Jazz Use Big Second Half To Hand Kings Sixth Straight Loss
Apr 10, 2021, 10:08 PM | Updated: 10:10 pm
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Sacramento looked much more poised on Saturday, but it wouldn’t be enough as Utah would finish strong to claim the win
At the end of the first half during Saturday night’s game between the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz, it seemed as if the Kings were finally on the right track to snap their losing streak.
Facing Utah, the owner of the NBA’s best record on their own home floor, Sacramento looked much more poised over the initial 24 minutes of action to take a 65-59 lead into the break.
Then, the Jazz showed why they are currently the best team in the league.
Utah would go on to outscore Sacramento 69-47 in the second half (33-23 in the fourth quarter) to claim a 128-112 win, sending the Kings to their sixth-straight loss.
Richaun Holmes and De’Aaron Fox paced the offensive attack early, with Holmes scoring 21 points in the first half to lead all scorers. Fox added 18 points over the first two quarters of action to put the Kings ahead at the break.
As well as Sacramento played in the first half, Utah would make adjustments, slowing down Holmes and slowing the Kings offense while using their own firepower to regain the lead.
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell’s 42 points would help lead the Jazz’s offensive attack, giving the Kings defense more than it could handle late.
The Jazz are a very good team. They made adjustments and the proof is in the pudding–or boxscores, in this case.
Sacramento’s defense broke down late and the offense lost its rhythm. While the team looked better overall, it’s going to take a more complete effort if the Kings want to win a game for the first time since March 29th.
Rounding out the boxscore
De’Aaron Fox would finish with 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field to go along with eight assists and two steals. It was the 14th time this season that Fox has topped the 30-point mark.
Richaun Holmes posted his 21st double-double of the season on Saturday night, finishing with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting while also grabbing 10 rebounds.
Buddy Hield scored 19 points on four-of-13 shooting in the loss.
Hield passed Hall of Fame guard and Kings legend Mitch Richmond on the franchise’s all-time three-point list, hitting his 994th triple to move into second-place.
The veteran sharpshooter only trails Peja Stojakovic for the number-one spot.
Rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton scored 13 points off of the bench on five-of-13 shooting, including two-of-four from downtown to go along with three assists.
Harrison Barnes and Maurice Harkless each finished with 11 points to round out the scoring.
Coming Up
The Kings will face the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night in a game that has Western Conference Play-In implications.
New Orleans (23-29) is currently one spot ahead of Sacramento in the Western Conference standings, sitting in the 11th spot with 19 games left in the season.
Both teams have picked up wins against each other this season, with the Kings defeating the Pelicans by a final of 118-109 in the most recent meeting back on February 1st.
Be sure to tune in for all of the action right here on Sports 1140 KHTK, with pregame coverage starting at 3:00pm PST on The Jason Ross & Doug Christie Show prior to a 6:00pm PST tip-off from New Orleans.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
- April 12 @ New Orleans
- April 14 vs Washington Wizards
- April 15 @ Phoenix Suns
- April 18 @ Dallas Mavericks
- April 20 vs Minnesota Timberwolves
