Domantas Sabonis is one game away from breaking a record that’s stood with the Sacramento Kings since the 1967-68 season.
In Sunday’s loss to the Houston Rockets, the Kings’ center extended his double-double streak to 46 games, tying Jerry Lucas for the longest in-season double-double streak in franchise history. The top three longest in-season streaks in franchise history also see Lucas in second with 30 and Oscar Robertson with 29.
Jerry Lucas played for the franchise from 1963-69 when the team was the Cincinnati Royals. He recorded his 46-game streak during the 1967-68 season.
This wouldn’t be the first record Domantas Sabonis breaks in his short tenure with the Sacramento Kings. Last season, with a fractured right thumb, the Kings’ center ended the year with the most triple-doubles (14) and the most double-doubles (65) in a single season in the Sacramento era.
What is the record for the longest in-season double-double steak?
If he breaks the Sacramento Kings franchise record, then Domantas Sabonis will only need six more games to break the NBA’s longest in-season double-double streak.
During the 2010-11 season, Kevin Love recorded 53 straight double-doubles as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
When is the next chance for Sabonis to record a double-double?
Domantas Sabonis and the Kings will continue its six-game homestand on Tuesday night when they face off against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Kings nearly defeated the Bucks on their home floor during an overtime thriller on January 14th that ended with Damian Lillard’s heart-breaking triple at the buzzer. Sacramento held a four-point lead with less than 20 seconds to go, but couldn’t hold off a late charge by Milwaukee.
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Bucks coverage, beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST on Game Night before a 7 p.m. PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.
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Update: Reports Thursday indicate that Amazon’s fee is actually closer to $150 million, rather than the $120 million reported a day prior. The news came from CNBC, via Chris Novak of AwfulAnnouncing.com.
In the ever-changing world of streaming, Amazon continues to make significant strides to claim the NFL landscape.
Reports emerged Wednesday that Amazon Prime Video will pay the NFL a record $120 million for the exclusive rights to an NFL playoff game after the 2024 regular season. The news was first reported The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Flint, later verified by Front Office Sports’ Mike McCarthy.
The NFL and Amazon have not confirmed the news at this time.
BREAKING: Amazon Prime Video will pay a record $120 million to stream its first NFL playoff game after the 2024 season, sources tell @FOS.
Last year, @NFLonPrime passed on Wild Card Playoff that went to Peacock. But Prime never makes same mistake twice.https://t.co/9OIO7pMvQo
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) February 21, 2024
The staggering fee is a record for the streaming world, surpassing the $110 million that NBCUniversal’s Peacock paid for an AFC Wild Card playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins on Jan. 14. It’s also more than the $100 million figure Prime paid to stream the NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game between the Dolphins and New York Jets on Nov. 24.
In 2023, Amazon passed up the opportunity to have the first-ever exclusively streaming playoff game to Peacock. The all-purpose tycoon won’t make that mistake again.
Despite the backlash of the NFL putting a playoff game behind a streaming paywall, the Chiefs-Dolphins contest was very fruitful for Peacock. The AFC playoff game averaged 23 million viewers, ranking it as the most-streamed live event in U.S. history. The streaming service also had biggest its’ single biggest day ever with a record 16.3 million concurrent devices. The game also generated 30% of the day’s internet traffic.
Meanwhile, Prime Video struggled on Black Friday with their telecast. Their exclusive stream drew only 9.61 million viewers the day after the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games averaged a whopping 34.1 million viewers.
While the NFL has yet to confirm if a Black Friday game will occur next season, best believe Amazon will be at the forefront for the media rights.
Key offseason dates for the San Francisco 49ers
- Tuesday, Feb. 20th – Teams can begin franchising players until Tuesday, March 5th
- Tuesday, Feb. 27 – NFL Combine begins
- Thursday, March 13 – The 2024 free agency signing period begins at 1 p.m. PST
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Steve Kerr gets 500th victory as a head coach with 140-137 win over Jazz
Klay Thompson responded to not being in the starting lineup by scoring a season-high 35 points and the Golden State Warriors survived a late rally to earn a 140-137 win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
Thompson thrived as a backup after making 727 consecutive regular-season starts, dating back to March 2012 when he was a rookie. He scored 10 points in a key stretch of the first quarter, shot 13 of 22 from the floor and hit seven 3-pointers to send the Warriors into the All-Star break on a winning note.
The Warriors had two key milestones in the win, their sixth in seven outings. Steve Kerr picked up his 500th victory as a head coach and Thompson became the sixth player in Warriors history to surpass 15,000 points.
Draymond Green scored a season-high 23 and Andrew Wiggins added 19 points as the Warriors bounced back after blowing a 15-point lead in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
Collin Sexton led Utah with 35 points and nine assists while rookie Keyonte George contributed a season-high 33 points with six assists in the loss. Lauri Markkanen totaled 20 points and 14 rebounds, and John Collins chipped in with 18 points and 13 boards.
The Warriors led by as many as 19 points and took an 18-point lead into the fourth quarter. Reminiscent of Golden State’s Wednesday loss, the Jazz trimmed the deficit to one point in the last minute and threatened to pull off a comeback victory until Sexton’s game-tying attempt at the buzzer missed.
The Jazz opened the fourth quarter on an 11-3 run and then pulled within seven after a Sexton layup with 3:55 remaining. Markkanen later drained one of Utah’s season-high-tying 22 3-pointers and Sexton made it a two-point game with a basket and a free throw.
Utah got within 138-137 with 41 seconds remaining on a Collins dunk. The Jazz missed a golden opportunity to win it when Collins hauled in an offensive rebound but then tossed the ball out of bounds for a costly turnover with three seconds remaining.
Golden State star Stephen Curry, who scored 16 points on 4-of-14 shooting, then hit two free throws to make it a three-point lead with 2.4 seconds left.
The Warriors took control by outscoring the Jazz 48-32 in the second quarter. That helped Golden State turn an 11-point deficit into an 84-71 halftime lead.
The Warriors shot 53.3 percent overall, hit 20 of 42 3-point attempts (47.6 percent) and dished out a season-high 42 assists. Utah hit 46.2 percent from the floor.
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–Field Level Media
Steve Kerr eyes 500th coaching win as Warriors brace for Clippers
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr can reach his 500th career coaching win Wednesday when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers in San Francisco.
Kerr was credited with win No. 499 on Monday night in an unusual fashion — by watching from nearly 6,000 miles away after attending the funeral of former Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic in Serbia.
