Kings vs Pacers Reaction & Takeaways
Mar 23, 2022, 6:38 PM | Updated: 6:52 pm
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Sacramento won a nail-biting battle between two tanking teams on Wednesday night
While some teams around the league are currently battling it out for postseason positioning, the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers had a different type of battle on Wednesday night:
The battle of the tank.
Entering play on Wednesday, the Kings had a half-game lead over the Pacers for the fifth spot in the NBA Draft Lottery standings.
Old friends Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield had their way with the Sacramento defense, but Damian Jones saved the day (or ruined the day?) with a game-winning put-back that gave the Kings a narrow 110-109 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
In a game that went down to the wire, a flurry of emotions was present as you were posed with a complicated question: do you root for a Sacramento win to give these players some momentum heading into next season, or a loss that helps the team’s chances in securing a top-five pick?
Eight games remain in the regular season, and the Kings currently have sole possession of the sixth spot, trailing the Pacers by just a half-game.
If Sacramento ends the season in the five-spot, they have a 42.1% chance of jumping into the top four and a 10.5% chance of grabbing the number-one pick.
The sixth spot isn’t as lucky, as the Kings will have a 37.2% chance of jumping into the top four and a 9% chance of getting the number-one selection.
Overall, it was fun to watch players like Davion Mitchell, Chimezie Metu, and Damian Jones have solid showings against Indiana. A smiling Jones said postgame that the game-winner was the first of his basketball career.
Wins at this point in the season technically hurt the Kings when it comes to their draft position, but that doesn’t mean that everything about a win needs to be looked at in a negative context.
Tonight was a prime example of that.
Davion, The Starter
The more that I see Davion Mitchell start, the more that I feel he belongs to stay there permanently.
Mitchell has found success in the starting lineup this season, entering play on Wednesday averaging 17.5 points and 5.0 assists per game on 44-percent shooting from the field and 37-percent from three-point land over 10 starts this season.
In start number 11, the rookie followed up his 28-point, nine-assist career performance from Sunday afternoon by scoring 25 points (10-of-15 shooting from the field) and dishing out seven assists in what was another impressive outing.
The 23-year-old has scored 10 points or more in a career-high six-straight games, proving that he can score the basketball when given an expanded opportunity.
With De’Aaron Fox (hand) likely sidelined for the remainder of the season, expect a heavy dose of the former Baylor Bear during the final eight games.
Hello, again
Whether they will admit it or not, you just know that former Kings guards Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield had this game circled on their calendars.
In his first game against his old team, Haliburton looked like his usual self, posing another double-double in the form of a 13-point, 15-assist outing to go along with three steals.
Hield, a former longtime King and Sacramento’s franchise leader in made three-point field goals, got off to a quick start in the first quarter as he scored 10 points on four-of-six shooting from the field in the period.
Hield finished with 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field and five-of-eight shooting from deep while also racking up seven assists and swiping four steals.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Buddy Hield performance without a costly turnover, and boy did the former King have one on Wednesday.
Hield committed an out-of-bounds lost ball turnover with 14 seconds remaining, giving Sacramento the ball for a chance to win the game, one that they would not squander.
Career Night For Metu
You knew it was going to be a special night for Chimezie Metu as soon as the forward sank his first bucket on Wednesday night.
Metu tied his career-high of 18 points before the six-minute mark in the second quarter, finishing the first half shooting a perfect six-for-six from the field and three-for-three from beyond the arc.
One day removed from his 25th birthday, Metu established a new career-high of 22 points during the win, shooting eight-of-11 from the field (three-of-four from three-point range) while also grabbing five rebounds to go along with one block and one steal over 26 minutes.
With only eight games remaining in the season, expect the Kings to give Metu a long look as they evaluate the forward for a possible roster spot next season. Metu’s contract is not guaranteed for the 2022-23 season.
Highlight of the Game
I had no idea that Trey Lyles had this in his bag. HAMMER.
Lyles continued to show upside on Wednesday, scoring 11 points (five-of-10 shooting) and grabbing three rebounds over 22 minutes of action to compliment his highlight-reel jam.
Sacramento holds a $2.6 million option on Lyles for the 2022-23 season.
The way that Lyles has played since joining the Kings, it would be wise to retain an asset like the 26-year-old veteran forward.
Injury Updates
- De’Aaron Fox (hand) did not play on Wednesday and hasn’t resumed basketball activities after injuring his hand on Wednesday vs Milwaukee. It’s becoming increasingly likely that Fox will not play again this season.
- Domantas Sabonis (left knee bruise) will be reevaluated once the team returns from their five-game road trip. Sabonis suffered no structural damage to his left knee and is expected to make a full recovery. More on Sabonis here.
- Richaun Holmes will miss the remainder of the season due to personal reasons. More on Holmes here.
- Terence Davis will be re-evaluated at the end of the season after undergoing successful surgery to repair a right wrist ECU tendon injury.
Coming Up
Sacramento will continue its five-game road trip on Saturday when they face an Orlando Magic team that has its eyes set on a top-three pick in this summer’s NBA Draft..
Back on December 8th, the Kings established a season-high in points scored during a 142-130 win over the Magic at Golden 1 Center. De’Aaron Fox led all scorers with 33 points.
You can find all of your Kings vs Magic coverage on Sports 1140 KHTK beginning at 2:30 pm PST on Game Night before a 4:00 pm PST tip-off from downtown Orlando.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
- March 26th @ Orlando Magic
- March 28th @ Miami Heat
- March 30th @ Houston Rockets
- April 1st @ Houston Rockets
- April 3rd vs Golden State Warriors
