The Sacramento Kings still haven’t found their first preseason win, but Saturday’s 111-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco came with a few notable developments.
Ben Simmons finally got on the floor for Sacramento and made the most of a short stint. In his Kings debut, he scored seven points in nine minutes, hitting half his shots and missing just one free throw. He did not attempt a three-pointer.
The louder offensive performance belonged to rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who kept building on an impressive first preseason run. He finished with 25 points to lead the Kings, going 8-of-15 from the field, 4-of-6 from deep, and a perfect 5-of-5 at the line. Acuff also added four rebounds and finished two assists shy of a double-double.
Zach LaVine logged a bigger workload this time and posted 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting across 23 minutes.
Golden State’s edge came in the little things. Both teams made 38 baskets, but the Warriors hit two more three-pointers and three more free throws, which was enough to tilt a close game their way.
Steph Curry contributed eight points in limited minutes and shot 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. Draymond Green was held to three points but chipped in seven rebounds and five assists over 23 minutes.
The Warriors were paced by Yaxel Lendeborg, who delivered the game’s only double-double with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and 10 rebounds. Brandon Williams added 19 points on 7-of-8 from the floor, and Georges Niang scored 13 with 3-of-4 shooting from three. Brandin Podziemski took the most threes for Golden State, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists while hitting 3-of-7 from deep.
Sacramento actually had the better of the opening stretch, digging out of a 19-12 hole with a 12-1 burst and taking a 25-24 lead after Simmons closed the first quarter with a free throw.
The Kings were still in front 54-50 with three minutes left in the second quarter after LaVine knocked down a three, but Golden State answered with an 11-2 run to grab a 61-56 halftime lead.
The back-and-forth kept going after the break. Precious Achiuwa’s pair of free throws put the Kings ahead 70-69 with eight minutes left in the third, but the Warriors closed the quarter on a 20-11 run and carried an 89-81 advantage into the fourth.
Golden State pushed its lead to 10 after a Charles Bassey dunk with 4:42 remaining, only for Sacramento to answer with a 10-0 run and make it a one-possession game. Jonathan Mogbo kept the Kings hanging around, trimming the deficit to 103-101 with 3:27 left and later hitting three free throws to get Sacramento within two at 108-106 in the final minute. From there, the Warriors cashed in at the line and the Kings didn’t score again.
Sacramento returns home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
In Other News...
Kings Suddenly Have Two Roster Concerns Fans Can't Ignore
The preseason results have not gone Sacramentos way, and the latest loss came with a tougher subplot than the scoreboard. The Kings dropped their third straight exhibition game, even as Darius Acuff Jr. flashed with 25 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds, and Ben Simmons made his team debut with a modest but steady line. It was the kind of night that offered a little bit of optimism in spots, while also reminding the coaching staff that the roster is still sorting itself out.
The bigger concern came late, when Maxime Raynaud went down and had to be wheeled off the floor after exiting near the end of the second half. His injury adds another layer of uncertainty to a team that is already trying to figure out its best combinations, especially with De'Andre Hunter struggling again and leaving questions about where he fits. Sacramento gets another preseason look next against Portland, but right now the rotation picture feels more unsettled than encouraging. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Karaban Already Faces A Tough Kings Rotation Reality
With two roster spots still open, the Kings are already looking at a crowded forward mix, and Alex Karaban is feeling the squeeze before the season even starts. His preseason work has offered a glimpse of why Sacramento likes the fit, but his minutes have been limited and have shifted depending on who was available around him.
Karaban did flash enough in exhibition play to stand out against some of the veterans in the mix, which only adds to the intrigue as the Kings sort out their rotation. Even so, the regular season picture still points toward established options getting the early edge, leaving Karaban in the kind of wait-and-see spot that can define a young players first run with a team. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Frontcourt Suddenly Has A Maxime Raynaud Problem
A rough preseason night added another layer of concern for Sacramento when Maxime Raynaud went down against Golden State and had to be helped off after a right knee injury. The Kings are already in the part of camp where health matters as much as rhythm, and with two preseason games still on the schedule, every setback forces the staff to balance evaluation against caution.
Darius Acuff also exited limping, though his issue looked less severe in the moment, leaving Sacramento with more questions than answers in the frontcourt. The broader concern is less about one October game than what it can do to a team trying to sort roles, build continuity and get through the rest of the preseason without losing more bodies along the way. [Read more 🡒]