In a 125 - 101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, there wasn't much for the Sacramento Kings to be happy about. As usual, their main source of comfort was the success of Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, and Dylan Cardwell. And even they had a tough time against LeBron and Luka.
Yes, the Lakers were dealing with injuries, including Austin Reaves. Yes, LeBron James has lost a step or two. Yes, the Lakers were coming off a multi-game losing streak. That doesn't mean they're not still one of the best teams in the league, and shouldn't be taken lightly. The Kings definitely found that out.
It was Sacramento's worst loss in a couple of weeks, largely thanks to LeBron and Luka turning in a pair of impressive performances. It didn't help that the Kings were dealing with their own injuries, and have yet to firmly establish any kind of identity as a team. They have some work to do.
Basically, the Kings got beat by a better team, which is bound to happen when you're 14th in the Western Conference. That doesn't mean there weren't good performances from members of the team, particularly the Kings' rookie trio, who seem to be their most reliable players.
The Kings need to keep putting their rookies to work
After moving Russell Westbrook to starting point guard, making rookie Maxime Raynaud the starting center in the absence of Domantas Sabonis is the best decision Doug Christie has made this season. It's honestly surprising how quickly the young center has found his NBA footing.
Raynaud collected his fifth double-double of the season on 80% shooting from the field. He finished the game with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. What was odd was his defensive stats, as he had no blocks or steals. He wasn't the only one having that problem, though.
Dylan Cardwell had his first game with zero blocks since his call-up. He totaled seven points, seven rebounds, and three steals, which are solid numbers. Nique Clifford was also no slouch, picking up 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal. All three were efficient and productive.
it's important that fans don't lose sight of the impact these three rookies are having, both on offense and defense. Hopefully, the Kings continue this focus on their development even after the injured players start returning, assuming said players don't get traded before a Sacramento return happens.