timeout to advance the ball and draw up a play. Jordan Clarkson baited the officials with a stop and jump into KZ Okpala and drew an away from the play foul, resulting in a free throw and the ball for Utah. After sinking the free throw, Clarkson missed a three point attempt on the subsequent possession, but the Jazz got the offensive rebound (a recurring problem all night) and Mike Conley made a tough driving layup.
Fox came right back with yet another mid-range jumper to put Sacramento up by three. After Utah took their final timeout, Lauri Markkanen pulled up for three and Keegan Murray was a little too close for comfort and was whistled for a shooting foul. I don’t know what it is about Utah and the Kings closing out on their shooters, but it was the 3rd time in the game that the Kings had fouled a three point shooter, something they had also done in the first matchup with Utah. There is a potential argument that Markkanen was the one who initiated the contact by kicking out his right leg though, which should be called an offensive foul. You be the judge:
This is going to be in the NBA Last 2 Minute Report tomorrow. Lauri kicked his right leg out to draw the foul. pic.twitter.com/qpaEaNfRq0
— Cameron Salerno (@cameronsalerno1) January 4, 2023
Markkanen made all three free throws and the Kings elected not to use their timeout and instead Fox attacked and found an easy path to the basket for the game-winning layup. It was a masterclass of a quarter by Fox and one of the best performances of his career.
The game should not have been nearly as close as it was, but the Kings were their own worst enemy for much of the night. Despite shooting a very efficient 53.5% from the field and holding Utah to just 43.2%, the Kings once again were killed on second chance points (24 off 12 Jazz offensive rebounds) and despite having only one more turnover than Utah, they only scored 6 points off of Utah’s turnovers while the Jazz scored 27 off of Sacramento’s.
The Kings also didn’t get much production from their bench. The bench only scored eight total points, led by Davion Mitchell’s four points. Malik Monk had a very rough night, scoring just two points on 1 of 7 from the field. The backup center position was again a problem, as Richaun Holmes only provided two fouls and a turnover in his almost nine minutes of action, missing his only shot.
Plus/Minus is a flawed stat, but sometimes it can tell a very accurate story. Tonight, in a game the Kings barely won, Domantas Sabonis was a +21 in his 38:52 of game action. That means in the just more than nine minutes he was off the floor, the Kings were outscored by 23. It’s impossible to fully replicate a player like Sabonis (who put up an excellent 21 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists for another near triple-double), but the Kings can’t afford to be hemorrhaging points whenever he’s off the court.
Western Conference Rookie of the Month Keegan Murray had a mistake at the end in fouling Markkanen on his three point attempt (again, potentially debatable that it was a foul) but was otherwise excellent. Murray scored 15 points and also added in 5 rebounds. He had some nice hustle moments as well even though they didn’t ultimately end up in Sacramento’s favor. Murray’s highlight of the night was a nice one-handed alley-oop layup off a Sabonis pass for an and-one in the fourth quarter. It’s easy to forget that Murray is still a rookie sometimes and will likely just get even better.
What a feed by Domas to Keegan 👀 pic.twitter.com/eEp0Teb1kD
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 4, 2023
The Kings will look to carry their momentum back home, as they start a five-game homestand tomorrow with a visit from the Atlanta Hawks.
Random Observations
- Harrison Barnes deserves some praise as well. Barnes saw a variety of defensive assignments, but was notably the one on Markkanen most of the night. While Markkanen did end up scoring 28 to lead Utah, most of that came at the line where he was 15-15. He was just 6 of 15 from the field and 1-7 from three and Barnes’ defense played a big part in that. Barnes also chipped in with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a couple steals to boot.
- The Jazz have a lot of excellent young players. I was particularly impressed with Jarred Vanderbilt, who scored 14 points on a very efficient 7 of 12 from the field along with 9 rebounds and 2 assists in just 25 minutes. He was also one of the looks that Jazz coach Will Hardy tried to throw at De’Aaron Fox in the fourth quarter to slow him down, which goes to show his defensive range (even though he didn’t actually manage to stop him at all). Walker Kessler’s also a nice young player for the Jazz and Malik Beasley is a solid veteran off the bench.
- Utah should go back to these uniforms and logo. Anything is better than the horrendous neon yellow and black style they’ve adopted for this season.
- What a difference a year makes; the Kings didn’t win their 20th game last season until game 55.
No dance gif. No pithy comment. Just
JESUS FUCKING CHRIST DE’AARON FOX!
New Year Jump off couch moment
I was surprised that they didn’t need to add air to the basketball after Fox punched it so hard.
and no over the top shenanigans. Like lil stephie prancing all over the court, in street clothes, vs. the Hawks. He was not even playing, but out to center court- it’s all about me !
