Rock Bottom? Kings Lose 9th In A Row For First Time In 12 Years
Feb 25, 2021, 7:13 PM | Updated: 7:32 pm
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
For the first time since 2008-09, the Kings are losers of nine-straight games
The Sacramento Kings have had a lot of rough times over the years, but they can now say that this is as close to rock bottom they have gotten in quite some time.
As bad as previous Kings teams have been over the past decade, a nine-game losing streak had not taken place in over 11 years.
Until tonight.
The New York Knicks defeated Sacramento by a final of 140-121 on Thursday evening, meaning that the Kings have lost nine-straight games for the first time since the 2008-2009 season.
New York, who came into Thursday’s contest with the worst offense in the league (103.6 points per game), had their way with Sacramento seemingly from the tip.
The Kings defense allowed 77 first-half points to New York, the most points that the Knicks have scored in first-half this season. Sacramento was unable to make shots in the first-half, shooting under 40-percent from field to go into the break trailing by double-digits.
By the third quarter, the Knicks almost topped that 103.6 points per game mark by posting 101 points over the first 36 minutes of play.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Kings had allowed 140 points to New York, the most points that the Knicks had scored in a game all season.
Bright(ish) Spots
De’Aaron Fox posted his eighth double-double of the season, scoring 29 points on nine-of-18 shooting to go along with 11 assists in the loss.
Rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton produced another strong showing, doing a bit of everything against New York.
Haliburton would finish with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals over 32 minutes of action.
While the Kings are on a historic cold-streak, Marvin Bagley III is playing the best basketball of his career.
Bagley continued his strong stretch of play, scoring 19 points on seven-of-12 shooting from the field to go along with five rebounds. Head coach Luke Walton has been giving the third-year big more run in the fourth quarter, something that was not seen much over the first portion of the season.
Over his last seven appearances, Bagley has posted averages of 17.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Harrison Barnes added 22 points and seven rebounds in the loss, a welcome sight for the veteran forward in his second game back from a foot strain.
Starting center Richaun Holmes chipped in with nine points and six rebounds, while Buddy Hield also scored nine points on three-of-nine shooting from the field.
The Kings were without backup center Hassan Whiteside and forward Jabari Parker on Thursday night, with both players sitting out due to Health & Safety Protocols.
It is unknown when both players will return to the team.
With Sacramento (12-20) snowballing towards another season at the bottom of the Western Conference standings and the trade deadline approaching, one has to wonder what moves are on the horizon for the struggling franchise.
It isn’t often that you seen losing streaks like this end without some sort of transactional move taking place.
Is Luke Walton firmly on the hot seat? Could Buddy Hield or Harrison Barnes be on the move?
When is the time to start making those moves? If not now, when?
The answer to those questions could be coming very soon.
Coming Up
Sacramento will finish (another) back-to-back set on Friday night when they face the Detroit Pistons.
The teams split their two-game series last season, with the Kings coming out on top in the most recent matchup on March 1, 2020.
Since the Kings and Pistons started facing off in 1948, the all-time series is currently deadlocked at 172-172.
Be sure to tune in for all of the action right here on Sports 1140 KHTK, starting with pregame coverage at 4:30pm PST before Kings vs Pistons tips off at 5:00pm PST.
