The less we talk about that game the better.

The Sacramento Kings lost to the Utah Jazz by a score of 119-98, but it was so much worse than that. The Kings entered the game without Harry Giles (who has been shut down for the season) and Willie Cauley-Stein (who missed the game due to personal reasons). De’Aaron Fox left the game after playing just 8 minutes due to a sore right foot. Kosta Koufos strained his calf and left the game.

I really can’t overstate how bad this game was. Buddy Hield finished with a team-high 17 points, and it makes me realized how accustomed I am to at least one Kings player having at least 20 points every night. By comparison, Donovan Mitchell and Grayson Allen each had 23 points for the Jazz, and Joe Ingles and Rudy Gobert each had 17 as well. U-G-L-Y.

On a positive note, this game is the last back-to-back of the year. I just want to take a moment once again to thank the NBA for giving the Kings a league-high 15 back-to-backs (a few other teams also had 15, but nobody had more, most teams had less). If I were in the Kings front office I’d be complaining loudly about the team’s scheduling this season with hopes we can get a kinder schedule next year. A back-to-back isn’t an excuse, you still need to show up for every game, but it’s a simple reality that those games are harder.

The Kings will next face the New Orleans Pelicans in Sacramento on Sunday.