Kenny Atkinson moved to the head of the bench and orchestrated one of Golden State’s best team efforts, with eight players scoring in double figures in a 129-107 road win over the Utah Jazz.
Atkinson acknowledged afterward that this is an emotional stretch for the Warriors, who were in Salt Lake City last month when Milojevic suffered a heart attack during a team dinner. The game that night was postponed and has been rescheduled for Thursday, when the Warriors make a second trip to Utah in four days.
“Winning helps,” Atkinson said of dealing with the emotions. “When you’re starting to go on a little bit of a win streak, you want more. So there’s that enthusiasm. We also know we’re behind (in the standings). So there’s a little bit of an edge to us. A positive edge.”
The win pushed Kerr within one of becoming the 37th coach in NBA history with 500 victories. The New York Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau became the 36th earlier this season.
The Warriors have won five in a row heading into the finale of their four-game season series with the Pacific Division-leading Clippers, who have prevailed in two of the first three meetings between the teams. The home team has gone 3-0 so far, but with no win coming by more than eight points.
Los Angeles had its eye on finishing the first half with the best record in the Western Conference before falling 121-100 at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. The Clippers still have a healthy lead in the Pacific Division, where the Warriors are dueling the Los Angeles Lakers for last place.
The Clippers shot just 40.5 percent from the floor against Minnesota in the loss, which was just their third in the past 13 games. Kawhi Leonard, one of the few Los Angeles players who didn’t struggle offensively on an 8-for-17, 18-point night, chose to focus on the big picture afterward.
“It’s important just to get better and get every win,” he said. “If it seems like we’re trending up with our play, then that’s what matters and that’s the carryover you need into the playoffs.”
Shooting accuracy has been the difference in the first three Warriors-Clippers contests, with Golden State holding a 50 percent to 44.2 percent advantage in its home win before Los Angeles shot 48.9 and 50.6 percent in its home games, bettering the visitors’ marks of 44.2 and 43.5 percent, respectively.
The Clippers rank among the NBA leaders in field-goal percentage for the season at 49.3 percent. But the Warriors have scorched the nets to the tune of 48.9 percent overall and 41.8 percent from 3-point range during their winning streak.
One other streak will be on the line on Wednesday if Golden State’s Gary Payton II takes the court for the third consecutive time since missing 16 straight games with a strained left hamstring. Payton has yet to miss a shot since his return, going 5-for-5 against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, then 4-for-4 at Utah. He made his only 3-point attempt in each game.
–Field Level Media
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The San Francisco 49ers may have just exhaled a huge sigh of relief, with Deebo Samuel avoiding the worst possible injury news.
Reports emerged Monday morning that the 49ers’ star wide receiver avoided a major injury to his surgically repaired shoulder. The team put Samuel in an assortment of medical procedures Sunday, with tests showing no hairline fracture, or any fracture, to the area.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport delivered the news Monday.
“My understanding is, there’s no fracture in the shoulder of Deebo Samuel, which is good news,” Rapoport shared about Deebo Samuel. “As far as the status going forward, that still remains up in the air. Kyle Shanahan will talk to reporters later today, but they believe this is not a major injury. Samuel got to work on rehab right after the injury happened and was telling people that he thinks he will be OK.”
From @GMFB: There continues to be guarded optimism for #49ers WR Deebo Samuel, with negative X-Rays; Plus, #Eagles coach Nick Sirianni made moves on the defensive side of the ball. pic.twitter.com/OeXQrgItRS
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 22, 2024
Samuel first got banged up on the opening series for SF, being evaluated for a concussion after a gang tackle by Green Bay. He was able to return for a couple of series before he went off the field again with shoulder discomfort. Unable to play through the pain, Samuel went into the locker from before halftime of the NFC Divisional Round.
Other reports indicate that while the player avoided major injury, he is seen as “50-50” to play next Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
Deebo Samuel, 28, suffered a similar injury to the same shoulder in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. That hairline fracture required surgery, knocking him out of action for two games.
The 49ers went 0-3 during that stretch, missing both Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams for most of it.
The Red & Gold will look to get Samuel as much recovery as possible before the NFC Championship, needing every man to beat the Detroit Lions.
The 49ers are 12-2 and have averaged 31.4 points and 412.4 yards in games Deebo Samuel has finished this season.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) January 22, 2024
They are 1-3 and have averaged 18.8 points and 339 yards in games which Samuel hasn’t played or has left in the first half.
San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan will update the media on Samuel’s injury at 3:30 PM PST.
Upcoming schedule for the San Francisco 49ers
- January 28th – 3:30 pm PST vs. Detroit Lions (NFC Conference Championship)
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The hits keep coming for Mike Brown.
First, the Sacramento Kings coach was ejected from the team’s 143-142 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. After the game, Brown brought a laptop with him to the post-game podium and broke down a handful of plays that didn’t go Sacramento’s way.
On Tuesday, the NBA fined Brown $50,000 for “aggressively pursuing a game official during live play, and for publicly criticizing the officiating.”
Then on Wednesday, before the team’s loss to the Phoenix Suns, Mike Brown jokingly admitted the fine has impacted his family’s All-Star break plans.
“My partner Rochelle, she’s upset with me because I was gonna splurge and take them skiing,” Brown said. “Sacramento’s a great place. The city is unbelievable, it’s close to Tahoe… But we were gonna stay at the Ritz Carlton on the north side of Lake Tahoe and we were gonna splurge a little bit for All-Star break, go skiing, I was gonna take my grandson skiing. But I called her and told her we probably won’t be able to do it today unless the Ritz Carlton, which is a terrific place, gives me a discount.”
Mike Brown is canceling his family's Tahoe vacation plans at the Ritz after his $50,000 fine 😂 pic.twitter.com/RloLkDFqUY
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 17, 2024
Hopefully Mike Brown can find another suitable hotel for the NBA All-Star break.
Upcoming schedule for Mike Brown and the Sacramento Kings
- Thursday, January 18th – Kings vs. Indiana Pacers – 7 p.m. PST
- Monday, January 22nd – Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks – 7 p.m. PST
- Thursday, January 25th – Kings @ Golden State Warriors – 7 p.m. PST
- Saturday, January 27th – Kings @ Dallas Mavericks – 6 p.m. PST
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The Sacramento Kings head coach’s recent ejection and following postgame comments took the NBA world by storm. On Tuesday, the NBA announced that Mike Brown was fined $50,000 for that incident.
Memes flew around after he brought a laptop to his postgame press conference to show where his frustration lay. Here is the statement released by the NBA:
“Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown has been fined $50,000 for aggressively pursuing a game official during live play, and for publicly criticizing the officiating, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.”
