Brown, DeRozan, Ellis on the Kings first quarter struggles

Dec 20, 2024, 6:38 PM | Updated: 6:46 pm

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 19: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot...

Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot on DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings in the first half at Golden 1 Center on December 19, 2024 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sactown Sports writer

In their last two games, losses to the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, the Sacramento Kings got off to slow starts.

Denver outscored Sacramento 41-21 in the first quarter, getting into the paint at will and aggressively attacking the offensive glass. Three nights later, the Lakers had a 37-28 lead after 12 minutes of action in Golden 1 Center.

After Friday afternoon’s practice, guard DeMar DeRozan was asked how the team could attempt to limit those early lulls.

“We’ve just got to have the right mental approach,” he said. “Or we line up 15 cans of Red Bull before the game.”

The need for an increased focus and attention to detail in those moments was a shared message across most of Sacramento’s roster and staff.

Kings head coach Mike Brown always says that everything starts with him. He takes accountability after nearly every loss. Not on his own, but he recognizes he played a part.

However, the coach acknowledged the benefit that would come from his rostered players starting to hold each other more accountable. It’s different when it comes from a peer, but that’s not an easy conversation to have.

“That is probably one of the hardest things that I’ve seen players over the years have to try and figure out and/or do,” Brown said.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though.

Sitting at 12th (13-15) in the Western Conference is far from ideal, but the Kings are just three games behind the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks. Despite those slow starts, the Kings had late chances to win their last two games.

That’s one winning streak away from being right back in the fight, with 54 games left on their schedule. Not letting their opponents get early confidence is an area of needed improvement.

Keon Ellis had a great perspective when asked if there’s a silver lining in their ability to recover from those moments.

“We’ve (come back from early losses) plenty before this season, so we know we’re a team that can fight back,” he said. “But I think we just have to show that we’re a team that’s willing to punch first.”

They’ll have a chance for redemption Saturday afternoon in Golden 1 Center with another matchup against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the rest of their rivals from Los Angeles.

More on the Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings seem to be in a position where they are almost forced to make a trade to improve the roster. While Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles are the two most mentioned candidates for them to trade away, NBA Insider Jake Fischer said other teams are monitoring their situation with an eye on Malik Monk.

“I’m not reporting that Malik Monk is available,” Fischer said on his Bleacher Report livestream. “However, rival teams certainly want to know if Malik Monk will be someone that the Kings are willing to part with.”

After spending two seasons with Sacramento, Monk signed a four-year, $77.97 million contract right before the official start of free agency last offseason.

In 21 games with the season, he’s averaging a career-high 16.2 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds on 45.5 percent from the field, 37.2 percent from three, and 84.9 percent on free throws. And that’s after finishing second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, narrowly losing out to Minnesota’s Naz Reid.

There’s been no indication of that idea from the Kings’ side, but it speaks to the 26-year-old guard’s leaguewide value.

The NBA trade deadline is on February 6th.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento will continue a five-game homestand on Saturday with a rematch against the Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center.

The Kings will play the first leg of a back-to-back against the Lakers before facing old friend Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers on Sunday afternoon.

Be sure to catch all of the Kings vs. Lakers action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 1:30 PM PT on Game Night before action tips off at 3:00 PM PT from downtown Sacramento.