Make your shots, Fox, go for 22 in the fourth and act like you have been there.
Is this Keegan giving lessons to the vets?
Started the game late and just finished…. another thrilling finish!!! We needed this game as well as the standings are so tight. Light that beam!!
Would you rather have
a Jazz dance
or a FOX trot!
Jazz Dance
Best Kings gif.
Winning with little bench help very surprising . Team must have Fox and Ox healthy to continue winning at this level . Captain Obvious in house .
JazzKings Win!It’s their fifth straight loss—none by more than 4 points!
Phantom foul calls for the last 2 min review .. Last 2nd shot to overtime, but was called too late .. Shocking.
Keegan never touched Markennan on the 3 Point shot but was called for a foul. No hand touch, nor any lower body bump. Horrible call.
Don’t know if you caught the Kings broadcast, but the Jazz side of things are convinced the refs screwed them too. They bring up things like the jump ball (they were convinced that Markannen got fouled by Keegan; and it’s certainly true neither Markannen or Murray had possession of the ball there). You also never once saw the leg kick by Markannen that got him the foul on Keegan.
It’s amazing how different each story looks like from 2 sides.
The KZ Okpala call was also an offensive foul.
TMR is sour grapes producing a sour whine – with no known accountability by the officials responsible.
So they complained about the jump ball that they eventually won?
It looks the same to both sides. The refs were absolutely awful to both teams. The bullshit fouls that Clarkson and Markannen drew in the last minute gave them (I think) six additional points altogether, if you include the Utah possession after the Clarkson free throw.
Yeah, I think that’s true Sims….but the Utah broadcasters (Craig Bolerjack, Thurl Bailey and Holly Rowe) were convinced it was one sided in Sac’s favor.
I’m not saying that’s surprising or anything else, but they aren’t alone. It’s one of the issues I think with fixing the officiating: Both sides are convinced they are getting screwed at the same time. Often in the same ways.
One of the funniest things all night, for me, when Masterclass Flopper aka Jordan Clarkson flopped off Davion Mitchell off a minor bump at best and Clarkson goes flailing, Bolerjack cries ‘omg, how did the referees miss that!’
It’s getting to the point where I’m tired of the gamesmanship, and all the other nonsense. It’s not really basketball alot of the time, it’s simply theatrics and occasionally a basketball game decides to interject when the performance needs a lil sport to balance out the whining.
and who comes to town tonight but that legendary thespian and actor- Trae Young. The one with the head jerk.
much different. The leg kick by LM and the complete stop by Clarkson were bad calls.
Neither LM or KM had possession but where was the foul?
I do think the Kings benefited from 2-3 non-calls that led to points. There was a play where Domas jumped up & it looked like he landed before he passed the ball. There was another play where Fox saved the ball, but it looked like he was out of bounds. There was also a play that was initially called a 1/2 court violation before the call was changed to a momentum play. Kyle & Kayte thought it was a 1/2 court violation, but I thought calling it a momentum play was reasonable.
However, the Jazz benefited from calls that led to points in the L2M, so those calls & non-calls might’ve evened out.
In real time, I thought Keegan hits Markennan’s forearm before straightening, and I assumed he did because the shot was short and left. I was watching on my phone though, and I can’t seem to find a replay angle where I can see that he doesn’t.
I thought it was more a forced hip check and making the shot was not that important. Getting the call and taking the 3 free throw shots was the goal with acting.
What they keep calling “a veteran move”.
I broke it down frame by frame and Lauri does not normally kick his leg out unless the shot is contested… Keegan had a funny angle but turned and contact did not occur until the shooter twisted and kicked leg out well after release.. and let’s face it he never misses that bad which also leads me to believe he was searching for fouls vs trying to make a shot with a defender on him
The foul was on the elbow tap. I consider it a legit call.
Bull shit.
The elbow tap is a veteran move, affects the shot inconspicuously. Clearly visible on the slow motion replay.
There was no elbow tap. Markkanen kicked Keegan. Period.
FWIW, two minute report agrees with Joe that Murray contacted his arm as he went up for the shot.
Two calls nearly ruined this for the kings. It’s bullshit and quite frankly it’s exhausting watching the ref’s consistently F us.
Honestly, I feel the Kings got the majority of calls (and non-calls) last night…
Your “feel” is wrong.
The Kings benefited from 2-3 non-calls that led to points. There was a play where Domas jumped up & it looked like he landed before he passed the ball. There was another play where Fox saved the ball, but it looked like he was out of bounds. There was also a play that was initially called a 1/2 court violation before the call was changed to a momentum play. Kyle & Kayte thought it was a 1/2 court violation, but I thought calling it a momentum play was reasonable.