“Brown’s actions took place during and after the Kings’ 143-142 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 14 at Fiserv Forum.”
For reference, Darko Rajakovic, head coach of the Toronto Raptors, was recently fined $25,000 for his postgame comments criticizing the officiating during their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Also, Mike Brown was fined $25,000 last season for “aggressively pursuing and directing profane language toward a game official.”
Given those prior reasonings, Brown likely received double the amount of Rajakovic because of his on-court approach towards the refs and the following postgame comments.
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
Sacramento’s five-game road trip will come to an end on Tuesday night when the Kings face the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center.
The Kings claimed the first two meetings of this Pacific Division showdown, although Sacramento has yet to face the Suns at full strength with its ‘Big 3’ of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker.
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Suns coverage, beginning at 4:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 6:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Phoenix.
Upcoming Schedule
- Tuesday, January 16th – Sacramento Kings @ Phoenix Suns – 6:00 PM PST
- Thursday, January 18th – Sacramento Kings vs. Indiana Pacers – 7:00 PM PST
- Monday, January 22nd – Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks – 7:00 PM PST
- Thursday, January 25th – Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PST
- Saturday, January 27th – Sacramento Kings @ Dallas Mavericks – 6:00 PM PST
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While the Warriors beat the Kings Wednesday night, should Kings fans feel good about how they played? Kevin Danna surely think so.
On Thursday’s edition of Stiles & Watkins, Santa Cruz Warriors’ broadcaster Kevin Danna joined the show to reflect on the Kings-Warriors game the night prior. They also discuss what Kevin likes about Golden State and the Sacramento this season, how fartr both teams can go, and what another playoff series between the two would look like.
All that and more on Stiles & Watkins.
“100% feel good about this game if I was a Sacramento Kings fan. You almost beat [the Warriors] without the De’Aaron Fox on the road. I this team’s winning mid-to-high 40 [games], maybe low 50s in my book,” Kevin Danna said on the show Thursday. “If Domantas Sabonis was a little bit better at the free-throw line, maybe that game is different. I mean, he was really good. Davion Mitchell, if he can be a consistent three point shooter, that makes him that much more dangerous…I really like this team a lot. I don’t think they’re gonna be the three seed…I think they’re gonna be around 48 wins at least. And I would not be shocked if they got to the second round of the playoffs this year at all.”
Additional topics discussed include:
- Kevin’s thoughts on the Kings-Warriors game Wednesday
- Kevin’s experience calling a one-sided Stanford women’s basketball game
- Where do the Warriors stand at the moment?
- Kevin loves Chris Paul on the Warriors
- Should Kings fans feel good about how they play against the Warriors?
- How many games can the Kings win this season?
Click here to watch and listen to the full interview with Kevin Danna.
Listen to Stiles & Watkins from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140. Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
The Kings were one shot away from winning, but the Golden State Warriors triumphed…again. Stiles & Watkins break down last night’s game with the help of Warriors broadcaster Kevin Danna.
#sacramentokings #goldenstatewarriors #klaythompson #kingsvswarriors
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Sacramento Kings announce $90,500 donation to support Maui wildfire relief
The seaside town of Lahaina in Maui was devastated earlier this month when a wildfire tore through the town, killing over 100 people and destroying 2,000 structures, according to the Associated Press.
Many have stepped up to offer help, and now that list includes the Sacramento Kings. The team announced Tuesday that a group — which includes the Sacramento Kings Foundation, River Cats Foundation, Ranadivé Foundation, Genevieve and Paul Jacobs, Debby and Hal Jacobs, Annie and Jeff Jacobs, GB Revocable Trust, John and Nancy Kehriotis, the Carlsen Family, Lisa Parker, and Michael and Holly Fahn — have donated $90,5000 to support those impacted by the wildfires.
“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the catastrophic wildfires in Maui,” Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé said in a press release. “The beautiful island means so much to so many, and we are committed to supporting the resilient community and their recovery efforts.”
Sacramento Kings Provide Nearly $100,000 to Support Maui Fire Relief
💻⏩ https://t.co/c2pMe4w4tJ pic.twitter.com/6o9ciQ4Kqa
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) August 29, 2023
Fans willing to donate can do so here.
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Esteury Ruiz surpasses 50 steals in rookie year with A’s
There haven’t been a lot of bright spots for the Oakland A’s this season, but Esteury Ruiz is doing his best to help fans be optimistic about the future.
In Sunday’s 6-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox, Ruiz did something no other A’s player has done in the history of the franchise. After breaking up a no-hitter in the sixth inning with a single to left field, he stole second and then third. His 51st and 52nd stolen bases.
“He’s a weapon Any time he gets on base, he’s a threat to steal and to score,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after Sunday’s game.
READ MORE FROM SACTOWN SPORTS:
- The Oracle Park A’s? Dave Kaval says it’s a possibility along with Oakland, Las Vegas
- John Fisher on if Sacramento is an option for the A’s after 2024
Stolen base No. 5️⃣0️⃣ for Esty ⚡ pic.twitter.com/UVl2JRwzvn
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 27, 2023
He made the franchise record books earlier this season when he broke a 46-year-old franchise rookie steal record that was previously set by Mitchell Page in 1977.
With 31 games left on the schedule, Esteury Ruiz could still break Kenny Lofton’s American League rookie record of 66 which was set in 1992. However, it’s unlikely he will break the A’s franchise record of 130 steals, which was set by Rickey Henderson in 1982.
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The San Francisco 49ers have been topping the rankings across various platforms the past few weeks, doing so once again with Pro Football Focus.
PFF released its top 50 NFL players right now, in the buildup to the 2023 season, On that list, six 49ers players were placed inside the Top 50, with three of them inside the Top 15. San Francisco has the most players of any single team on PFF’s rankings this year.
This comes after the 49ers had several members rank near the top on ESPN’s rankings, and the upcoming video game, Madden NFL 24.
PFF’s 2023 Top 50 Players List has 6 Niners on it:
#3 Trent Williams
#6 Nick Bosa
#14 Fred Warner
#39 George Kittle
#44 Christian McCaffrey
#50 Deebo Samuel pic.twitter.com/6lRGyHCS6s— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) July 21, 2023
Trent Williams is the first Niner mentioned on the list, coming in at No. 3 overall.
Despite turning 34 years old, Williams has only improved his play since joining the 49ers in 2020. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only six OTs have earned multiple first-team All-Pros after age 30: Walter Jones, Anthony Munoz, Andrew Whitworth, Joe Thomas, Willie Roaf, and now Williams. This past season, the Texas native only allowed 19 pressures in 17 games played.
