Spirits were low this weekend in Sacramento as the Kings were pushed down into play-in territory after their two losses to the Dallas Mavericks. Adding more salt to the wound, it was announced that Malik Monk will be out at least four weeks with an MCL sprain. Now sitting in the 8th seed, two games behind Dallas for the 6th seed, and with just nine games left to go in the regular season, the Kings need to be nearly perfect these next few weeks to make up the ground that they lost. First up in this final stretch to the postseason was the Utah Jazz. With no more room for error, the Kings needed to take care of business against the 12th seeded Jazz. Let’s see how they did:
Quick Stats
Outcome: Kings win, 127-106
Sacramento Kings: 127 pts, 53.6% fg, 50.0% 3pt, 73.9% ft, 34 ast, 44 reb, 15 to
Utah Jazz: 106 pts, 41.0% fg, 39.0% 3 pt, 78.6% ft, 22 ast, 34 reb, 12 vto
After what feels like a fortnight of darkness, the beam has at last been resurrected. The first half was a close matchup, as the Kings led by just 4 points. But the third quarter was all Kings. Sacramento went on a 15-0 run out of an early timeout from Coach Mike Brown and never looked back. The Kings handed the Jazz their 9th loss in a row with a demonstrative win on their home floor. After taking some punches in recent weeks, this was a welcome and comforting win.
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
The Good:
- Shooting: Life feels so much sweeter when the Kings are making their 3s. Colors seem brighter, the air feels fresher, and I feel damn near invincible. The Kings had one of their best shooting nights, making 20-40 from deep. The best of this came in the third quarter when they eventually gained control of this game where they made 8-12 on 13 assists.The Kings first gained their momentum after making three 3s in a row out of a timeout early on in the third quarter. Keegan Murray started the shotmaking early and finished with a team-high 25 points on 5 made 3-pointers.
- Efficient HB: Not far behind Keegan Murray was Harrison Barnes. Heating up in that third quarter run, Barnes finished with 24 points and did it with impressive efficiency. He made 5-7 from the 3-point line and 9-12 from the field. When Barnes is not only aggressive, but also efficient in his scoring, he adds a threatening dimension to this Kings offense.
- Resurrection Sunday: Although the Kings are still sorely missing Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter, they were gifted the returns of Trey Lyles and Sasha Vezenkov tonight. Lyles was impactful in his 19 minutes with 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3-5 from the 3-point line. And while Vezenkov only played 10 minutes, he was able to join in on the party and hit a classic quick release 3-pointer from the corner. Vezenkov also showed his defensive awareness and grabbed 2 steals. Getting Lyles and Vezenkov back in the rotation will be huge for the Kings moving forward as it adds to their depth off the bench.
The Bad:
- Corner 3s: It felt like every made 3-pointer from Utah came from the corner. The Kings struggled to cover ground in the corners and allowed the Jazz to shoot 16-39 from the 3-point line. Brice Sensabaugh (5-10 3-pt), Taylor Hendricks (4-6 3-pt), and Keyonte George (3-10 3-pt) all enjoyed the open looks and made the Kings pay for their slow recoveries.
The Ugly:
- Who is Brice Sensabaugh?: Before tonight, I had never heard the name Brice Sensabaugh before in my life. But on trend for visiting players in Golden 1 Center, he introduced himself with a career night of 22 points with 5 made 3s.
The King of Kings
De’Aaron Fox was the best player on the floor tonight on both sides of the ball. Fox played with a visible level of confidence and control with the ball in his hands. One might even say he is Him. Not only did he dazzle with his usual quick moves and fancy finishes, but he also got his teammates involved. Fox finished with 24 points, 12 assists, and 3 steals. The most impressive part of this packed stat line was his assists – with his Kentucky partner, Malik Monk, sidelined, it was imperative that Fox elevate his playmaking, and he came through in a dominant way.
Up Next
Tuesday, April 2nd vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7:00 P.M. (PT)
