Kings Win Fifth Straight For Best Start Since 2002
Nov 2, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:36 am
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
By Franklin Cartoscelli – KHTK Sports 1140
A lot has changed since 2002.
For a dollar and fifty cents, you could get a gallon of gas. Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets was atop the box office. Eminem’s Lose Yourself was the most popular song in the world. The Sacramento Kings were off to a 6-3 start.
Not everything has changed, when you check that last part.
The 2018-19 Sacramento Kings are off to their best start since the 2002-03 season, improving to 6-3 after routing the Atlanta Hawks 146-115. The win on Thursday marked Sacramento’s first win in Atlanta since March 3, 2006.
Sacramento looked to turn the tables on last years’ brutal 126-80 loss in Atlanta, and did just that, winning by 31 points in a game that also saw the Kings score 46 points in the third quarter.
After starting 1-8 last season, Sacramento’s 6-3 start has the NBA on notice.
First career triple-double, and the youngest player ever to drop 30+ pts, 10+ reb, and 15+ ast 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UtgbOw7Vkv
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 2, 2018
Fox On The Run
De’Aaron Fox put on quite the show on Thursday night. The sophomore put up career highs in points, rebounds and assists en route to his first career triple double.
With 31 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists, Fox joined someone by the name of LeBron James as the only players under 21 years old with 30-point triple doubles.
Over the first nine games, Fox has shown incredible improvement in every way in comparison to his rookie season, with season averages of 19 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. Fox loves to run, and is without a doubt the anchor of Sacramento’s fast paced offense.
Buddy Buckets
Buddy Hield continued his incredible start to the season, scoring a season high 27 points while also adding 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Over the first nine games, Buddy is showing great confidence and consistency in shooting the basketball.
Shooting 53 percent from the field and 81 percent from the foul line, Buddy is turning into a go-to scoring option for the Kings. Averaging 19 points per game, Hield leads the Kings in points per game.
Of course, the greatest skill that he brings to the table comes from behind the three point line.
This season, Buddy Hield is shooting a staggering 49 percent from three point land, and ranks 10th in made three pointers.
Best of the Rest
Marvin Bagley III continues to put up big numbers in limited minutes. Bagley III scored 18 points on 70 percent shooting and grabbed 5 rebounds over 24 minutes.
Bagley ranks eighth among rookies in minutes per game with 23.3 minutes per game.
Nemanja Bjelica chipped in with 19 points on 7 of 11 from the field. Bjelica’s defense has been a useful presence to Sacramento, averaging 1.3 steals per game.
What’s Next?
Sacramento travels to Milwaukee on Sunday for a matinee with the Bucks. At 7-1, the Bucks will look to snap the Kings’ five game winning streak.
With a win, the Kings can extend their streak to six for the first time since January of 2005.
Tip off is at 12:30pm, right here on KHTK Sports 1140.
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👑 STRAIGHT WINS.#KingsFTW pic.twitter.com/VvSBOTj1ym— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) November 2, 2018