Nicknamed “Silverback,” the offensive lineman has four years remaining on his deal with the 49ers, which will likely be the final contract of his illustrious career.
Defensive end Nick Bosa is next, coming in at No. 6 overall.
The 25-year-old was the most dominant defensive player last season, racking up 18.5 sacks and 48 quarterback hits. He earned his first Defensive Player of the Year honors for his play in 2022. Surprisingly, Cleveland Browns’ pass rusher Myles Garrett was ranked higher by PFF at No. 5.
The Ohio State alum is in line to receive a massive contract extension this offseason, likely making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
Who has the most sacks over the last two seasons?
Nick Bosa 🐻 pic.twitter.com/6hBDjLhiXK
— PFF (@PFF) July 21, 2023
We stay on the defensive side with Fred Warner coming in at No. 14 overall.
The BYU alum solidified himself as the best middle linebacker in the game in 2022, showcasing his ability to be everywhere on the field. The 49ers’ defensive leader, Warner racked up 130 combined tackles, 10 pass defenses, and two sacks en route to his second All-Pro selection of his career.
Going back to the offense, the People’s Tight End, George Kittle, ranks 39th overall heading into 2023.
Playing with three different quarterbacks last season, the Iowa alum still managed to end the year with 11 touchdowns, tied for third amongst TEs. he also had 765 receiving yards on 60 catches. Only Kansas City Chief, Travis Kelce, is ranked higher than him at the position (No. 4 overall).
Approaching age 30, Kittle has amassed more than 5,000 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns in six seasons in the NFL. He has three years left on his deal, making more than $12 million this upcoming season.
Next is running back Christian McCaffrey, coming in at 44th overall in the rankings.
Getting traded to San Francisco midseason, CMC amassed more than 1500 scrimmage yards and 14 total TDs in 11 games in Red & Gold. The Stanford alum now has three seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 700 receiving yards, trailing only Marshall Faulk (four) in NFL history.
The third-best at his position, CMC is behind Nick Chubb (No. 37) and Derrick Henry (No. 42) for PFF.
Last but not least: Deebo Samuel, sliding in at 50th overall.
The South Carolina alum sees his ranking slide after an injury-filled 2022 season left him with disappointing results. He finished the year playing 13 games for 864 scrimmage yards and five total TDs. Samuel inked a three-year, $71 million deal to remain with the 49ers before the start of training camp last season, vowing to make up for a self-proclaimed “awful’ season, this year.
In odd years: 31 games, 134 catches, 2,027 yards (16.5 ypr), 9 TD, 7.2 ypc, 11 TDs.
In even years: 20 games, 89 catches, 1,023 yards (11.5 ypr), 3 TD, 5.2 ypc, 3 TDs.
Is a big bounce back on the way for #49ers WR Deebo Samuel after "sluggish" '22?https://t.co/OGLlaasp2k
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) July 17, 2023
Click here to read the full rankings from Pro Football Focus.
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Michael Conforto is making a very strong case to be named National League Player of the Week.
The San Francisco Giants blanked the Milwaukee Brewers by a final of 5-0 on Thursday night while Conforto homered for the third time over his past four games.
Conforto’s 424-foot blast nearly hit a Toyota Sequoia that sat on a platform just beyond the right-center field fence in another impressive display of power from the one-time All-Star.
Car insurance 🚗 pic.twitter.com/or5kIJOUIn
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 26, 2023
After starting the season with a .168 batting average and five home runs over the first 37 games, Conforto has been locked in since May 11th.
Over the past 12 games, the 30-year-old is batting .396 with six home runs, 13 RBI, and an impressive .813 slugging percentage.
“It’s one of those things that happens in baseball when you’re trying to make adjustments,” Conforto said of his turnaround following Friday’s win. “Sometimes it doesn’t kick in right away. You have to be comfortable with it. The timing changes. So we worked through a tough stretch, and now I feel like I’m in a good place.”
During the past four games, Conforto’s batting average has risen from .210 to .239, while the outfielder has also etched his name into Giants history.
According to ESPN Stats, Conforto has joined Moises Alou, Barry Bonds, and Willie Mays as the only Giants players since 1901 to have at least ten homers and 20 walks in their first 44 games with the team.
“That’s pretty awesome company to be with,” Conforto said of the accomplishment. “That’s pretty special.”
San Francisco has benefited from Conforto’s success as the orange and black have won eight of their past ten games to even its record at 25-25 on the season.
With plenty of baseball left to be played this season, the Giants are finding their footing behind the red-hot play of their prized offseason addition in Conforto.
THIS JUST IN: the vibes are still good 🤗 pic.twitter.com/uv6qUcBAxJ
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 26, 2023
Upcoming San Francisco Giants Schedule
- Thursday, May 25th-Sunday, May 28th– @ Milwaukee Brewers
- Monday, May 29th-Wednesday, May 31st – vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Friday, June 2nd-Sunday, June 4th – vs. Baltimore Orioles
- Tuesday, June 6th-Thursday, June 8th – @ Colorado Rockies
- Friday, June 9th-Sunday, June 11th – vs. Chicago Cubs
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Harrison Barnes has been through a lot during his 11-year NBA career.
A championship run with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. A gold-medal experience with the 2016 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. And now, Barnes has helped lead the Sacramento Kings to the franchise’s first NBA Playoff appearance since 2006.
Barnes sat down with Carmichael Dave and Jason Ross to share his thoughts on the end of the drought, talked about the current state of the team as the NBA Playoffs approach, and much more.
To hear Barnes’ full interview with Dave and Jason, click ‘play’ on the video located at the top of the page or click here.
🚨𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙔𝙊𝙁𝙁 𝘿𝙍𝙊𝙐𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝙄𝙎 𝙊𝙑𝙀𝙍🚨
The Sacramento Kings are going to the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2006!
Not only will the Kings return to the postseason, but they will do so as a top-four seed!
IT’S OVER!https://t.co/BwXRnTdUw7
— Sactown Sports 1140 (@Sactown1140) March 30, 2023
Topics Discussed:
- Barnes says that this season has been “a special experience” for him
- When did Barnes realize that this Kings team was on the verge of a special season?
- “When ‘light the beam’ started, I started to see that we have something… For me, it was “okay, we can be a good basketball team.”
- Can this team–even with a defense that struggles to create stops consistently–cause damage during a playoff series?
- “We are fortunate to be as offensively gifted as we are.”
- Why don’t people say “offense wins championships”?
- Barnes is closing in on playing in all 82 games this season. How important is it for Barnes to play every game?
