Team Of Streaks: Kings Lose Fourth-Straight, Lose Ground In Play-In Race
Apr 5, 2021, 6:54 PM | Updated: 7:17 pm
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Just like that, Sacramento has answered its five-game winning streak with four-straight losses
All excitement surrounding the recent five-game winning-streak by the Sacramento Kings has been thoroughly extinguished.
Coming into action on Monday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves owned the worst record in the entire NBA. Naturally, the T-Wolves would outscore the Kings by double-digits in the fourth-quarter to win by a final of 116-106 at the Target Center.
With the loss, Sacramento (22-29) drops its fourth-straight game, all but erasing any progress made from their recent five-game winning streak.
After struggling from the field over the past two games, De’Aaron Fox had another massive half to open things up on Monday night.
‘Swipa’ scored 15 of his 20 first-half points in the third quarter while converting all nine of his free-throw attempts, tying the most free throw’s made in a half by a Kings player this season.
Thanks to Fox’s big half, the Kings erased a nine-point deficit to tie things up at 55-55 going into the break.
Both teams would engage in a back-and-forth affair throughout the entirety of the third quarter to enter the fourth quarter gridlocked at 82-82.
Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell made his return to the floor on Monday after missing 26 games due to a knee procedure. The one-time All-Star went on a run in the fourth, scoring 12-straight points to put Minnesota up 102-93 with 5:18 remaining.
Sacramento would be unable to close the gap late, dropping their fourth-straight game–an inexcusable one, at that–against the team with the worst record in the NBA.
As has been the case over the past three games, the Kings were handily out-rebounded on Monday.
Minnesota grabbed 51 rebounds versus Sacramento’s 42, with All-Star center Karl Anthony-Towns swiping a game-high 13 boards. With Towns (23 points) on the inside and Russell (25 points) doing damage on the perimeter, the Kings had no answer for the duo down the stretch.
Fox did what he could, as the franchise guard topped the 30-point mark for the 13th time this season, scoring 31 points while converting a career-high 13 free throw’s on 15 attempts.
The former Kentucky Wildcat also finished with six rebounds, nine assists and two steals over 38 minutes of action.
Rounding out the box score
Harrison Barnes got off to a very strong start, scoring 12 points on five-of-six shooting in the first period.
Barnes would post his fifth double-double of the season, going on to finish with 21 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Buddy Hield knocked down six of his 16 three-point attempts to finish with 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in the loss.
Backup center Hassan Whiteside made his return to action on Monday night after missing the previous six games due to a sore knee. The veteran center would add seven points, five rebounds and a blocked shot over 13 minutes of action.
Rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton dished out seven assists to go along with nine points, two steals and two blocks.
After losing four-straight games, the Kings have seen their chances at grabbing one of the Western Conference Play-In spots decrease. Sure, there is plenty of time left in the season with Sacramento currently sitting 1.5 games out of the 10th spot with 21 games remaining.
But what reasons has this team given its fanbase to believe in them? Each positive development is quickly erased by an even larger negative.
The pattern must be broken. How that will happen remains to be seen.
Coming Up
After an extended two-day break, the Kings will return to Golden 1 Center on Thursday night to face old friend Cory Joseph and the Detroit Pistons.
In the only meeting between the two teams this season, Sacramento snapped a nine-game losing streak during a 110-107 win on February 26th.
You can find all of your Pistons vs Kings coverage right here on Sports 1140 KHTK, starting with pregame coverage at 3:00pm PST on The Jason Ross & Doug Christie Show prior to a 7:00pm PST tip-off.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
- April 8 vs Detroit Pistons
- April 10 @ Utah Jazz
- April 12 @ New Orleans
- April 14 vs Washington Wizards
- April 15 @ Phoenix Suns
