SACRAMENTO KINGS

Turnovers & shooting woes doom Kings in preseason loss to Blazers

Oct 13, 2024, 5:33 PM | Updated: 5:35 pm

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 25: Keegan Murray #13 of the Sacramento Kings in action during the s...

(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

For one last time, until games actually count next week, fans filed into Golden 1 Center on Sunday afternoon for another Sacramento Kings preseason showcase.

As we inch closer to October 24th’s regular season opener, Kings head coach Mike Brown is lengthening his player rotations to get his starting five and core bench contributors ready for the regular season. On Sunday, Brown played his core players well into the second half during a 105-85 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Although the Kings played their regulars into the fourth, poor three-point defense and struggles from the perimeter on their end of the floor loomed large in a blowout loss to a Blazers team that finished last season with the worst record in the Western Conference.

With just two preseason games remaining, Sacramento will hit the road for games in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles this week before returning home to log their final practices before the season begins next Thursday night.

Sacramento Kings preseason takeaways: Kings vs. Blazers

Three-Point Defense Struggles Continue

Sacramento has struggled to contain the perimeter this preseason, and the Trail Blazers found holds in the Kings’ three-point defense in this one as well.

Portland shook off a rough start from deep by opening up the second half by drilling four of its first nine attempts to put Sacramento in an 18-point hole. The Blazers wouldn’t stop there either, finishing the third quarter seven-of-15 (46%) from three-point range en route to outscoring the Kings 30-18 in the period.

Mike Brown has preached the importance of containing opponents on the perimeter, especially following Sacramento’s preseason opener when they allowed the Golden State Warriors to knock down 28 triples.

Murray Continues His Strong Preseason

Those who have felt the signing of DeMar DeRozan would hurt the development of Keegan Murray should feel some relief this preseason as the third-year forward continues to play a solid brand of basketball.

One game removed from a 17-point, five-steal performance against the Golden State Warriors, Murray quickly got involved in the Kings’ offense by leading all scorers with ten first-half points. The two-way threat also continued to be a plus on the defensive end, swiping two steals over his first 16 minutes of playing time.

The Iowa product concluded his night with 10 points (five-of-ten shooting from the field), three rebounds, one assist, and two steals over 28 minutes of playing time.

Murray is finding his offense in self-creation, whether it be off-the-dribble opportunities, scoring in transition after picking off a pass or picking the pocket of opposing players. That’s a welcome sight for the Kings, as Murray’s continued growth is crucial for the ceiling of this core–especially during DeRozan’s tenure with the organization.

Through three preseason games, Murray has not regressed to the spot-up-or-nothing threat that he was during his rookie season. Instead of sinking into the background as a fifth option, he is finding his window for self-creating opportunities, and that’s what Sacramento needs from the forward on a nightly basis to apply pressure to opposing defenses.

De’Aaron Fox, DeRozan, and Malik Monk will look to find the bottom of the net more than other players on the Kings’ roster, but Murray has the ability to be another scoring threat for Mike Brown’s dangerous offense.

Jordan McLaughlin Makes His Debut

McLaughlin, who was signed this summer to fill in behind De’Aaron Fox at the point guard position, was rehabbing a grade-two right ankle sprain for the start of training camp and preseason before making his unofficial Kings debut on Sunday afternoon.

Upon checking in, the veteran guard quickly asserted himself, scoring five points over his first four minutes of playing time while also finding Domantas Sabonis in transition for an assist.

The USC product finished his first preseason appearance with ten points on four-of-six shooting (two-of-three from three-point land) to go along with two rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 18 minutes.

McLaughlin, who has taken great care of the basketball during his time in the NBA (4.40 assists to turnover ratio), will likely be Sacramento’s backup point guard come opening night as rookie guard Devin Carter (shoulder) works his way towards a return.

Notes

  • After going 13-of-46 (28%) from three-point range during Friday’s game in San Francisco and seven-of-27 (26%) last Wednesday, the Kings turned in another poor performance from deep on Sunday: 5/28 (18%
  • Domantas Sabonis finished the night with nine points, eight rebounds, and seven assists over 30 minutes, but also turned the ball over five times.
  • De’Aaron Fox scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds, although he dealt with foul trouble (five fouls) during the latter half of this 28-minute showing.
  • Sacramento turned the ball over 26 times on Sunday. Those 26 turnovers turned into 33 points for the Blazers, who were effective in transition.

Injury Report

Malik Monk returned to the lineup after missing the end of Wednesday’s preseason opener and Friday’s game in Golden State due to personal reasons.

Following a six-month recovery process, Kevin Huerter (shoulder) was cleared for full contact workouts on Friday, meaning that the sharpshooting guard could be in play to return for the October 24th season-opener.

Rookie guard Devin Carter is also in the process of recovering from left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. Carter has been seen working with the training staff, but is unlikely to return to game action until January at the earliest.

Trey Lyles suffered a left groin strain during offseason workouts and will be re-evaluated in one week.

Orlando Robinson, who was signed as a depth option behind Domantas Sabonis and Alex Len at the center spot, will be re-evaluated in four weeks after suffering a left knee MCL sprain during training camp.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento will head into its final week of preseason with two games—both on the road—remaining on its exhibition schedule.

The Kings will head to Salt Lake City for a matchup against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.

Be sure to catch all of the action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 2:00 PM PDT on The Drive Guys before action tips off at 6:00 PM PDT from the Delta Center.

Sacramento Kings 2024-25 Schedule

Preseason

  • Tuesday, October 15th – @ Utah Jazz – 6 pm PDT
  • Thursday, October 17th – @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7 pm PDT

Regular Season

  • Thursday, October 24th – vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 7 pm PDT
  • Saturday, October 26th – @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7:30 pm PDT
  • Monday, October 28th – vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 7 pm PDT
  • Tuesday, October 29th – @ Utah Jazz – 6 pm PDT
  • Friday, November 1st – @ Atlanta Hawks – 4 pm PDT

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