Game Notes: Sacramento Kings Played Like Garbage, Lose At Home To 76ers
The Sacramento Kings (12-20) lost at home Wednesday night 110-105, to the Philadelphia 76ers who now have just 3 three wins for the season. The Kings looked sloppy and disinterested for much of the game. Defensive woes, 22 turnovers and shooting 61% at the free throw line all contributed to their downfall.
This was Sacramento’s third straight loss, and the Sacramento fans voiced their displeasure several times during the game.
The Kings defense has looked terrible this year, and teams have been able to take advantage of it. The 76ers are last in the NBA in scoring but had a huge offensive game Wednesday. Philly shot 42.6 percent, made nine 3s and tallied 16 points off offensive rebounds.
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The 76ers led by 12 early in the third quarter and was up 95-86 in the fourth when Sacramento decided to start playing. The Kings brought it within 2 with a Marco Belinelli jumper. But then DeMarcus Cousins fouled out, the Kings missed free throws and then didn’t get back on transition defense down the stretch, and Philadelphia held on for the win.
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
A few times during the night, including after a bad pass and turnover, and at the end of the game, the crowd let the Kings know they were unhappy with their performance with a loud chorus of boos. Coach George Karl fired some shots at his team at the post-game press conference:
"“My feeling is we have too many offensive players and not enough defensive players,” Karl said. “We don’t have enough guts to make stops.”"
This isn’t just normal coach frustration. George Karl is criticizing the team’s roster makeup and the team’s intestinal fortitude in one breath. Coach Karl is not let off the hook for the team’s performance at all. But he was voicing the frustrations that most Kings fans were feeling.
The games “highlights” include:
- Marco Belinelli had 28 points on 11-17 shooting.
- Kings Made 25 of 41 free throw attempts.
- Rajon Rondo had 14 assists, 7 turnovers.
- Ben McLemore had a good first half going 2 for 3 from beyond the arc.
- Rudy Gay had another poor shooting night with 9 points
- Cousins had 21 points and 11 rebounds
- 76ers scored 28 points off of Kings’ turnovers
Hopefully, the Kings can get motivated and have a few good practices before Saturday’s home game against the Phoenix Suns.