Giannis, Bucks Hand Kings Seventh Straight Loss
Feb 21, 2021, 8:44 PM | Updated: 9:14 pm
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The losing streak continues for Sacramento
Just under two weeks ago, things were starting to look up for the Sacramento Kings.
All signs of optimism from the 7-1 stretch of play that sent the Kings over the .500 mark has been definitively erased, with Sacramento having lost seven games in-a-row since holding a 12-11 record on February 8th.
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 128-115 win over the Kings on Sunday night at the Fiserv Forum.
With the loss, Sacramento falls to 12-18–a season-low six games below the .500 mark.
After a competitive first quarter that ended with the Kings trailing 28-25, Sunday’s game wasn’t close again once play entered the second quarter.
Milwaukee outscored Sacramento 71-57 over the second and third periods, effectively putting the game away for good. Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton (32 points) were too much for the Kings defense, with both All-Stars on top of their game.
The free-throw shooting by Antetokounmpo alone would prove to be the difference in this game, as the star forward converted 19 of his 24 attempts from the charity stripe.
Standout rookie Tyrese Haliburton put on a show in front of his friends and family, playing in his home state of Wisconsin for the first time as a member of the NBA.
The 20-year-old would tie his career-high with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting to go along with five rebounds and eight assists in an all-around strong effort by the 12th pick in the 2020 draft.
Haliburton was unsurprisingly active on defense as well, swiping two steals and blocking one shot over 35 minutes.
DaQuan Jeffries got the start at the small forward position on Sunday night with Harrison Barnes missing another game due to a strained foot.
Jeffries was solid on both sides of the ball for Sacramento, finishing with a career-high 18 points, six rebounds, a blocked shot and steal over 39 minutes of action (also a career-high).
Starting center Richaun Holmes returned to action on Sunday night following a three-game absence due to a sore knee.
The 27-year-old returned in a big way, posting a double-double in the first half alone en route to an 11-point, 11-rebound performance on five-of-seven shooting from the field.
It was the eighth time this season that Holmes has posted a double-double over 26 games.
Speaking of double-doubles: De’Aaron Fox was at it again.
Fox was not his usual self from a scoring standpoint, but the star guard would finish with 13 points and 10 assists during the loss, his seventh double-double of the season.
One day removed from his strongest showing of the season, Marvin Bagley III battled foul trouble on Sunday, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds over 29 minutes.
Buddy Hield struggled once again during the Kings’ latest loss, finishing with 13 points on three-of-13 from the field (two-of-10 from the three-point line).
Kyle Guy set a new career-high as well on Sunday night, scoring nine points on four-of-five shooting over nine minutes.
With Barnes (foot strain), Glenn Robinson III (personal) and Chimezie Metu (wrist) all sidelined, Guy and Jabari Parker were the beneficiaries of extra minutes during Sunday’s loss.
Coming Up
If the Sacramento Kings want to end their abysmal losing streak, their next game is not a preferable matchup for the possibility of getting into the win column.
The Kings will travel to Brooklyn for a matchup with James Harden and the Nets on Tuesday night.
Last Monday, Kyrie Irving scored 43 points in a 136-125 Brooklyn win over a shorthanded Sacramento squad.
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 Game Night prior to a 4:30pm PST tip-off.
Upcoming Kings Schedule
- 2/23: @ Brooklyn Nets
- 2/25: @ New York Knicks
- 2/26: @ Detroit Pistons
- 2/28: vs Charlotte Hornets
- 3/3: vs Los Angeles Lakers
