The Nightmare Continues: Sacramento Drops Third-Straight Game
Dec 13, 2021, 6:07 PM | Updated: 6:20 pm
(Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
Once again, the Sacramento Kings looked lost on Monday night
It’s hard to recall a more disheartening three-game stretch from the Sacramento Kings than the horrors we have seen transpire since Friday evening.
Following a devastating loss in Charlotte on Friday and embarrassing showcase in Cleveland on Saturday, the Kings capped off their forgettable three-game road-trip with another blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors as they suffered a 124-101 defeat on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena.
With the loss, the Kings (11-17) have lost three-straight games and fall to a season-high six games under the .500 mark.
One game removed from a horrific start in Cleveland, Sacramento opened Monday’s game with zero urgency in the opening minutes.
Not only did the Kings go scoreless over the initial four minutes of action, the Raptors posted an 11-0 run to take a big lead in the first. For the first time since Friday night in Charlotte, Sacramento showed clear signs of life during a 10-0 run to reduce to deficit to one. Toronto regained control at the end of the period to lead 30-22 at the start of the second quarter.
Speaking of Saturday night’s game in Cleveland, the Kings took a page out of their previous game’s book by allowing Toronto to take a commanding 70-45 lead into the halftime break.
Toronto flat-out bullied Sacramento in the second quarter, outscoring the Kings 40-23 while capitalizing off of several turnovers and sloppy decision making. As was the case in Cleveland, Sacramento played like a team with no identity or any game-plan while getting embarrassed in front of a joyous Scotiabank Arena.
It was the fourth-straight game the the Kings defense surrendered 67-points or more in the first half, with the Raptors establishing a new season-high for points in a half this season with 70.
Sacramento was unable to close the gap in the third, heading into the fourth quarter trailing 93-69 as the Raptors were set up to complete the laugher in the fourth.
It’s hard to recall a more disheartening three-game stretch of Sacramento Kings basketball.
Friday night’s loss in the closing seconds against Charlotte, Saturday’s drubbing in Cleveland and now a gut-wrenching performance on Monday in Toronto have capped off a three-game road-trip that everyone–players, coaches, media and fans–would like to forget.
Unfortunately, that isn’t how it works. Kings fans will not forget what they have witnessed over the past three games.
As Sacramento returns for a massive 10-out-of-12-game home-stand, is it possible for this team to once again turn things around before it gets too late? The “it’s early” excuse is no more. 28 games have come and gone, or 34-percent of the regular season, to be exact.
Sacramento is running out of time. If this roller-coaster of a team wants to salvage its season, they will need to start on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center.
Quick Stats
De’Aaron Fox led all Kings scorers with 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field, while Alex Len added 12 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
Marvin Bagley posted his third double-double of the season on Monday, scoring 12 points to go along with 11 rebounds and a blocked shot over 26 minutes of action.
Tristan Thompson scored 13 points on four-of-seven shooting and pulled down seven rebounds over 13 minutes.
Injury Updates
Richaun Holmes suffered a blow to the face from Magic center Mo Bamba during a shot attempt midway through the second quarter last Wednesday night. The 28-year-old immediately exited the game with a bloodied face and went to the Kings locker room. Holmes had a right eye laceration repaired on Thursday and is considered day-to-day.
Coming Up
Settle in, Kings fans. It will be quite a while before Sacramento crosses California state lines again.
When the Kings face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, they will open up a 12-game stretch that will include 10 home games, with the lone road games being in Golden State and Los Angeles.
Last season, Sacramento split their two-game set with the Wizards, with the most recent contest taking place on April 14th–a 123-111 loss at Golden 1 Center.
Be sure to get all of your Kings vs Wizards coverage right here on Sports 1140 KHTK starting at 3:00pm PST on The Jason Ross Show prior to a 7:00pm PST tip-off from Golden 1 Center.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
- December 15th vs Washington Wizards
- December 17th vs Memphis Grizzlies
- December 19th vs San Antonio Spurs
- December 20th @ Golden State Warriors
- December 22nd vs Los Angeles Clippers