- Will Barnes grow out a playoff beard?
Next Game
Sacramento will face Portland for the final time this season when the two teams run things back on Friday night at Moda Center.
Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Trail Blazers coverage right here on Sactown Sports 1140 beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Portland.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
Friday, March 31st – Sacramento Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 PM PST
Sunday, April 2nd – Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs – 3:00 PM PST
Tuesday, April 4th – Sacramento Kings @ New Orleans Pelicans – 5:00 PM PST
Wednesday, April 5th – Sacramento Kings @ Dallas Mavericks – 5:30 PM PST
Friday, April 7th – Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PST
Sunday, April 9th – Sacramento Kings @ Denver Nuggets – 12:30 PM PST
*End of the regular season*
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De’Aaron Fox and the Sacramento Kings continue to make history.
Not only did the All-Star guard exceed the 30-point mark for the seventh-straight game, but the Kings improved to ten games over the .500 mark for the first time in over 17 years during Sunday night’s 124-115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sacramento improved to 35-25 on the season following its third-straight win, marking the first time the franchise had held a record ten games over the .500 mark since the 2004-05 campaign–a year in which the team won 50 games.
The win also marked the team’s 17th road win of the year, the franchise’s most since 2005-06 (17).
Thanks to another 30-point effort from Fox and some help from rookie forward Keegan Murray (20 points), the Kings gained some space between themselves and the Phoenix Suns (three games) and Dallas Mavericks (four games) in the Western Conference standings.
DE’AARON FOX WINDMILL 😱 pic.twitter.com/a1GH3m4pmj
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 27, 2023
After a historic 176-175 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night–the second-highest scoring game in NBA history–the Kings’ offense picked up right where it left off when action tipped off in Oklahoma City.
Sacramento jumped out to a 36-26 after one quarter of play thanks to strong starts from its All-Star duo of Fox and Sabonis (nine points each) as the Kings entered the second quarter with a double-digit advantage.
While the first 12 minutes included 56 percent shooting from the field, Sacramento slowed its roll to just 36 percent shooting during the second quarter. Thanks to a big half from Fox (14 points), the Kings took a 58-50 lead into the break–but one question remained:
Could Sacramento put this short-handed Thunder team away?
Oklahoma City refused to go down quietly as they converted eight of their 12 attempts from beyond the arc during a 40-point third quarter. Fox continued to score at will, but the Sacramento defense struggled as the Kings entered the fourth with a slim 94-90 lead.
Usually, this would be a spot for ‘Fourth Quarter Fox’ to make an appearance, but on this night, the Kings’ bench decided to give the All-Star closer a night off from his late-game heroics.
Malik Monk and Trey Lyles got hot from beyond the arc as Sacramento’s defense sealed off the perimeter, allowing the Kings to push its lead back into double-digits and put the game out of reach. Of course, Fox chipped in with some baskets of his own to put a cherry on top of things, but Sacramento secured this win with the help of some supporting cast members.
Trey Lyles AGAIN ‼️ pic.twitter.com/k1hfn33dwh
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 27, 2023
Lyles (16 points and six rebounds on three-of-five shooting from deep) and Monk (12 points on four-of-five shooting from deep) knocked down big shots down the stretch in the fourth, and Fox’s triple with 90 seconds remaining sealed the deal as the Kings pulled out another road victory.
Although Oklahoma City was without All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander, the Thunder challenged Sacramento’s defense with a 16-of-40 (40%) showing from beyond the arc to make things interesting in the second half.
The Kings had too much depth for OKC, as they used its depth to its advantage on Sunday evening, with Fox’s 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting leading the way.
Fox–who also dished out eight assists and swiped two steals during the win–became only the sixth NBA player to score 30+ points in seven or more consecutive games, joining fellow All-Star talents Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Gilgeous-Alexander,
Over his past seven games, Fox is averaging 34.4 points, 6.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. The first-time All-Star has topped the 30-point mark nine times over the past ten games.
Fourth-Quarter Fox at it again 😏 pic.twitter.com/i0oBD5oab4
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 27, 2023
Fox got some late help from his bench in Lyles and Monk, but Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis also carried their weight on Sunday.
Murray did a bit of everything during the win as the rookie scored 20 points on seven-of-15 shooting (four-of-nine from deep) to go along with six boards, two assists, and three steals over 32 minutes. Sacramento improved to 9-0 this season when Murray scores 20+ points.
The fourth-overall pick from last summer’s NBA Draft continues to show his ability to create his own offense as Murray converted three of his four attempts around the rim during the win.
Speaking of around the rim–Sabonis continued to earn the ‘Mr. Double-Double’ nickname against a weak Thunder frontline.
Sabonis racked up his league-leading 48th double-double while scoring 14 points (six-of-eight shooting), pulling down 15 rebounds, and passing out eight assists. The three-time All-Star knocked down his only attempt from three-point land, his first since February 6th (six games).
Domas no-look dish 👀 pic.twitter.com/dVPJmvxAPF
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 27, 2023
A majority of Sunday’s contributions came from three players that Sacramento hopes will someday form a ‘big three’ of sorts, and Murray’s growth will be an essential part of that reality.
Murray has taken strides over the past two games, scoring 15 points on seven-of-12 shooting during Friday’s thriller in Los Angeles before pouring in 20 points in Oklahoma City.
As the Kings inch closer to the franchise’s first postseason birth in 17 years, they are beginning to see their rookie become a top-three option alongside All-Star talents Fox and Sabonis.
Now that’s something to be excited about–growth. Both Murray and the Sacramento Kings have that in common this season, as they are simultaneously turning into something special before our very eyes.
Mr. 3000
Legendary radio broadcaster Gary Gerould celebrated his 3,000th broadcast on Sunday night, a memorable accomplishment for the true voice of Sacramento Kings basketball.
Kings head coach Mike Brown said postgame that the team awarded its Defensive Player of the Game chain to Gerould in a way to honor the
“Communication is a huge staple of mine. A guy that communicated the most within our organization is G-Man,” Brown said. “G-Man got the chain tonight. He has communicated for 3,000 games for us, which is an unprecedented mark.”
Congratulations to G-Man, who has been a constant presence of light around this franchise during some dark times. This man deserves to call some NBA Playoff games, and the Kings are doing everything they can to give him that gift this year.
Mike Brown gave tonight’s DPOG chain to @ggerould 👑 pic.twitter.com/FW6fWb6UnJ
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 27, 2023
“I just can’t think of the Kings without The G-Man.”
