Kings Fall Flat Against Nets In Costly Loss
Aug 7, 2020, 4:34 PM | Updated: 4:35 pm
(Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
Sacramento could never find a rhythm in Friday’s loss, falling to a shorthanded Brooklyn team
The Sacramento Kings win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday was seen as a possible morale booster for a team that had struggled so far in the Orlando bubble.
Friday’s game against a short-handed Brooklyn Nets team could have been a huge opportunity to make up some ground in the playoff race, but instead the Kings are starting elimination in the face with three games remaining.
Brooklyn was in control for most of the game on Friday, pushing the Kings to the brink of elimination with a 119-106 win at the ESPN Wide World of Sports located in Orlando, Florida.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had a career-high 35 points in Thursday’s win over the Pelicans, scored 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting, but it wouldn’t be enough for a Kings team that struggled offensively.
Sacramento was 42-percent from the field, also struggling from beyond the three-point arc where they went 12-for-40 as a team.
De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points (seven-of-15 from the field) and dished seven assists in the loss. The 22 year-old is averaging 26.2 points per game during play in the bubble.
The Kings were without the services of forward Kent Bazemore on Friday, who missed the contest with left calf soreness. Richaun Holmes, who was questionable with hip soreness, played for 11 minutes before being ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Things never went the Kings way after the first-quarter, as they would be outscored 39-26 in the second-period by the Nets.
Brooklyn would refuse to let up, keeping space between themselves and the Kings for the double-digit win.
Buddy Hield score 17 points, while Harrison Barnes contributed 16 points in the losing effort.
Coming Up
Sacramento will face Russel Westbrook, James Harden and the Houston Rockets on Sunday afternoon in a game that could cement the end of the team’s playoff hopes.
With a loss, the Kings will be eliminated from playoff or play-in contention.
Be sure to tune in for all of the action right here on Sports 1140 KHTK, with pregame coverage beginning at 4:30pm PST with tip-off following at 5:00pm PST.