Since the Jazz benefited from calls that led to points in the L2M, those calls & non-calls might’ve evened out. The Kings definitely weren’t at a disadvantage. I was actually more irritated w/the refs in the last Jazz game.
The funniest part of tonight was seeing the responses to this now-deleted tweet from the Jazz’s Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/thekingsherald/status/1610498424956387329
Refs did everything they could to help the Jazz win in the last 2 minutes but Fxck it, we deserve this!!! 🗣️🗣️ Light The Beam!!!!
What a win!
Was this the best game Fox has ever played? Hat off to him.
We get a win and still people are still whining about the refs? That’s a pity.
Jordanesque!
The other day Grant said Fox is soft as butter.If that’s true then he went through the Jazz defense like a hot knife through butter. If that’s butter then I’m glad he is spreading it all over the league. To drive into the key like last night takes a lot of guts. Smooth as butter.
He must have meant that Fox was soft as frozen butter.
The real outrage is why anyone is still listening to Peaches voluntarily.
yes. and thank you so much Jack for not trading me for Buddy.
speaking of trades- I would love to have OG or Markenon but worry that the price is too high.
Aside from the perimeter guys, Kings could use some heft underneath- somebody like Nik Richards but the price there is high as well. I like Naz Reid as well.
Both things can certainly be true. The only consistency in the officiating is that it was uniformly terrible.
TKH, I liked when we had the banner up top with the next few games on it. Now I have to look elsewhere on my device. At least I can stay in my recliner.
Watched the 4th quarter this morning. In a game where the bench did next to nothing, Fox needed to have a big game, which he did.
Bench needs a step up. Lyles is ok – Monk is hurt.
Davion and KZ do play some serious D. KZ saved a couple of possessions
who got the chain, anyway?
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/1610513512174080006?cxt=HHwWjMDS8bTg2NksAAAA
It’s time to go on a run with this upcoming schedule and provide a little cushion above the play-in slots.
Man, this team is desperate for help behind Sabonis. The moment he sits I’m holding my breath that the Kings can hold on. Sabonis played for 39 minutes last night and was a +21. In the 9 minutes he sat Holmes was a -13. If I were an opposing coach I’d attack Sabonis on every possible possession early to try and get him in foul trouble, because when he is off the court the Kings are at their most vulnerable.
Monte really needs look long and hard how he can get someone who fits Brown’s system to lessen the blow when Sabonis isn’t on the court.
I was impressed with Kessler last night. A possibility. Also Christian Koloko of the Raptors might be a possibility.
Kessler does look good and Koloko has high potential. Was it you who touted him hard in the draft-?
there are commonly big guys end of first round, early second or by-passed. Landale by-passed.
They are really a mess w/o Sabonis out there. I don’t understand why Brown feels Holmes is their best option. If he does, Monte needs to find a new 5 ASAP. Also, I still don’t understand why Metu has completely fallen out of that role? He’s not perfect, I know, but my eye-test tells me the team was better with him as the backup 5 v. Holmes?
100%.
how about give Len 5 games to possibly fail. No way Len can be worse than Holmes these last several games. No way.
This. All it takes is a dirty player to hack down on his thumb and it’s over. I too hope FO has a solution, or coaching implement better strategy playing minutes without Domas. Great win, let’s go Kings 5-game homestand
I just cant get over how different Richaun is. No energy, no more push shot. I would much rather see Len, Metu or … Bamba?
He’s unrecognizable. It’s one of the strangest things with kings players in recent memory. There was a few things Holmes always had and that was hustle, tough play and team play. He shows none of that now. none. It’s the weirdest shit.
He hasn’t changed. The system the Kings are running has.
I’ve been holding out hope for Holmes but man… he was absolutely horrible tonight. It sucks. I love the guy but he has completely lost his mojo. It really sucks. He’s been given the opportunity to find his way and is failing miserably. It sucks.
maybe I’m crazy but I’d love to see Len get an opportunity for 12 minutes a game. Not sure why he hasn’t been at least given a shot yet. It’s been all season with no real shot to back up Sabonis. I’m all on the Mike Brown train but this one is a weird one to me. I wish I knew his reasoning on this one because it makes my brain hurt trying to figure it out. In so many ways Len seems like the perfect solution to this major problem. I’d like to at least see him fail with the opportunity. Queta was given the opportunity and was inexperienced and inconsistent. Metu was given the opportunity (with some respectable success), Holmes was given the opportunity (twice now), failing pretty hard and Len has been given ZERO opportunity. It’s weird.
