Super Fox Sunday: Kings Push Winning Streak To Four, Hold Off Clippers
Feb 7, 2021, 2:57 PM | Updated: 3:26 pm
(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
De’Aaron Fox is playing like a superstar, as Sacramento climbs back above the .500 mark after Sunday’s win
The Western Conference better make room for a new member to its All-Star team.
De’Aaron Fox added to his incredible campaign with an electrifying performance against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon, scoring 36 points en route to a 113-110 win at the STAPLES Center.
Sacramento is playing their best basketball in years, having won four games straight and only losing once over their last eight contests.
The NBA scheduling committee did not do the Kings any favors when selecting games for this weekend, with Sacramento playing two games over the span of 24 hours.
Fox would not be phased by the quick turnaround, topping the 30-point mark for the fourth time this season on Sunday.
After scoring huge buckets down the stretch during Saturday night’s win against the Denver Nuggets, Fox scored 12 points in the fourth quarter on Sunday against a tough Los Angeles Clippers.
“He’s moving at a Bugatti speed,” Clippers guard Reggie Jackson told the media postgame.
Fox would lead all scores with 36 points on 15-of-25 shooting from the field while also dishing out seven assists (one turnover).
Over his last six contests, Fox’s numbers are beyond impressive:
- 29.6 points
- 7.5 assists
- 67-127 FG (53%)
- 18-47 3PT (38%)
The player that Kings fans envisioned on draft night in 2017, the All-Star talented guard with speed and ability to knock down shots is growing into a star before our eyes.
Harrison Barnes did not have his offense working against the Clippers, but the veteran forward would grab a season-high 12 rebounds in the winning effort–the most important being a huge tip-in bucket with 58 seconds remaining to put the Kings up 109-106.
The tip-in by Barnes would be enough for Sacramento to withstand a late basket by two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, as the Kings would answer with a 6-2 run to close things out.
Even though the shots were not falling for Barnes, he provided excellent defense on Leonard throughout the game, holding the All-Star to 20 points on nine-of-21 shooting from the field.
Los Angeles was the only team to have gone all season without losing consecutive games before losing on Sunday to a surging Kings team.
Rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has been referred to as ‘Captain Clutch’ by NBC Sports commentator Mark Jones, started off the fourth quarter with a very quick eight points to give the Kings a five-point lead with eight minutes remaining.
Not even 24 hours removed from a carer-high 23 points on Saturday afternoon, Haliburton finished with 13 points (three-of-four from three-point range) and six assists over 27 minutes.
Buddy Hield knocked the dust off of his three-point shot on Sunday, hitting three of his nine long-ball attempts. ‘Buddy Buckets’ had his 87-game three-point field goal streak come to an end on Saturday, but the sharpshooter quickly bounced back with a 22-point performance.
Along with his scoring output, Hield pulled down nine rebounds and dished two assists in one of the guard’s more complete games of the season.
Controlling the paint
Another game, another Richaun Holmes double-double.
The 27-year-old center posted his seventh double-double of the season after scoring 12 points on six-of-10 from the field to go along with 10 rebounds and two blocked shots.
Holmes navigated foul trouble for most of the game, finishing five five fouls after some questionable calls plagued most of the afternoon for the big man.
Sacramento scored a season-high 66 points in the paint against the Clippers, thanks to the efforts of Fox, Holmes and Marvin Bagley III.
Bagley was on non-factor during Saturday’s win against Denver, but the third-year forward was much more involved on Sunday.
The 21-year-old finished with 10 rebounds and nine points on four-of-eight shooting from the field over 21 minutes of action.
While Bagley is not included in the closing lineup of Fox, Hield, Haliburton Barnes and Holmes, the young forward is still taking big strides forward in solidifying himself as an NBA big.
Over this strong stretch of play by Sacramento, Bagley has been more active on defense and has greatly improved his ability to pass the ball and create offense outside of himself.
It’s a long season, but the fact that this Kings team 12-11 after 23 games is definitely significant.
The difference between this year’s team in comparison to previous years is the fact that this squad is able to take advantage of their opponents misfortunes.
Los Angeles was without Paul George on Sunday. The Nuggets were missing Jamal Murray on Saturday.
Sacramento capitalized and did not let the opportunity slip by, winning both games to climb above the .500 mark.
This team is young, exciting and full of talent. If everyone stays healthy, it’s hard to not be hopeful for the Kings being involved in some meaningful games come this May.
Coming Up
Sacramento will return to Golden 1 Center to face All-Star center Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday evening.
The 76ers swept last season’s two game set, as the Kings will be looking for their first win against Philadelphia since February 2, 2019.
Be sure to tune in for all of the action right here on Sports 1140 KHTK, starting with pregame coverage at 3:00pm PST on The Jason Ross & Doug Christie Show prior to the 7:00pm PST tip-off.
Upcoming Kings Schedule
- 2/9: vs Philadelphia 76ers
- 2/12: vs Orlando Magic
- 2/14: vs Memphis Grizzlies
- 2/15: vs Brooklyn Nets
- 2/18: vs Miami Heat
