Sac-Town Crown – Weekly Recap – Kings Start 2-0 After All-Star Break!

WEEKLY RECAP

Kings Start 2-0 After All-Star Break

Buddy Hield was the only Sacramento Kings NBA All-Star weekend participant and boy did he dazzle the crowd with his 3-point shooting!

Hield earned the title, ‘2020 NBA All-Star 3 Point Shooting Contest Champion’! Congrats Buddy Buckets!

Kings Beat Two Playoff Teams in a Row!

The Kings started off the ‘second half’ of the NBA season in Sac-Town against the NBA western conference’s 8th place squad, the Memphis Grizzlies.

Sacramento came out HOT and held a double digit lead most of the game against the Grizzlies. Memphis would battle back late in the 4th quarter, chipping the Kings lead down to one point.

The Kings struggled with free throws down the stretch but held on for the win, 129-125. Harrison Barnes led the way with 32 points, on a very efficient shooting night!

Kawhi-Not! Two Wins in a Row!

Two days later, the Kings then traveled to Los Angeles to face the Paul George-less Clippers in an early afternoon showdown.

The Kings started off hot versus the Clip-show, going on an 8-0 run to begin the game. Sacramento held the lead for most of the game, but the Clippers would not go away quietly. Mid-way through the fourth quarter the Kings fell down by a three points but showed poise and patience to come back for the win, 112-103!

Kings, Grizzlies Game Recap

Harry Giles hit a mid-range jump shot to tie the game at 7-7 early.

Then the Kings went to WORK!

Sacramento then went on an 18-3 run, where they made 10-12 field goals, including 5-7 from three point range!

The Kings held the lead entering the second quarter, 37-35, and then proceeded to go on a 10-0 run to start the second quarter!

Harrison Barnes was a man on FIRE! He scored 22 first half points, went 6-6 from three point range in the first half, which was punctuated by a three pointer at the buzzer to go into halftime!

The Kings went into halftime with the lead, 70-61.

Kings vs. Grizzlies – Second Half

Fox hit two three point shots early in the second half. Fox continues to increase his confidence and accuracy in his jump shot as the season progresses.

The Kings held a double digit lead most of the third quarter, and went into the fourth quarter holding the lead, 97-90.

The Grizzlies went on a 14-3 run mid-way through the fourth quarter, and with 2:30 left the Kings lead was only one point, 112-111.

Fox hit a three, which was immediately followed by him also drawing a charge on defense! FOX FORCE FIVE!

The Kings struggled to make free throws down the stretch but held on for the BIG win, 129-125!

Full Game Highlights

Individual Stats and Thoughts

The Kings were led by Harrison Barnes’ hot shooting against the Grizzlies. Barnes finished with 32 points, 11-17 FG, 7-11 3 PT FG.

Fox also had a magnificent game. His scoring range essentially stretched south from Elkhorn Country Club in Stockton all the way north to Bidwell Park in Chico!

De’Aaron had 26 points, 9-16 FG, and was 4-7 from three point range!

Fox was taking and making three point shots with confidence, hitting mid-range shots, all while continuing to display his Jackson Pollack-like finishes at the rim, PURTY.

The Kings received a big boost from their bench stars, mainly from ‘The Killer B’s’, Buddy Hield and Kent Bazemore.

Bazemore scored 18 points on 6-10 shooting, 2-3 from deep.
Hield chipped in 20 points, 4 assists and 3 steals!

Kent BLAZE-more may be my new favorite Kings player, well besides Harry Giles and maybe Bjelica… well there is Bogi too… I just love the Kings!

Team Stats and Thoughts

The Kings bench committed 0 turnovers! Sacramento as a team only committed 10 turnovers, while forcing 20 turnovers!

Both teams shot 50% from the field.

The Kings shot 48% from three point range.

Sacramento was severely out-rebounded 60-38. The Kings were also dominated in the points in the paint category, 58-40. The three point shot definitely saved the Kings in this matchup.

LINK TO GAME STATS – ESPN

Kings, Clippers – Saturday Matinee in LA – Kings Start 2-0

Sacramento traveled to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Saturday at high noon in Staples Center.

The Kings came out of the gates hot, starting off the game on an 8-0 run.

Sacramento led the game at the end of one quarter, 25-23.

Sac-Town continued their solid first half and would take the lead into halftime 59-48.

Late in the third quarter the Clippers started to mount a come back and would cut the Kings lead to as little as one point before the start of the fourth quarter.

The Clippers took their first lead of the game with 7:53 left in the game, at 97-94.

A few minutes later Bazemore grabbed a steal and finished with a dunk in transition to give the Kings back the lead, 103-101. Bazemore had a great game off the bench for Sacramento.

Harry Giles played a big role down the stretch to help the Kings get out of LA with the win.

The game was tied at 101 with 4:20 left, Giles grabbed an offensive rebound and made a STRONG move for a left handed put-back to help the Kings regain the lead, 103-101!

With just under a minute left Giles caught an alley-oop pass from Bogi and threw down an EMPHATIC dunk to knock the last bit of wind out of the Clippers sails.

Fox officially sealed the game with a crafty layup, leaving a trail of Clippers defenders befuddled behind him.

The Kings beat the Clippers 112-103!

Full Game Highlights

Individual Stats and Thoughts

Every Kings starter scored in double figures, as well as Kent Bazemore off the bench.

BLAZE-more had 23 points off the bench, 7-13 FG, 2-3 3 PT FG, and 7-8 from the free throw line! Baze also tallied 4 steals and 6 rebounds in his 30 minutes of action!

Fox and Bogi chipped in 20 points apiece.

Fox went 6-8 from the free throw line!

Harry Giles had his first career double-double! Giles scored 16 points on 6-10 shooting, grabbed 12 rebounds and only committed 3 fouls in 32 minutes of action!

Buddy Hield scored 7 points in only 15 minutes of action… If the Kings keep winning, and Buddy doesn’t get his ‘starter’s minutes’, we will see how truly invested in winning, team basketball, Buddy really is….

Team Stats and Thoughts

The Kings held the Clippers to 39% shooting from the field and 33% from three point range. The Clippers only had three scorers reach double figures.

Sacramento dished out 25 assists compared to the Clippers 20.

The Kings only committed 13 turnovers compared to Clippers 19.

LINK TO GAME STATS

Looking Ahead! Kings Start 2-0 Post All-Star Break!

The Kings start 2-0 coming out of the All-Star break.

Sacramento is 8-4 in their last twelve games!

The Kings still have a glimmer of playoff hope left… they will need some help from other teams to get there, though.

On Tuesday the Kings travel to the city by the bay, San Francisco, to face the Warriors.

I predict a Kings WIN versus the Dubs!

It ALWAYS has been, and ALWAYS will be… GO SACRAMENTO KINGS!

-SpikeballTom

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