Kings Show Fight, But Fall Short Again in Loss to Blazers
The Sacramento Kings are still searching for a spark - and a win. Saturday night at Golden 1 Center, they showed grit, hustle, and flashes of promise, but once again, it wasn’t enough. The Portland Trail Blazers came out on top, 98-93, handing Sacramento its fifth straight loss and ninth in the last 10 games.
This one didn’t come with the controversy of Thursday’s overtime loss in Portland, but it stung just the same. The Kings had their chances down the stretch but couldn’t convert when it mattered most.
Blazers’ Balance Beats Kings’ Effort
Portland’s Deni Avdija led the charge with a versatile performance - 24 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds - orchestrating the offense with poise and purpose. Shaedon Sharpe added 23, including a high-flying dunk over Russell Westbrook that brought the crowd to its feet - even if it was for the wrong team. Toumani Camara chipped in 15 points, while rookie big man Donovan Clingan posted a double-double with 14 points and 14 boards, controlling the paint on both ends.
The Blazers (12-16) didn’t dominate wire-to-wire, but they made the right plays in crunch time. Sacramento, on the other hand, couldn’t buy a bucket late.
Kings’ Late-Game Woes Continue
Sacramento (6-22) is now at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, and while the effort was there, the execution was not - especially in the fourth quarter. The Kings shot just 8-of-27 from the field in the final period, including a rough 2-of-11 from deep.
Dennis Schroder led the Kings with 21 points off the bench and was one of the few players who found a rhythm offensively. Rookie center Maxime Raynaud continued his solid stretch with 17 points and 12 rebounds, showing flashes of becoming a reliable interior presence.
DeMar DeRozan and Keegan Murray each added 15, while first-round pick Nique Clifford contributed 12 points and five assists in another encouraging performance. Undrafted rookie Dylan Cardwell made his presence felt with eight rebounds and five blocks, providing energy and rim protection.
But none of it was enough to overcome the team’s late-game struggles.
“We’ve got to figure out how we win games at the end,” Schroder said postgame. “It’s about getting stops on defense and finding the right guys to score. We’re close, but close doesn’t count.”
Christie Sees Progress, But Knows What’s Missing
Kings interim head coach Doug Christie is trying to keep things in perspective. While the losses are piling up, he’s seeing signs of growth - especially on the defensive end.
“I thought defensively we were better and we’re in the hunt,” Christie said. “The competition level is higher, and that’s what we need. You have to be in the hunt, and once you get there, you have to have execution down the stretch.”
With Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis still sidelined, Christie stuck with the same starting five: Westbrook and DeRozan in the backcourt, Murray at the three, Precious Achiuwa at the four, and Raynaud in the middle. Malik Monk, last season’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up, remained out of the rotation for the second straight game.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Kings started ice cold, missing their first nine shots and falling behind 15-2 before DeRozan finally broke the drought. From there, Sacramento found some rhythm, closing the first quarter on a 24-13 run and tying the game midway through the second.
At halftime, the Kings trailed 47-44 despite shooting better from the field than the Blazers (46.2% to 39.5%). The difference came from beyond the arc and the free throw line - Portland hit more threes and got to the line more often.
In the second half, the Blazers built a 12-point lead behind a surge from Sharpe and a timely three from Clingan. But Sacramento clawed back, cutting the deficit to one late in the third and briefly taking the lead early in the fourth on a Raynaud bucket.
That lead didn’t last long. Portland responded with another run, and while the Kings kept it close - even pulling within one on a Schroder three with 4:36 left - they couldn’t close the gap. Missed shots, missed opportunities, and just enough Portland execution sealed the deal.
What’s Next
The Kings won’t have much time to dwell on this one. They’re back at it Sunday night, hosting the Houston Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back. Houston (17-8) will also be playing the second leg of a back-to-back after beating the Nuggets in Denver.
The last time these two teams met, the Rockets rolled to a 121-95 win in Houston. Alperen Sengun had 28 and 10 in that one, and Kevin Durant added 24 points and eight assists.
Sacramento’s challenge? Regroup, recover, and find a way to finish.
The effort is there. Now it’s about execution.