SACRAMENTO KINGS

Kings use second-half adjustments to beat Suns, close in on clinch

Mar 24, 2023, 11:18 PM | Updated: 11:22 pm

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Over the course of a 16-season playoff drought, the Sacramento Kings have fallen victim to opposing teams making second-half adjustments on countless occasions.

As we close in on the NBA Playoffs, you begin to notice which teams are capable of turning games around following poor starts. The Kings continue to prove they are one of those teams that can make game-changing adjustments.

Even with De’Aaron Fox (hamstring soreness) sidelined for the fourth quarter, Sacramento was able to bounce back from a sluggish first half and secure a 135-27 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

The win was important for the Kings (44-29), who pulled six games ahead of the Suns in the Western Conference standings with nine games remaining in the regular season.

Sacramento’s Magic Number to clinch a spot in the first round of the NBA Playoffs is 2, while the franchise is also closing in on its first Pacific Division title since the 2002-03 season.

Phoenix set the tone against a lethargic Kings’ defense early by attacking the paint, scoring 42 points inside the key while shooting 65 percent from the field during the first half. Although the Suns struggled from three-point range (two-of-14), they controlled the paint and the glass, rendering Sacramento’s already unimpressive defense even more ineffective.

A sense of urgency was needed for a Kings team that had lost its past two games–one of them being to Utah on Monday night in a game that the Jazz outscored Sacramento in the paint 56-38.

After losing the paint battle 42-32 during the first 24 minutes of play, adjustments were needed at the break as the Kings trailed 67-56.

Once the page turned to the second half, Sacramento looked like a different team.

Kevin Huerter, who returned on Friday following a three-game absence due to a right Popliteus strain, caught fire during the third quarter to jumpstart the Kings’ offense.

‘Red Velvet’ scored 16 points on four-of-seven shooting during the quarter, while Sacramento opened up the period with a 31-10 run–a run that started thanks to technical fouls from Phoenix guards Devin Booker and Chris Paul.

With Huerter feeling it from the perimeter, the rest of the Kings’ offense followed suit as Sacramento racked up 45 points on 57 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from three-point range–the team’s second-highest scoring quarter of the season (47 vs. Memphis on January 23rd).

Amid Sacramento’s massive third quarter, De’Aaron Fox exited the game due to right hamstring soreness, meaning that the Kings would need to close out a 101-93 game without this year’s front-runner for the NBA’s Clutch Award.

Harrison Barnes took the closing torch from Fox and ran with it, as ‘The Black Falcon’ swooped in and came through in crunch time when his team needed him most. Phoenix went small during the fourth quarter, opting to play the 6’7 Torrey Craig at the center position.

Barnes attacked the paint down the stretch, either converting at the rim or drawing fouls from overmatched Suns defenders. The veteran forward scored eight points during the final two minutes of play to ice the game and give the Kings a vital win as they close in on ending a 16-season postseason drought.

Second-half adjustments were key for the Kings, as they outscored the Suns in the paint 34-14 during the final 24 minutes of play.

Takings care of the basketball was also a massive aspect of the win, as Sacramento turned the ball over four times (zero during the second half) while handing out 29 assists, marking just the eighth time in the franchise’s history that they turned the ball over four times or less in a single game.

Huerter did it all in his return to game-action, scoring 29 points on six-of-12 shooting from three-point range while grabbing nine rebounds and handing out five assists over 32 minutes.

“It was great to get back out there,” Huerter said of his return to the floor. “Every game, especially tonight with where we were in the standings, every game is important.”

Barnes, who aided Huerter’s second-half heroics with a closing effort in the fourth, finished the night with 23 points (seven-of-12 shooting) in a game that the forward said came down to the Kings making adjustments.

“Physicality,” Barnes said when asked about the difference in the team’s second-half approach on Friday night. “Coming into the second half, us being able to get into our coverages and tightening up rotations made a difference.”

Sacramento attacked the paint while sealing off Phoenix’s presence inside, holding Suns’ big man Jock Landale to three points during the second half after the center scored 14 points on seven-of-eight shooting inside of the paint during the first half.

A record-setting attendance of 18,151 at Golden 1 Center set the tone in this one, as you could feel the momentum shift during the third quarter when the crowd started to get rowdy. The Kings are nearing their first playoff appearance since 2006, and fans are warming up for the craziness that is set to unfold in a few weeks.

Following Friday’s win, the Kings are knocking on the door of clinching a first-round playoff berth.

Sacramento’s Magic Number is 2, meaning they can clinch as soon as Sunday (with some help from other teams) or Monday if the Kings can pick up wins on Saturday against the Utah Jazz and Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I think we have an opportunity to do something special,” Barnes said of the team’s approaching clinch day. “We’ve had our fair share of losing, but it’s nice to be part of something where you turn the corner.”

Notes

Domantas Sabonis posted another monster stat line, as the All-Star scored 27 points (10/15 FG), grabbed nine boards and handed out nine assists over 37 minutes.

Keegan Murray drilled three of his four attempts from three-point land, bringing himself within nine three-point field goals of tying Donovan Mitchell’s NBA rookie three-point record (187).

The Kings have matched its win total from the 2005-06 season with its 44th win. Sacramento hasn’t won more games in a season since 2004-05 (50 wins).

Sacramento has not lost three-straight games since November 23rd-28th.

Injury Update

De’Aaron Fox exited the game during the third quarter due to right hamstring tightness. The All-Star guard scored 19 points over 20 minutes before being taken out of the game by the training staff.

While head coach Mike Brown didn’t provide an official update on the guard following the game, Brown did share that he ran into GM Monte McNair, and he disclosed that Fox attempted to return to the floor to finish out the fourth quarter.

More information on Fox’s status is expected to become available before Saturday’s game vs. Utah, but expect Sacramento to be cautious with the franchise guard as the NBA Playoffs approach.

Next Game

Sacramento will be back in action less than 24 hours from now when they face the Utah Jazz for the final time this regular season when the two teams meet on Saturday night at Golden 1 Center.

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Jazz 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 Sacramento.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule

Saturday, March 25th – Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz – 7:00 PM PST

Monday, March 27th – Sacramento Kings vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 7:00 PM PST

Wednesday, March 29th – Sacramento Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 PM PST

Friday, March 31st – Sacramento Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 PM PST

Sunday, April 2nd – Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs – 7:00 PM PST

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