Keon Ellis, Kings fall short to Knicks in Summer League thriller

Jul 17, 2024, 2:45 PM | Updated: Jul 18, 2024, 6:34 am

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: Duane Washington Jr. #4 of the New York Knicks and Keon Ellis #23 of the S...

(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

While we might be in the middle of the NBA offseason, Sacramento Kings fans are unable to escape nail-biting finishes.

The Kings put themselves in a position to defeat the New York Knicks during NBA Summer League play in Las Vegas on Wednesday but fell just short during a 106-105 loss at Cox Pavilion.

Keon Ellis continued to add to his impressive run this summer, Mason Jones had another strong performance acting as Sacramento’s table-setter, and the Kings narrowly missed out on picking up a second-straight win in the desert.

Keon drills a CLUTCH triple 😤 pic.twitter.com/RBecEDJdOm

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) July 17, 2024

2024 NBA Summer League: Kings vs. Knicks notes & takeaways

Setting the tone early was crucial for Sacramento during Monday’s win against the Utah Jazz, and the Kings did just that against the Knicks in this one.

Keon Ellis was the go-to threat in the first quarter as the soon-to-be-third-year guard scored 11 points (four-of-four shooting from the field) to go along with two blocked shots over his first ten minutes of play as Sacramento took a 30-23 lead into the second.

Unlike Monday’s blowout win, the Kings relented their lead during the second period as New York mounted a 15-0 run to begin the quarter, causing Sacramento head coach Doug Christie to call a timeout and reassess.

The Kings immediately responded out of Christie’s timeout, with Ellis leading a Sacramento run that put the Beam Team back in front. Ellis finished the first half with 19 points (seven-of-nine shooting), five assists, two steals, and three blocked shots over 18 minutes.

Thanks to Ellis’ big start and a red-hot opening half from the offense (54/50/82 shooting splits), the Kings reduced a seven-point deficit to one as play entered the third quarter.

Keon’s getting it done on both ends of the court 💪 pic.twitter.com/qQDeCHdJ7h

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) July 17, 2024

Sacramento and New York kept things within a one-possession game for most of the second half until the Knicks’ run to open the fourth quarter put them ahead by a game-high 11 points with less than five minutes remaining.

Instead of rolling over and accepting defeat, the Kings put together a late-game 20-7 run that put them in front 105-103 with six seconds remaining. A clutch triple from Keon Ellis–his fifth of the game–put Sacramento back in front after trailing for a majority of the second half, but New York would get one last crack at tying or taking the lead.

Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (21 points) converted an and-one attempt that put New York back ahead 106-105, leaving the Kings with no timeouts and having to go the length of the floor for the win. Mason Jones’ halfcourt prayer would be too strong, and Sacramento fell to 1-2 in Las Vegas Summer League.

The offense wasn’t an issue for Doug Christie’s group, as the Kings finished the day having shot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from deep, and knocked down 21 of their 25 free throw attempts (84%). Defense, on the other hand, was hard to come by. The Knicks ended the game with 54/41/87 shooting splits and outscored Sacramento 48-42 in the paint.

New York shot 60 percent from the field during the second half while outscoring the Kings by just one point–the eventual difference in the final score.

TYLER KOLEK AND-1 FOR THE WIN 🗽@nyknicks x #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/aslQiJoy2g

— NBA (@NBA) July 17, 2024

Keon Ellis was the main bright spot for the Kings as the three-and-D guard showcased his strong suits. Ellis finished the afternoon with a game-high 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting (five-of-ten from three-point range), four rebounds, six assists, four blocks, and two steals over 38 minutes.

Ellis has continued to showcase an uptick in aggression this summer, an aspect of his game that he has looked to develop in light of his recent bump into Sacramento’s starting lineup. If Ellis is to maintain that role in 2024-25, this is the type of play the Kings can use to their benefit in lineups that include De’Aaron Fox, the newest member of the team, DeMar DeRozan, and All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis.

Three-and-D is exactly what Sacramento needs, and Ellis looks like the perfect complement to this talented starting unit.

Mason Jones added 20 points (5/11 FG) and seven assists for the Kings, while Isaac Jones scored 13 points and pulled down eight boards during the loss.

When is the next Summer League game for Keon Ellis & the Kings?

The Kings’ Las Vegas Summer League slate continues on Thursday afternoon with a matchup against second-overall pick Alex Sarr and the Washington Wizards. Action will tip off at 4:00 p.m. PDT and be broadcast on ESPN.

Sactown Sports 1140 will have all of your Sacramento Kings coverage for the Las Vegas Summer League, free agency, and much more!