Before @GGerould makes call No. 3,000 tonight, take a look back at his 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐘 career and hear from those who he’s inspired along the way 🎙 pic.twitter.com/GAjVRcWxcc
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) February 26, 2023
Next Game
Sacramento will conclude its brief three-game road trip with a rematch against Oklahoma City on Tuesday night at Paycom Center.
Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Thunder coverage right here on Sactown Sports 1140 beginning at 3:30 PM PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner before a 5:00 PM PST tip-off from Oklahoma City.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
Tuesday, February 28th – Sacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 5:00 PM PST
Friday, March 3rd – Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7:00 PM PST
Saturday, March 4th – Sacramento Kings vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 7:00 PM PST
Monday, March 6th – Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 7:00 PM PST
Thursday, March 9th – Sacramento Kings vs. New York Knicks – 7:00 PM PST
Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter , and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Frankie Cartoscelli is the Kings’ beat reporter for SactownSports.com. Follow Frankie on Twitter.
Kyle Larson announces plans to race in Indy 500 in 2024
Elk Grove native and NASCAR driver Kyle Larson joined the Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross to talk about The Apex at Red Hawk, a new indoor facility featuring go-karts, bowling virtual reality and golfing simulator. The guys also discussed future races and more with Larson.
Topics discussed include:
- The last time Larson raced go-karts
- “I still love racing, I go back to my roots all the time. I race more dirt track stuff than I do NASCAR.”
- What he still wants to accomplish in his career
- “I’m going to run in the Indy 500, not this year but next year for Mclaren, and really excited about that. It’s been a dream of mine to run that event.”
- The differences between NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar
- Which styles of races are the most taxing and how he prepares leading up to a race
- “Putting myself in uncomfortable situations ultimately makes me get better, but I also get a lot of enjoyment out of succeeding and figuring out, and ultimately winning a race.”
- Following the Sacramento Kings’ success from afar
- Why Days of Thunder is his favorite racing movie
Click here to watch and listen to the full interview with Kyle Larson.
Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 11 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
Click here for full episodes of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross.
After playing 15 of their previous 19 games at home, the Sacramento Kings (27-19) will play its final home game for quite some time on Wednesday night when they face the Toronto Raptors (21-27) at Golden 1 Center.
The Kings are riding high after winning seven of eight, including Monday’s 133-100 drubbing of the Memphis Grizzlies. With a win over the Raptors, Sacramento can improve to nine games over the .500 mark for the first time since the 2004-05 season–a year that the team finished with 50 wins.
For a franchise that hasn’t sniffed the postseason in nearly two decades, the excitement around the Kings is building with each passing day as the team continues to make its case for a top-five finish in the Western Conference standings.
Fans were even calling for the beam to be lit on Sacramento’s off-day on Tuesday when news broke that the team had signed general manager Monte McNair to a three-year extension.
Game day or not, the Kings have injected plenty of excitement into a fanbase that has been waiting for a reason to cheer since the 2005-06 season. Let’s see if Sacramento can cap off this home stand with its 28th win of the season.
The Kings have jumped to 7th in ESPN’s latest NBA Power Rankings 📈 pic.twitter.com/kvcDZsOMI2
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) January 25, 2023
Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors Game Info
When: 7:00 PM PST
Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Pregame coverage starts at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night
Line: Kings -3, O/U: 238
Tickets: Click here
What To Watch For
Let ‘Em Fly
Sacramento should look to attack from the outside on Wednesday night, as players like Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes, and Kevin Huerter could be in line for a busy night.
Entering play against the Kings, Toronto ranks 28th in the NBA regarding defending the three-point shot, as opponents have shot 37 percent from beyond the arc against the Raptors’ defense this season.
During Sacramento’s 124-123 win over Toronto back on December 14th at Scotiabank Arena, the Kings finished the game 17-of-46 (37%) from deep. On the heels of a 22-for-40 (55%) performance from three-point land against Memphis, Sacramento won’t shy away from their hot hand(s)–especially in the starting lineup:
Keegan Murray in January: 51% 3PT on 6.3 attempts/G
Harrison Barnes in January: 53% 3PT on 6.9 attempts/G
Kevin Huerter over the past 12 games: 41% 3PT on 6.6 attempts/G
Pack The Paint
If you’ve read these previews before, you know that this is something to watch every single game.
Even without Steven Adams, the Grizzlies controlled the paint against the Kings on Monday night (56-44). Sacramento will need to plug the paint against a Raptors team that will look to create most of its offense in and around the key.
Toronto enters play with a three-point shooting percentage of 33 percent (28th in the NBA), meaning that defenders can sag off a little bit and focus on keeping players like OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and Scottie Barnes out of the paint.
Although the Raptors aren’t a strong rebounding team (21st in the NBA), they are fourth in the league regarding securing offensive rebounds and getting second-chance opportunities.
Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Harrison Barnes need to be aggressive in chasing down loose boards, because Toronto will make them pay if they regain possession.
Injury Report
Sacramento
- Chimezie Metu – QUESTIONABLE (left knee bone bruise)
Toronto
(NBA.com)
Sacramento Kings Postgame Show
Check out our Sactown Sports Kings Recap Show on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube channel!
Sactown Sports Kings Recap Shows will be happening all season long, immediately following each Kings game!
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
Wednesday, January 25th – Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors – 7:00 PM PST
Saturday, January 28th – Sacramento Kings @ Minnesota Timberwolves – 5:00 PM PST
Monday, January 30th – Sacramento Kings @ Minnesota Timberwolves – 5:00 PM PST
Wednesday, February 1st – Sacramento Kings @ San Antonio Spurs – 5:00 PM PST
Friday, February 3rd – Sacramento Kings @ Indiana Pacers – 4:00 PM PST
The San Francisco Giants got the marquee player that they have been looking for.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Giants have reached a 13-year, $350 million agreement with star free agent shortstop Carlos Correa.
San Francisco has been in the market for top-shelf talent, and after missing out on Aaron Judge last week, President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi just hit it big by bringing Correa to Oracle Park for the next 13 years.
Correa’s 13-year deal includes no opt-outs and a full not-trade clause.
BREAKING: Shortstop Carlos Correa and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a 13-year, $350 million contract, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 14, 2022
The 13-year commitment ties Bryce Harper’s 2019 deal that he reached with the Philadelphia Phillies for the longest contract in MLB history.
Correa, 28, is a two-time All-Star, Gold Glove Award winner, Platinum Glove Award winner, and World Series champion while with the Houston Astros in 2017.
The slick-fielding shortstop batted .291 with 22 home runs, 64 RBI, and an .834 slugging percentage over 136 appearances for the Minnesota Twins in 2022.