The problem is, Brown’s system requires the 5 to have good hands, have a post up game, be able to move the ball. That’s just not Holmes. He’s PnR roller to the rim, and that is about it.
I hope McNair reads all of these and realizes that he needs to find a legit backup center.
They are out there but it has to be the right one. That’s the problem. Hope MM can figure that out in the near future or other teams will figure this out and spend the better part of their plays attaching Sabonis all the time.
Terence Davis has been DNP CD for the last several games. Does anyone have insight into why? Had he played so badly, …?
I kind of feel he is this year’s version of Omri Casspi. As in, use only in emergency. He can provide a spark, but he can also throw the ball into the 5th row. He’s also just buried on the depth chart. The guard rotation is deep with both Monk and Mitchell ahead of him off the bench.
IMO, his value right now is as am expiring filler trade chip that may proved some scoring off the bench in the short term for another team.
He can give credible SF minutes, too. I’ve not researched it, but it seems like the Kings intensity at both ends jumps up when Davis is in. A bit early for this kind of talk, but I hope that they aren’t trying to keep his price down next summer in order to re-sign him.
They called that “The DDV” in Kings Land.
That would be really shitty by the Kings to pull that kind maneuver, especially when trying to make the playoffs for the first time in almost a generation.
Saw Avatar last night, which was awesome, but I am BUMMED I missed Super Saiyan Fox.
I watched Avatar New Year’s Day in the morning, and there was literally only two other people in the theater (not that I was complaining).
My showing last night was packed.
I’m thinking maybe everyone was hungover from parties the night before.
Makes sense. Also power was still out for a lot of folks.
Does anyone smarter than me have Fox’s 1st quarter v. 4th quarter shooting stats for this season? I watch these games and I can’t believe its the same guy playing in the 4th as was playing in the 1st.
Hah, I was wondering the same thing.
Also, I am curious about the Kings (advanced) numbers when Domas is on the court versus when he’s off the court. PPP, rebounding rate, assist rate, defensive rating etc.
They showed them in the last Jazz game & he’s quite a bit worse in the 1st. It was also noted that he also plays fewer minutes in the 1st.
Kings still playing well almost halfway through the year is amazing! This team is fun and way beyond my expectations or any of these miserable 16 years. This year is a dub no matter what to me. I do think that anything is still possible though because they almost lost and would’ve been 19-17 which would be 7th or 8th in West instead of 5th. As this wrap up mentions the Kings without Domas would probably slide way down quick and same without Fox. We are maximuzing what we have and doing well with injuries. I’m enjoying the ride and seeing improvement for sure, we’ll see if it lasts. Even if it doesn’t though, I’m not going to thrn back into one of these whiny fans I see on here who wanna cry as soon as we lose a couple games.
Fox was fantastic but hopefully someone can correct his lack of knowledge on the catch and shoot rule. In the post interview he said he wasn’t worried about the last review because 0.4 seconds was not enough time for a catch and shoot. Per current NBA rules 0.2 or less is where that applies (and only a tip is possible). Seems like an important thing to know.
Lol. “You should’ve shot the game winner two tenths of a second later.”
That is PEAK Fox complaining.
You’ve misunderstood my comment, which had nothing to do with when Fox took his shot. To be clear: On Utah’s final possession, Fox thought that the time on the game clock (0.4 sec) would prevent Utah from catching and shooting. That was incorrect, and that lack of understanding in a similar situation in the future could lead to bad defensive strategy (he needs to stop the other team from a catch and shoot, not just a tip), or offensive strategy (he doesn’t need to lob it towards the rim, as the inbounder). Ideally a coach would point these things out in a timeout, but there was no timeout before the final play last night, and regardless every player should know this rule.
I get that. Thanks for clarifying!
Yep! Although you make a good point, it wouldn’t be an issue if Fox had been better at clock management on that final shot. 🙂
Ok now that is too far. Fox didn’t need to be better last night. He was the best.
Get the bong away from your mount Sir, your horse is far too high.
You take it when you got it. That’s what you do.
I’m kidding with this comment, people. The smiley face was supposed to make that clear. Like I say in my response to hippity, I wasn’t commenting on Fox’s play in any way. Just his knowledge of the rules re. the Jazz final possession.
That makes sense.
Oh Jesus Christ. Really?! This is what we have come to now? Please stop. For yourself more than anyone.
It’s still better than Political Commentary on Twitter where I think people actually believe what they tweet… I’m talking both sides showing ignorance… so I love that we can have hot takes that do not come close to the rhetoric of Twitter
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