Kings Spoil Marvin Bagley’s Big Night, Blow 28 Point Lead to Brooklyn
Mar 19, 2019, 10:19 PM | Updated: Mar 20, 2019, 3:01 pm
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
There are collapses, and then there’s what happened to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. After leading by 28 points in the 3rd quarter, starting the 2nd half on a 20-0 run, Sacramento was outscored 45-18 in the 4th quarter, falling to the Brooklyn Nets 123-121.
“Well that certainly can be a tough one to take but it’s a good opportunity for our guys to learn and hopefully we will be in those opportunities again in the future where we have a lead and we don’t relax,” said Kings head coach Dave Joerger.
Nets star point guard D’Angelo Russell went supernova in the 4th quarter, scoring 27 of his 44 points in the final 12 minutes.
"I'M BUILT FOR THIS S—!" 🔥
Big mood after leading the largest comeback in team history pic.twitter.com/zNK1V4undb
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 20, 2019
“He made some tough shots but he also got to the rim and finished just about every one I think at the rim. He just got too much momentum going downhill and got in the paint too easy,” said Joerger.
De’Aaron Fox was asked what he and the Kings can do to stop a player like Russell when he gets going like that, “Just try to make it tough on him”.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who didn’t play until the 3rd quarter, hit a circus-shot game winner in the closing seconds to steal the victory and break the hearts of the Golden 1 Center crowd.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson drives in and wins it for the @BrooklynNets! #WeGoHard pic.twitter.com/t1pII2Q2k8
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2019
The tough loss will unfortunately overshadow Kings rookie Marvin Bagley’s incredible night, scoring 28 points on 15 shots off the bench. He was the man for Sacramento up until the 4th quarter, where he scored just four points and took only three shots.
“We blew it,” Bagley said, “I hate losing. Especially like that. That’s pretty much all I gotta say”.
“Can’t have that,” added Fox, “Especially in the position we are in. Obviously we will try to let it go but this one will sting for a bit”.
“We relaxed in those moments and the basketball gods punished us. That’s how it goes,” said Bogdan Bogdanovic.
According to ESPN, the Kings are just the 4th team since the creation of the shot clock to lose a game when ahead by 25 points heading to the 4th quarter.
Sacramento is back in action Thursday when they host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
