Kyle Guy Drills Game Winner In Kings Win Over Warriors
Dec 15, 2020, 9:31 PM | Updated: Dec 16, 2020, 8:31 am
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Guy continued his preseason tear, scoring 20 points and playing hero for Sacramento
Kyle Guy has arrived.
The Sacramento Kings appeared to be on their way to a narrow defeat to the hands of the Golden State Warriors, but Guy had other plans.
Guy drilled a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to give Sacramento an exhilarating 114-113 preseason victory over the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center.
The 23-year-old pump faked to get open with just under a second remaining, getting an open look that he would knock down for the win as time expired.
According to Guy, the Kings’ bench was telling him to go for the win. “When they said that, I knew I had to knock it down,” he said postgame.
Guy received another extended look at the backup point guard spot due to the injured Cory Joseph, scored 20 points on six-of-10 from the three-point line on Tuesday night over 21 minutes of action.
In back-to-back contests, Guy has shown that he possesses the ability to pace the offense with his speed and ability to knock down the long-ball. Head coach Luke Walton and his staff will have to sit down and figure out if there is a way that Guy can crack the rotation to open up the season.
If Guy continues to play at this level, you almost have to play him as a part of the rotation come opening night.
Walton shared after the game that Guy becoming a part of the rotation was not a guarantee, claiming that it would be hard for the former NCAA National Champion to grab minutes if the roster is healthy.
Marvin Bagley III made his preseason debut against Golden State, finishing with nine points and four rebounds over just 16 minutes of play.
The third-year forward looked aggressive in his first appearance in an NBA game since January. Bagley knocked down four of his seven field-gaol attempts, a welcome sight for a Kings team that will heavily rely on the 21-year-old this season.
Along with Hassan Whiteside and rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton, Bagley was on a minutes restriction as the training staff brings him along slowly after a bout with COVID-19 earlier this month.
After missing the first two preseason games due to a sire calf, Whiteside made his debut on Friday night. The seven-footer was a force on the boards, grabbing 11 rebounds to go along with four blocks and nine points in his return to Sacramento.
Tyrese Haliburton, who played 30 minutes in Sunday’s win over Portland, only appeared in 16 minutes during the winning effort. The rookie guard continued to show his ability to distribute the basketball, finishing with three assists, including a few flashy dimes to Richaun Holmes for and-one opportunities.
One of the biggest concerns for the Kings was replacing the playmaking of Bogdan Bogdanovic. That answer appears to be Haliburton, who will slide into the role Bogi left behind.
Buddy Hield put forward a very Hield-esque performance, finishing with 18 points on five-of-10 from the three-point line over only 24 minutes.
De’Aaron Fox scored 17 points, dished five assists and swiped two steals for Sacramento, while Richaun Holmes added eight points and seven rebounds to round out the starting lineup.
Coming Up
Sacramento will close out its preseason slate on Thursday night when they face the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center.
Be sure to tune in to Sports 1140 KHTK for all of the action, starting with pregame coverage at 5:30pm PST followed by tip-off at 6:00pm PST.
