SACRAMENTO -- The Kings took the floor Friday night determined to clean up the rough edges from their opener and show something different in front of their home crowd. For long stretches, they did. But a brutal third quarter turned everything on its head, and Sacramento still walked away empty-handed after a 128-120 loss to the Trail Blazers at Golden 1 Center.
The game was there for the Kings early. Their defense looked much sharper in the first half, and they carried a 12-point lead at one point.
Then Portland ripped the game open with a 15-0 run to start the third quarter, and the Blazers’ 44-point frame erased Sacramento’s cushion in a hurry. The Kings responded with a competitive fourth quarter, but the hole was too deep.
Darius Acuff Jr. gave Sacramento a jolt when it needed one most. After a rough official NBA debut in Wednesday’s season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the rookie guard bounced back in a big way Friday. Acuff finished with a game-high 33 points, two rebounds and four assists, and he was the engine behind the Kings’ late push.
He wasn’t perfect from the field, finishing 10 of 26, but the confidence never left. Acuff knocked down his first two 3-pointers and added 11 points in the fourth quarter as Sacramento tried to claw all the way back. More importantly, he did a better job getting others involved after playmaking had been a concern in the opener.
Domantas Sabonis was just as impactful in his own way, turning in his first triple-double of the season with 27 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists. The big man looked in control from the start and was nearly there after two quarters. He finished 10 of 13 from the floor in 38 minutes.
Zach LaVine kept his efficient start rolling, putting up 22 points on 6-of-15 shooting. He added three 3-pointers, five rebounds, one assist and two steals in 39 minutes.
Malik Monk also made his season debut, but it was a quiet one. He played only 12 minutes and didn’t score, going 0-for-6 from the field.
Here’s what stood out from the Kings’ second straight loss:
Acuff answered after opening night struggles
Acuff’s first official NBA game was a rough one, with the rookie guard finishing Wednesday against the Clippers with 12 points on 5-of-24 shooting and missing all seven of his 3-point tries. He also went 2 of 5 from the line.
He knew he had to respond, and he did just that against Portland. Even with an inefficient shooting night, Acuff stayed aggressive and kept Sacramento alive late. The Arkansas product showed a much better feel as a creator, not just a scorer, finishing with four assists to go with his 33 points in 35 minutes.
A better defensive effort, mostly
The Kings were torched for 41 points in the first quarter against the Clippers and never looked settled on that end in the opener. Coach Christie made the defensive end a clear focus before Friday’s game, and Sacramento’s response was noticeable for most of the night.
The effort and energy were there more often than not, and the Kings looked far more organized defensively outside of that third-quarter collapse. It still wasn’t a perfect night, but it was a clear step in the right direction.
Sabonis keeps filling it up
Sabonis gave the Kings the steady, all-around production they’ve come to expect. After being limited to just 19 games last season because of a knee injury, he’s clearly not taking any minutes for granted.
Friday was a reminder of how much he can dictate a game without forcing anything. He scored efficiently, controlled the glass and kept the offense moving, all while finishing with a triple-double that reflected just how much he was doing on both ends.
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Kings Showed Fight But One Early Problem Is Already Back
The Kings had enough offense to make this one feel salvageable for long stretches, with rookie Darius Acuff Jr. pouring in 33 points and Domantas Sabonis turning in a triple-double in the loss to Portland. Sacramento showed the kind of fight that can keep a team from spiraling early in a season, especially after trailing by double digits and working its way back into the game.
Still, the 128-120 defeat left Sacramento at 0-2, and the old issue that haunted plenty of recent Kings nights was back in the spotlight. A rough third quarter put them in a hole, and the three-point shooting never really gave them the lift they needed to finish the comeback, leaving another familiar early-season frustration hanging over a team trying to find its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Keegan Murray's Slide Is Becoming A Real Kings Problem
Keegan Murrays offensive slide has become one of the more uncomfortable subplots around Sacramento, especially for a player the Kings still view as part of their long-term core. His shooting efficiency has dropped well off the pace he set during a record-breaking rookie season, and the recent struggles have shown up again in a loss to the Clippers, where he could not give the offense the kind of steady scoring the Kings have come to expect from him.
The concern is bigger than one bad night. Injuries have interrupted his development, and the churn around the roster and front office has not helped create the kind of stable environment young players usually need to settle in. Even with trade speculation floating around, Sacramento has kept Murray in place and committed to him with a five-year extension, which only sharpens the pressure for his production to catch back up to the role the Kings have carved out for him. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Put Doug Christie In A Tough Spot Right Away
Doug Christie is stepping into his final year on the Kings sideline with no shortage of pressure, and the early challenge is as much about timing as it is about talent. Sacramento wants to keep developing rookie Darius Acuff Jr. while still leaning on a veteran core, a balancing act that has only gotten trickier after the teams recent struggles and the way injuries last season pushed Christie to trust younger players more than planned.
The bigger issue hanging over the season is what happens if the losses keep coming. Senior NBA writer Sam Amick has noted that Christies job security is tied closely to general manager Scott Perry, which adds another layer to every lineup choice and every rough stretch. For a coach trying to prove he can steady the group, the margin for patience may already be shrinking if Sacramento doesnt turn things around soon. [Read more 🡒]