A Royal Pain
Fansided

Bench For Sacramento Kings Plays Flat, Lose To OKC Thunder

By John Kelly

SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 19: Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings goes up for a shot on Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden 1 Center on December 19, 2018 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 19: Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings goes up for a shot on Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden 1 Center on December 19, 2018 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Despite good play from their starting backcourt, the Sacramento Kings were unable to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.

The Sacramento Kings had the chance to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder for a third time this season, but instead, they fell to Russell Westbrook and company by a score of 132-113. Buddy Hield scored a career-high 37 points along with six rebounds to keep up his stellar play. De’Aaron Fox chipped in with 28 points and 12 assists.

The Sacramento Kings’ Yogi Ferrell (3) drives against the Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/TNS via Getty Images)
The Sacramento Kings’ Yogi Ferrell (3) drives against the Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/TNS via Getty Images) /

The starting backcourt was the lone bright spot for the home team as the Thunder came to the Golden 1 Center and paid the Kings back for the two losses they received earlier in the season. With Iman Shumpert, Marvin Bagley III, and Bogdan Bogdanovic currently on the Kings’ injured list, the bench needed to play well. Some players from the group had the opportunity to show their worth.

Unfortunately, the bench for Sacramento was flat. The group scored a total of 15 points which will not get the job done in any game.

The Thunder stormed in

For the Thunder, they had the energy from start to finish. With Paul George and Westbrook being a great duo for OKC, it was too much for the Kings to overcome.  With Shumpert injured, no one else could slow George down. George scored a team-high 43 points and Steven Adams took over the paint with 23 rebounds. You add Westbrook’s 17 assists along with 19 points, it made the Kings play catch up the rest of the way.

Final thoughts on the game

With three main players being absent for the Kings tonight, they needed their bench to do their part. With guys getting a chance to show they can contribute when their number is called on, they fell flat and did not deliver.

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From the moment Dave Joerger made his first substitution, the Thunder started to separate themselves from the Kings. With another game in a couple of days, it will give the purple and white time to practice with players who have to bounce back on Friday when the Memphis Grizzlies come to town.

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