Three-point defense continues to haunt Kings in loss to Spurs

Dec 1, 2024, 8:47 PM | Updated: 9:11 pm

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is guarded by D...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The Sacramento Kings entered play on Sunday night having allowed their opponents to shoot 38.6 percent from three-point range this season (29th in the NBA).

In another close game that came down to the wire, the Kings’ poor three-point defense continued to rear its ugly head during a 127-125 loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 Center.

San Antonio drilled a season-high 23 triples, which passed their previous high of 22 that was established on November 11th–also against the Sacramento defense.

The Kings’ early-season woes have put them three games under the .500 mark (9-12), dropping them to 12th in the Western Conference standings.

🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/1sITrSP6tr

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 2, 2024

Kings vs. Spurs recap & takeaways

After missing the past two games due to lower back irritation, DeMar DeRozan got comfortable early against his former team.

DeRozan erupted for 12 points (five-of-five shooting), four assists, and two steals over his first ten minutes of action as Sacramento established a new season-high for points in a single quarter (42). With DeRozan leading the way, the Kings shot 70 percent from the field as a team while handing out 13 assists as they took a 14-point lead into the second.

While Sacramento’s offense burst out of the gates on fire, they would run into a cold spell before the end of the first half.

The Kings scored just 23 points on 26 percent shooting from the field during the second quarter while allowing San Antonio to knock down eight triples in the period. A 17-point Sacramento lead was reduced to 65-58 at the break as the Spurs finished the half with 13 made triples on 27 attempts (48%).

Three-point defense has been a significant issue for the Kings this season, and allowing 13 of San Antonio’s first 18 made baskets to come via the long ball didn’t help their outlook early in this one. Still, a 30-8 advantage in paint scoring and a strong start from a new-look starting five put Sacramento in position to snap a three-game home losing streak.

Wow, Malik 🤩

pic.twitter.com/EKqZU0Pw1G

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) December 2, 2024

The Spurs’ three-point shooting continued to cause problems for the Kings’ defense as play entered the second half, but Sacramento wouldn’t let things spiral out of control.

De’Aaron Fox, rookie forward Isaac Jones, and Malik Mobk combined to score 19 points in the third quarter as the Kings maintained a five-point lead heading into the fourth.

San Antonio applied pressure to Sacramento’s closing efforts to start the final frame as they mounted a 15-6 run over the first five minutes of the period to take a four-point lead. The Kings got a ten-point closing quarter from DeMar DeRozan, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Spurs maintained control through the final minutes.

Sacramento shot itself in the foot early in the fourth quarter by picking up five team fouls over the first three minutes of the period, allowing San Antonio to enjoy the benefit of the bonus for the remainder of the night.

The Spurs finished the game 20-of-24 (83%) from the foul line, but the true reason behind the losing effort was the Kings’ failure to defend the perimeter.

San Antonio converted a season-best 23 triples at a 50 percent clip, marking the fourth time this season that Sacramento has allowed an opponent to make 20 or more triples in a single game (tied for the NBA lead). The Kings are 0-4 in those games.

🎥: pic.twitter.com/KE3cJ9IfhH

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 2, 2024

It’s hard to put a finger on what else this current Sacramento roster is capable of switching up in order to change its fortunes.

Malik Monk has been placed in the starting lineup. Keon Ellis was given a shot before Monk. Injuries have been an issue so far this season, but the Kings had all five of their top contributors on the floor for 37+ minutes on Sunday night.

The three-point defense has been abysmal. Three-point shooting has also been an issue. But depth is the primary glaring issue with this team, even after signing veteran forward Jae Crowder in light of injuries to Kevin Huerter (ankle) and Trey Lyles (calf).

At 9-12, the season is not over by any means–but Sacramento is playing with fire in a loaded Western Conference.

Falling into too deep of a hole could become an insurmountable challenge for the Kings, especially while they bank on keeping their main pieces on the floor as the injury bug continues to bite.

Maybe Sacramento doesn’t need to shake up the starting five again. It could be as simple as adding depth pieces, making adjustments on the defensive end, and finding the right rotations. Then again, maybe that’s asking for too much.

Whatever it is, change needs to come sooner than later for a Kings team that had high expectations coming into the regular season.

Shaking Things Up

The Kings have dealt with a series of health issues during the early stages of the 2024-25 regular season, causing head coach Mike Brown to deploy versions of his starting five.

During Malik Monk’s time in Sacramento, the guard had never logged a start over 162 appearances. That changed on Sunday night.

Monk, who entered play averaging 23.3 points on 51 percent shooting from the field and 48 percent from three-point range in his three games since returning from a right ankle sprain.

Last year’s runner-up for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award scored 19 points (five-of-ten shooting from three-point range), seven rebounds, and six assists over 37 minutes.

Brown said postgame that he arrived to the decision to start Monk in hopes of switching things up, adding that he will continue to start the Kentucky product alongside his college teammate, De’Aaron Fox, going forward.

Monk called his first start in a Kings uniform “bittersweet” but wished it had resulted in a winning effort. Still, it was a special night for Monk, who will be in the starting five for the foreseeable future as Sacramento aims to turn things around.

“We’re gonna turn it around. I know we are,” Monk said postgame. “But we can’t keep having these mental lapses. It’s all on us.”

The Return of the Black Falcom

Following a six-season stint with Sacramento, Harrison Barnes was traded to San Antonio in the offseason as the Kings cleared cap space to acquire DeMar DeRozan.

Barnes, who played in 399 games with Sacramento (the most of any team he has played for during his NBA career), returned to Golden 1 Center on Sunday evening as the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week.

The former longtime King received a warm welcome and loud ovation from the fanbase during pregame introductions as a packed house paid its respects to Barnes, a player who was not only prominent in the locker room but also the Sacramento community.

Barnes finished the night with eight points and seven rebounds over 27 minutes of action.

Nice tribute from the Kings and ovation from the crowd as Harrison Barnes makes his return to Golden 1 Center: pic.twitter.com/kgLAckhrz8

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) December 2, 2024

Notes

Domantas Sabonis posted his NBA-leading 18th double-double of the season (18th consecutive):25 PTS | 13 REB | 6 AST

Injury Updates

DeMar DeRozan returned to action following a two-game absence due to lower back irritation.

Kevin Huerter (right ankle sprain) was inactive for Sunday’s game and is considered day-to-day.

Devin Carter (left shoulder surgery recovery) continues to make progress in his return from a torn labrum. The Kings will re-evaluate the rookie guard in January.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento will face the up-and-coming Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center on Tuesday night.

Last season, the Kings were swept by the Rockets, losing all three games in the regular-season head-to-head series.

Be sure to catch all of the Kings vs. Rockets action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before action tips off at 7:00 PM PT from downtown Sacramento.