The Sacramento Kings dropped their third straight preseason game, but the final score was never going to be the biggest headline. Not in a game where Maxime Raynaud had to leave near the end of the second half and was wheeled off the court. That’s the kind of moment that changes the mood fast, even in October.
The game ended with the Warriors beating the Kings BLANK, but the result almost feels secondary with Raynaud’s status still up in the air. The second-year big’s injury is the night’s central story, and everything else comes after that.
Still, there were a few notable developments from Sacramento’s third preseason outing.
Darius Acuff Jr. was the bright spot offensively. He finished with 25 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds while shooting 8-of-15 from the field, 4-of-6 from three, and 5-of-5 at the line. That’s the kind of line that grabs your attention even before you dig into the details.
Acuff had already shown he could score in the first two preseason games, but his efficiency was still something worth watching after a similar pattern in Summer League. This time, he put that concern on hold.
He scored with ease all night and found a better rhythm as a shooter. It’s only one game, and that kind of efficiency will probably come and go over the course of the season, but this was exactly the kind of performance Sacramento wanted to see.
He did all that in a little more than 27 minutes, too. The Kings never let him finish the night, but that’s preseason for you. Even so, it was easy to see why there’s excitement about what he could look like once the regular season starts and the leash comes off.
Ben Simmons also made his Kings debut, and the timing of Raynaud’s injury made it all the more frustrating for Sacramento. Simmons didn’t fill the box score - he had seven points and one assist - but he looked comfortable and in control, which mattered more than the raw numbers in his first game back after more than a year away.
He also knocked down a step back mid-range jumper, a shot plenty of people probably didn’t expect to see from him.
Simmons still has plenty to prove in a Kings uniform, but this was a strong opening look. He already looks like someone who belongs in the rotation.
De’Andre Hunter, though, is heading the other direction. He finished with four points, three rebounds, one assist, and two turnovers in 18:31, going 2-of-8 from the floor and missing both of his three-point tries.
That’s not the kind of line that helps his case in a crowded competition. For much of the offseason, Hunter looked like the favorite to be the fifth starter alongside Acuff, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis. But Simmons’ late free agent signing has opened the door, and Hunter hasn’t exactly slammed it shut so far.
He’s a proven veteran, and he has spent parts of his seven-year career bouncing between the starting lineup and a sixth-man role, so this isn’t unfamiliar territory. Even so, he looks like he’s fighting for position again. To his credit, he did flash on defense and threw down a strong dunk that showed off his length and athleticism.
Sacramento gets another preseason shot on Tuesday when it hosts the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Kings will be waiting for more clarity on Raynaud’s injury.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Ben Simmons Just Put One Kings Storyline Under The Spotlight
Ben Simmons finally got back on the court for the Kings in a preseason matchup with the Warriors, giving Sacramento its first real look at how he might fit after more than a year away from NBA action. His debut was brief, just over eight minutes, but it was enough to underline why the Kings are treating this as a gradual process and why health remains such a central part of the conversation around him.
Simmons said he felt good about being back and stressed the importance of staying healthy while playing with more aggression, which is exactly the balancing act Sacramento has in front of it. The Kings are not rushing the ramp-up, and there will be plenty of attention on how his return develops from here, especially with the team hoping the slower build leads to something more durable once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]