After missing out on several superstar talents like Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, and Shohei Ohtani, San Francisco has been searching for franchise-level talent for years. By signing Correa, the Giants have an elite talent that will roam the infield at Oracle Park for the next decade-plus.
Correa will provide a San Francisco lineup that has sorely lacked power with a legitimate home run presence, as the slugger has posted six seasons with 20 home runs over more out of eight big league seasons. Giants shortstops have had nine seasons with 20+ home runs in franchise history.
Signing Correa also sets the Giants up at the shortstop position following Brandon Crawford’s eventual exit as the longtime fan-favorite is entering the final year of his contract. At age 36, Crawford’s days in orange and black are numbered, but with Correa in the fold, the veteran will have some pressure alleviated this coming season.
It’s currently unknown if Crawford or Correa will be sliding into a different position in the infield or if the two will be forming some right-left platoon, but the fact that San Francisco now has two plus-fielding shortstops on the roster is a huge positive.
After signing Correa, right fielder Mitch Haniger, retaining Joc Pederson, and signing pitchers Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling, the Giants have had a busy holiday season that appears to have been capped off with the placing of a star at the top of its Christmas tree–and that star is Carlos Correa.
Here’s something that you don’t see every October: the San Francisco Giants with a .500 record.
The Giants ended its 2022 season on a high-note Wednesday as they defeated their National League West counterpart San Diego Padres by a final of 8-1 at PETCO Park. By winning the season finale, San Francisco secured its 81st win of the season to finish the year with a perfectly split record of 81-81.
For the first time in their 140-year franchise history, San Francisco ended a season with a .500 record.
The Giants won 8-1. They went 81-81, becoming the first team in franchise history to finish exactly .500. They are the eighth team in MLB history to win 100 games one year and fail to have a winning record the next. It's officially the offseason, and it needs to be a big one.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) October 5, 2022
After missing the postseason for the fifth time over the past six seasons, it’s time for Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi to swing big this offseason.
San Francisco has to make a swing-for-the-fences type of splash this winter if they want to get back into the thick of the National League pennant race. There will be plenty of big free-agent names available on the market, and the Giants will hope to add a notable star to their lineup for the 2023 season.
More on the Giants offseason: After Disappointing 2022, Giants Set Sights On Important Offseason
Rapper 50 Cent is now a part of the King’s path.
Or at least, his wine and spirits company and charity are.
The two announced a partnership Wednesday morning, as Sire Spirits “becomes the official premium champagne partner with their award-winning Le Chemin du Roi (fittingly translated as The Kings Path), a proud spirits partner with their award-winning Branson Cognac and presenting sponsor of one of Golden 1 Center’s largest premium clubs, Rush, serving courtside and season ticket members. The club “Rush by Sire Spirits” will feature a breathtaking 500 bottle Le Chemin du Roi Champagne Wall.”
“This partnership continues the Kings commitment to supporting diverse entrepreneurs and aligns our shared passion for providing youth with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. I am excited to work together to support the Sacramento community,” Sacramento Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé said in a press release.
The two were pictured together during the NBA’s Summer League in Las Vegas.
View this post on Instagram
“I very much look forward to meeting the Kings fans and expanding the reach of my G-Unity Foundation and spirits brands in and around the city of Sacramento,” 50 Cent said in the press release.
Yikes.
Sad. Pathetic. Embarrassing.
How else would you describe Tuesday’s showing from the Sacramento Kings?
Not only did the Kings lose to the Boston Celtics, but they got completely dismantled as the Celtics held Sacramento to just 30 points during the first half en route to a 128-75 laugher at TD Garden.
The 53-point loss was the team’s most lopsided since November 2, 1991 when they suffered their worst loss in franchise history (62 points) to the Golden State Warriors.
With the (embarrassing) loss, the Kings (18-31) have now lost four-straight games and nine-straight road games.
There isn’t a better way to describe the first quarter of Tuesday’s game than two sad, simple words: completely miserable.
All-Star duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown paced a 27-3 run to lead by as many as 26 points as Boston made the Kings look like an elementary school team. Once play entered the second period, Boston had taken complete control of the game by taking a 38-13 lead after 12 minutes of play. The 13-point quarter was Sacramento’s lowest scoring output in a quarter this season.
Sacramento shot a horrifying five-of-29 (17%) from the field and one-of-12 (8%) from three-point range during a first quarter that was undoubtedly the team’s most pathetic single period of the season.
Well, if you were hoping that the Kings would respond in the second quarter, you would be very disappointed as Boston extended their gargantuan lead to 63-30 at the half–the lowest scoring half by the Kings since the 2015-16 season.
Boston’s lead quickly eclipsed the 40-point mark in the early minutes of the second half to put the finishing touches on the Kings before we even reached the eight-minute mark of the third quarter.
Entering the fourth quarter, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had combined to outscore the entire Sacramento offense on their own (66-55) to take a 97-55 lead into the fourth.
The final period was a bench vs bench affair for both teams as Boston put the finishing touches on the Kings’ worst loss of the 2021-22 season. When the marathon of sorrow finally came to a close, Sacramento had ended the night with just 75 points on 29-of-95 (30%) shooting from the field and six-of-33 (18%) shooting from beyond the arc.
Sure, De’Aaron Fox wasn’t playing. Sure, the Kings are an awful defensive team. Sure, the team has struggled as of late.
But trailing by 60 points and losing by 53…?
An absolutely historic franchise like the Boston Celtics, a team that has won 17 championships, nearly posted their largest margin of victory in franchise history on Tuesday night (56 points in 2018-19).
There is absolutely zero–and I mean zero–excuse to lose an NBA game the way that the Sacramento Kings did on Tuesday night. Zero heart. Zero effort. Zero sense of urgency. By the time the first quarter ended, it was clear that the game was over.
The fans of Sacramento deserve so much more. A team with heart, a team with undoubted effort. The fans at least deserve that.
Period.
Injury Updates
- De’Aaron Fox (left ankle soreness) was listed as questionable prior to Tuesday’s matchup prior to being ruled out by head coach Alvin Gentry during his pregame media session. Gentry told the media that Fox’s injury is “just soreness” and added that the guard would be able to play if it was a playoff-type of situation. With Sacramento set to play the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday, the team is erring on the side of caution.
- Chimezie Metu (knee soreness) was ruled out prior to tip-off. Gentry told the media that Metu, like Fox, would have been able to play if it was a pressing situation.
- Damian Jones (left ankle soreness) was listed as questionable before Tuesday’s game prior to being ruled active.
