Game 65 Recap: Poor Start Leads To Sacramento Kings Loss To Utah

Mar 13, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) is defended by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during an NBA game at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 108-99. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) is defended by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during an NBA game at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 108-99. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Another day, another Sacramento Kings loss. That has been the norm for the last week.

The Kings entered today’s game looking to end their three-game homestand with at least one victory but were unsuccessful as the Utah Jazz had their way with Sacramento winning with a score of 108-99.

Notable performers for the Kings today were DeMarcus Cousins who recorded 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, Omri Casspi who scored 20 points off the bench, and Willie Cauley-Stein who scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.

Notable players for the Jazz today were Gordon Hayward who scored 27 points, Derrick Favors who recorded 28 points and 14 rebounds, and Shelvin Mack who scored 14 points which included 4 three-point shots made.

The Kings made today’s contest close at the end of the game. The problem, however, was that the Kings started the game off poor.

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Sacramento started the game off very sluggish, as they trailed after the first quarter 36-18. The Kings then made a solid effort in the second quarter but were still trailing 61-45 going into halftime.

To the start of the second half, the Kings fell behind early as the lead for Utah increased, but the Kings were still able to win the third period 24-23.

Sacramento then entered the fourth quarter trailing by 15 points. It looked like the Jazz were going to leave Sleep Train Arena with a pretty convincing win, but the purple and white rallied.

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The Kings were able to get Utah’s lead down to single-digits, but because of their horrendous start to the game Sacramento just didn’t have enough time left to pull off the epic comeback.

Overall, the Kings poor start to the game ended up haunting them until the clock hit triple zeros at the end. Other parts of the game that Utah outplayed Sacramento were in the rebounding and shooting games.

Utah outrebounded Sacramento 47 to 36 and also shot better than the Kings by making 47.6% of their shots (42.9% from the perimeter) compared to Sacramento’s 46.9% from the floor (42.9% from the perimeter).

The loss today continues the losing streak for the Kings, which has extended to 5 games at this moment. The Kings do have a good opportunity to get a win Tuesday night as they contend against the hapless Los Angeles Lakers in the Staples Center.

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