The Sacramento Kings took on the New York Knicks for the second time this month. While Sacramento picked up the win in their last meeting, the Knicks took the victory in round two thanks to another late-game collapse by the Kings. It was not shocking, but still painful to watch.
Sacramento was walking into this game with a few big issues. Both Zach LaVine and Malik Monk were injured, meaning the Kings were short a couple of key shooters. Keegan Murray wasn't on the injured list, but didn't end up playing as a late-day scratch before the game for injury management.
On the other hand, the Knicks were at full strength. In their last meeting, Jalen Brunson left early in the first quarter due to an ankle injury. That gave the Kings a window to pull off an unlikely victory against a tough team. Sacramento just wasn't going to catch a break like that twice.
Despite those factors, the Kings managed to keep it close. The Knicks were up by ten in the first quarter, though Sacramento closed the gap to one point by halftime. They finished the third quarter with a 72 to 72 tie between the two teams, setting it up to be anyone's game.
The Kings cough it up in the fourth quarter
When the wheels come off for Sacramento, it can be at any point in the second half. Sometimes, they completely fall apart in the third quarter, then pull off a late-game run in the fourth to make it less embarrassing. The Kings don't win, but they sometimes manage to at least prevent a blowout.
Against the Knicks, the collapse happened in the fourth quarter. New York outscored the Kings 31 to 15, ultimately winning the game by 16 points. Brunson in particular lit the Kings up in the fourth, proving once again that he's a second-half guy and a clutch-time legend.
It's important to keep in mind that every part of the Kings' game fell apart. They had been putting up a reasonably effective defensive presence, not to mention a strong enough offense to stay in the game. All of that turned sour in that fourth quarter, giving the Knicks a major opening.
Sacramento fans are used to this pattern by now. Second-half collapses have become so synonymous with the Kings that you would think it was the color purple. It's honestly amazing that they were able to string four straight wins together.