- Terence Davis injured his wrist on a drive to the basket during the second quarter and exited the game following his free-throw attempts. Davis was ruled out for the remainder of the game and is considered day-to-day.
Coming Up
See you all tomorrow!
The Kings will play the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday afternoon when they face Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks.
A short-handed Hawks team bested the Kings back on January 5th at Golden 1 Center, even without the services of Trae Young, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic during a 108-102 win.
Be sure to get all of your Kings vs Hawks coverage right here on Sports 1140 KHTK beginning at 3:00pm PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner prior to a 4:30pm PST tip-off from Atlanta.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
- January 26th @ Atlanta Hawks
- January 29th @ Philadelphia 76ers
- January 31st @ New York Knicks
- February 2nd vs Brooklyn Nets
- February 5th vs Oklahoma City
De’Aaron Fox took over in the fourth quarter as Sacramento was able to start off the new year with a win
It all came down to one stop.
The Sacramento Kings held a narrow two-point lead with six seconds remaining, but Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat had one last chance to force overtime or break the hearts of fans in attendance on Sunday afternoon.
Butler, who sank a game-winner against the Kings last season, would not succeed in converting another late-game bucket as his attempt rimmed out to give Sacramento a 115-113 win.
With the win, the Kings (16-22) snap Miami’s five-game winning streak and improve to 3-1 over their past four games.
Harrison Barnes and the Kings offense quickly jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter after using a 13-0 run to create some space between themselves and Miami during the opening minutes of the game.
The Heat were able to cut the deficit to 26-18 heading into the second quarter, but Barnes (eight points) was the driving force behind a 52-percent shooting opening period for Sacramento.
Buddy Hield and Damian Jones both tapped into their offense during the second quarter as Hield finished the half with 12 points on four-of-six shooting from the field and three-of-five from downtown. It was the first time that the guard had scored double-digit points in a first half since December 11th in Cleveland.
Jones tied his career-high for most points scored in a half as he entered the break with 14 points (six-of-nine shooting) and seven rebounds as the Kings held onto a slim 61-57 lead after 24 minutes of play.
The efforts of Hield and rookie guard Davion Mitchell kept Miami from taking a double-digit lead late in the third quarter as the two guards scored 10-straight points to tie things up at 90-90 entering the final period.
After Miami quickly took a 97-90 lead, Hield remained red-hot from the perimeter by knocking down two more triples during a 9-2 Kings run to tie the game at 99-99 with less than nine minutes remaining.
Back-to-back floaters from De’Aaron Fox put Sacramento in front 106-103 with five minutes remaining to set up a nail-biting finish at Golden 1 Center.
Tyrese Haliburton’s floater gave the Kings a 113-109 lead with just over a minute remaining, but Heat center Omer Yurtseven drilled a jumper to make it a two-point game. Following a poor possession from the Kings, Jimmy Butler drove the lane and tied the game at 113-113 with 26.6 seconds to go.
Fox was fouled during his drive to the basket and was able to convert both free-throws to give Sacramento a 115-113 lead with just 6.2 seconds on the clock. Butler was able to get free from the Kings defense and get off a clear look as the horn sounded, but the shot didn’t fall as the Kings were able to begin the year 2022 with a win in front of their home fans.
Buddy Hield was able to to knock off some rust in a big way on Sunday as the veteran sharpshooter converted seven of his 14 attempts from long-distance.
“You leave him in the game for that reason,” Kings head coach Alvin Gentry said of Hield’s ability to get hot from three-point range. “If you’re only second to Steph Curry in most three-pointers in the game, you must be doing something right.”
With Hield feeling it from the perimeter, De’Aaron Fox taking over in the fourth (12 points) and Tyrese Haliburton racking up another game with 10-plus assists, Sacramento was able to get some major production from their guards during the victorious effort.
Entering play on Sunday, the Kings were in a tie for the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings. By defeating Miami, Sacramento now is in sole possession of the final spot in the Play-In race.
Not a bad start to the new year.
Quick Stats
- De’Aaron Fox tallied a new career-high for made free-throws in a game as the star guard went 14-for-15 on the night to finish with 24 points over 35 minutes. The 24-year-old grabbed six rebounds, dished six assists and swiped two steals to round out an efficient night.
- Damian Jones posted his first double-double of the season and his second of his career during an 18-point, 10-rebound performance. With starting center Richaun Holmes sidelined due to Health & Safety protocols, the 26-year-old had a big night at a time when his team really needed production from the middle.
- For the fourth game in-a-row, Tyrese Haliburton finished with 10 or more assists on Sunday as the second-year guard dished out 12 assists. The young guard has racked up 103 assists over his last 10 games and is the first King to post 10-straight games with eight-plus points and seven-plus assists since Spud Webb did so in April of 1994.
Injury Updates
Kings guard Terence Davis sat out Friday’s game due to ankle soreness that he felt while going through pregame warmups. Davis was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs Miami before being ruled out moments before tip-off.
Davis is considered day-to-day going forward.
Richaun Holmes entered COVID-19 Health & Safety protocols on Saturday afternoon. Holmes will be able to return to basketball activities after registering successive negative COVID-19 tests 24 hours apart.
The 28-year-old center has struggled to get back into a rhythm after suffering two separate injuries to his right eye in late November and early December. After missing 10 of 14 games, Holmes has averaged 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game over just 22.0 minutes per game, well below his season-averages of 12.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 26.1 minutes per game.
Robert Woodard II (non-COVID illness) was inactive during Sunday’s game. He is considered day-to-day.
Coming Up
For the first time since December 20th, the Kings will hit the road for a short trip to Crypto.com Arena (formerly STAPLES Center) for a matchup with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the first matchup between the two teams since a triple-overtime thriller on November 26th, the Lakers routed Sacramento 117-92 at Golden 1 Center on November 30th.
You can find all of your Kings vs Lakers coverage right here on Sports 1140 KHTK beginning at 6:00pm PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner prior to a 7:30pm PST tip-off from sunny Los Angeles.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
- January 4th @ Los Angeles Lakers
- January 5th vs Atlanta Hawks
- January 7th @ Denver Nuggets
- January 9th @ Portland Trail Blazers
- January 10th vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Can You Name The Past 50 NBA Champions? – The Carmichael Dave Show
Jay MarZZ rattles off the last 50 NBA champions straight from the top of his head! Are you not entertained?!
How many NBA champs do you think you could name?
Listen to “The Carmichael Dave Show” every weekday from 6a-9a RIGHT HERE on Sports 1140 KHTK!
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