What we realized as Kings hit all-time low with enormous loss to Pacers initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
SACRAMENTO – One other recreation, one other double-double from Domantas Sabonis and one other irritating loss for the Kings.
Sabonis had 17 factors, 21 rebounds and 4 assists however completed minus-26 because the Kings bungled their technique to a 122-95 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at Golden 1 Middle.
De’Aaron Fox added 23 factors and 7 assists. Malik Monk scored 14 factors whereas Keegan Murray had 10.
By comparability, the Pacers had seven gamers rating in double figures. Former Kings’ first-round draft decide Tyrese Haliburton scored 14.
The Kings hung shut within the first half and went into halftime tied at 52-52, however Indiana broke out for 35 factors within the third quarter and cruised from there.
It wasn’t all fully dangerous.
The Kings did a significantly better job taking good care of the ball than they’d been in current video games, and snagged 15 offensive boards.
With the top end result being one other L, nonetheless, it doesn’t matter a lot. After grinding its approach again to .500 a couple of weeks in the past, Sacramento fell to 13-17 and remained in twelfth place within the Western Convention.
Listed here are the takeaways from Sunday’s recreation:
Double-double dynasty
Sabonis takes plenty of warmth due to his protection, which stems from him usually having to protect gamers a lot bigger and extra bodily than him.
There’s no debating Domas’ dominance on offense.
The Kings’ 240-pound middle, who already is the franchise chief for double-doubles, added one other one in what has develop into an annual gameday custom. He wanted simply two quarters to notch his newest.
That’s 26 within the 28 video games that Sabonis has performed this season, and the 359th of his profession – fifth-most within the NBA since 2016-17.
Lack of kick-out passes
The Kings solely had delicate success capturing, primarily behind the arc as a result of they didn’t get many open appears to be like.
Loads of that might be solved by driving the important thing to attract defenders down low after which making a sprig go out to the perimeter. It has been one in all Mike Brown’s pet peeves all season, one thing that the pinnacle coach has been overtly crucial of prior to now.
Fairly than driving and dishing to the perimeter, the Kings have been content material simply driving into visitors making an attempt to get via a number of defenders. Once they did go the ball to the arc, the Pacers by no means have been caught off guard and closed out simply.
Keon MIA
Keon Ellis has been the Kings’ finest participant off the bench this season due to his willingness to do no matter it takes or play wherever Brown wants him.
But Ellis almost wound up as a wholesome DNP. At one level, a number of followers seated close to the Kings broke out in chants for Ellis to play, solely to see No. 23 stay on the bench.
Ellis didn’t make his first look till fewer than 5 minutes remained to play and completed with three factors in 4 and a half minutes. In a good recreation like this, when Sacramento appeared to want an infusion of vitality, it might have been good to see him get extra time.
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