Matt George here, the host of the daily Locked On Kings podcast, with your daily Locked On Kings newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Kings and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Sacramento Kings’ Season Opener: A Game of Missed Opportunities
The Sacramento Kings’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves was a thrilling contest that showcased both promise and pitfalls. Despite a strong start and maintaining the lead for much of the game, the Kings fell short, losing 117-115. The game was a testament to the team’s potential, but also highlighted areas needing improvement.
Fourth Quarter Challenges
The fourth quarter was a critical juncture for the Kings. With the game hanging in the balance, it was the first real test of the offseason’s strategic additions, particularly DeMar DeRozan. Known for his clutch performances, DeRozan was expected to shine alongside De’Aaron Fox. However, the Kings were narrowly outscored 28-27 in the final quarter. DeRozan contributed eight points but struggled with shot selection, going 2-of-7 from the field. His ability to draw fouls and score from the free-throw line was evident, yet some forced attempts proved costly.
Fox, the other half of the Kings’ dynamic duo, was uncharacteristically quiet in the fourth quarter, failing to score despite his excellent playmaking throughout the game. His missed mid-range jumper in the final seconds was a pivotal moment, as the Timberwolves capitalized on the opportunity to secure the win. Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves was instrumental, scoring 13 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, exploiting the Kings’ defensive lapses.
Third Quarter Collapse
The third quarter was another turning point. The Kings held a 12-point lead midway through the quarter, with momentum firmly on their side. However, a 20-7 run by the Timberwolves erased this advantage. The Kings’ offense stalled, missing eight consecutive shots in the final minutes of the quarter, allowing the Timberwolves to regain momentum and take the lead.
Despite the loss, there were positive takeaways. DeRozan’s debut was impressive, with 26 points and a strong presence at the free-throw line. Domantas Sabonis dominated in the paint, neutralizing Rudy Gobert’s defensive impact. Keegan Murray also stood out, contributing 23 points and playing a crucial defensive role against Edwards.
The Kings’ performance underscored the need for better execution in clutch moments. While the potential is evident, closing out games remains a challenge. The team must learn to maintain composure and capitalize on opportunities to secure victories.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Sacramento Kings’ strategies and performances, tune into the Locked On Kings podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Kings Podcast:
- Analysis of DeMar DeRozan’s impact on the Kings’ offense
- De’Aaron Fox’s role in the team’s distribution and scoring
- Defensive strategies against key opponents like Anthony Edwards
- Insights into the Kings’ free-throw shooting and its impact on the game
- A look at the Kings’ upcoming matchups and what to expect
Oct 13, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives to the net against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Chase Center.|Neville E. Guard/Imagn Images
I set out with this idea thinking I’d pick one player, and that would be challenging enough. When I started to dig into draft classes, impact and overall vibe, the veritable youth movement of the NBA had other plans.
The qualifications here aren’t just for an athlete primed to make a leap. Given the pace of the league, roster recalibration, and the league’s old guard beginning to phase out (it’s weird to see Chris Paul not bossily in charge, I’m not ready to talk about it) developmental jobs are a prerequisite to stay in the NBA. This is about determining who seems primed to take on leadership duties, in optics and on the floor, about who is set to become undeniable.
After one season of injury and two of front office inflicted purgatory, Cade Cunningham is very much ready to take the giant jump he frankly feels owed. Even under the shifting focus of Monty Williams, Cunningham put up career-best numbers last season. In Cleveland, J.B. Bickerstaff turned a team of young outliers into playoff contenders, utilizing the strengths and play-style of a unique group of athletes instead of trying to force them into a mold of best-fit to his coaching style. Cunningham’s foundational skills of stutter-stepping ball handling and eerily stealthy offensive rushes make the in-game growth assured, it’s the way he’s going to thrive through Bickerstaff’s direction and encouragement that makes the jump even more exciting.
Though he didn’t get as many minutes as he should have last season, with the Warriors current roster construction a big leap from Jonathan Kuminga would be as timely as it’s going to be necessary. To some degree, I think it’s always been the assumption in Golden State, given their feints at development for James Wiseman and Moses Moody, in tandem with Kuminga, didn’t take.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis
Forget the Big Three, how about a Big Four? The Sporting News says the Kings could do just that by acquiring Kyle Kuzma from Washington. Sounds good to us.
Biz
The Kings have a new sponsor patch. Tech company Reviver will be displayed on the team’s jerseys. It’s the first Black-founded technology company to be featured as a patch on an NBA jersey. (Sports Business Journal)
Arena
James Herbert at CBS Sports reveals all of the NBA Cup courts. They’re gorgeous, in my opinion, with (a little) less garishness and a little more personality than last year’s runway versions. And hey, if you hate them, they won’t be around much!
Prediction
John Hollinger of the Athletic discusses 11 players ready to take advantage of new opportunities and roles, from the big names in the headline to role players like Norm Powell.
Analysis
Morten Stig Jensen of Yahoo! Sports draws upon admittedly small sample sizes to look at some interesting trends after opening night, from the Magic bombing away to Jalen Duren’s improved defense.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Fantasy Basketball Recap From Thursday Night
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) pulls in a rebound in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena.
|Photo by Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Boston Celtics vs. Washington Wizards
The Boston Celtics dominated the Washington Wizards with a 122-102 victory. Jalen Brown led the Celtics with 27 points and four steals, while Jayson Tatum added 25 points and 11 rebounds. Despite Al Horford’s scoreless night, the Celtics’ depth shone through. On the Wizards’ side, Jordan Poole delivered an impressive performance, scoring 26 points with six threes and four steals. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Poole’s potential for high-scoring games, though his defensive stats may not be sustainable.
Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs
The Dallas Mavericks secured a 120-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs, with Luka Dončić leading the charge with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Victor Wembanyama struggled for the Spurs, shooting just 28% from the field. However, Julian Champagnie stood out with 18 points and four threes, making him a potential fantasy pickup, especially in deeper leagues.
Click the button below to see a potential steal in Sacramento, and why fantasy managers should be wary of Russell Westbrook.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Kings podcasts.
Kevin Huerter is Back & Will Start for the Sacramento Kings Matt George reacts to the good news out of Sacramento Kings practice that Kevin Huerter & Trey Lyles are back, and the surprising news that Huerter will be right back into the starting lineup.
Who is Guarding Anthony Edwards? - Sacramento Kings Season Opener Preview Matt George and ESPN 1320’s Damien Barling preview the Sacramento Kings vs Minnesota Timberwolves opening night matchup on Thursday night, including a discussion on who the Kings have guarding Anthony Edwards to start the game.
Keegan Murray Will Make 250 Three-Pointers - Mild, Hot & Spicy Sacramento Kings Predictions Matt George is joined by Frankie Cartoscelli & Chris Watkins from SacTown Sports 1140 for the annual mild, hot and spicy Sacramento Kings prediction podcast before the start of the season.
