The Sacramento Kings Earn Gritty Victory With Their Legit(?) Defense | Locked On Kings

The Sacramento Kings Earn Gritty Victory With Their Legit(?) Defense | Locked On Kings

Ladies and gentlemen for the second straight season and just the 10th time in Sacramento’s history the Kings have secured a 500 record we did it everybody high fives all around round of applause Sacramento is average just the 10th time in 39 years the kings are average baby

We did it how exciting in all seriousness after the blunder of Wednesday night’s loss in Washington DC what a gritty got to have it victory for Sacramento in Orlando defeating the magic 109 to 107 we’re going to break the game down including Malik monk doing Sacramento a major favor without scoring

A single point I’ll explain right here on locked on Kings you are locked on Kings your daily Sacramento Kings podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day and now Now ladies and gentlemen it is that time time for another episode of Locked on Kings hello and welcome into lockon

Kings your podcast hub for Sacramento Kings coverage all season long today’s episode is brought to you by prize pick the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports go to prix.com lockon NBA and use code all lowercase locked on NBA for instant deposit match

Up to $100 my name is Matt George I have the privilege of being your host here I’m a Sacramento Sports Anchor and reporter for ABC 10 news of course The Vibes much better today on lockon Kings than it was on uh on on Wednesday night like I said just a gritty grinded out

Victory a win that like look the way this game was played a defensive battle between two what we believe to be playoff teams the the the Orlando magic are fifth in the Western or Eastern conference right now they’re on a five-game win streak coming into tonight’s game they are a more

Established playoff team at this point than the Sacramento Kings are now of course the magic have the benefit of playing in the East the kings are in the wild Wicked West but the magic they’re a legitimate playoff team a good defensive team both the Kings and the magic both

Have top five defenses in the month of March right this was a grinded out physical slugfest Style game that the Sacramento King won had they lost honestly there would have been no shame in losing this game to the magic the way it was played right it went down to the

Wire it was a heck of a battle both teams threw punches both teams had slow stretches both teams had great stretches it was back and forth no team really pulled away that much I think there were 15 lead changes in this game right it was just a a start to finish war between

These two teams which by the way remember the Kings beat the Orlando Magic in Sacramento in in overtime earlier on this season when Palo Bank Carol went for a career-high 40 plus points in that game so two very evenly matched teams had the Kings have lost

This game on its own there’s no shame to losing the or to the Orlando Magic right but because of Wednesday because of that Kings loss to the Washington Wizards you hear in in in Sports Talk and the cliches and it’s overused like a must-win game right it’s it’s overused

In in sports podcasts and sports conversations of course I’ve used it far too many times here unlocked on Kings so I won’t say that tonight’s game was a must-win but it’s in that must-win conversation meaning this game had tremendously high stakes and the Kings kind of had to get the job done tonight

Because of how much they failed on Wednesday because look the Phoenix Suns played the San Antonio Spurs beat the San Antonio Spurs tonight because of that they’re in sole uh ownership of the the sixth seed the Kings and Mavericks tied half a game back of them in in

Seventh and in eighth but on top of that right the the the Dallas Mavericks play the Utah Jazz on Monday while the Sacramento Kings are hosting the Philadelphia 76ers so far more likely that the Mavericks win their game in against Utah than the Kings win their game against Philadelphia even in

Sacramento and then the very next night then the Kings and Mavericks will meet for their first of two straight games against each other so those two games are obviously where the most is going to be decided in the standings at least between the Kings and the Mavericks but

The last thing Sacramento wanted to do is is go into that game on what would have likely been a three-game losing streak right I’m I’m going to be honest with you based off of just the the situations based off of the 76ers struggles that they they’ve been on as

Of late and based off of the fact that Sacramento has really struggled against the Sixers consistently over the the last handful of Seasons I don’t have the highest of expectations for the Kings on Monday so it felt like the Kings had in many ways to win this game not only to

Make right and and correct their mistake on Wednesday but to to give themselves a little more wiggle room in case things don’t go well on Monday and they’re not too far behind Dallas to where they need to win both of those games to have a chance to ultimately finish higher above

Dallas in the standing so this was as close to a must-win game without actually being a must-win game as it gets in my opinion this game this Victory does not EXC use the loss at all right some of you might be listening to this podcast and rolling your eyes going Matt you

Were you you look like you were Doom and Gloom two days ago now you’re in a good mood well yes my emotional state sometimes goes with the the the state of the Sacramento Kings and the wins and the losses there I’m still frustrated right this with a win in Orlando this

Should have been a three and 0 road trip right the the easiest game of this road trip and I I say that it might seem disrespectful there’s no easy game in the NBA but the easiest game of this road trip they lost to Washington and the second night of a back toback was

Not an excuse in that game as as we laid out so it doesn’t excuse the mistakes that the Sacramento Kings made but what this does is this continues the pattern right the pattern of the Kings responding after bad losses with typically some good wins and also playing better and playing up to a

Playoff opponent when they did not play as well as they should have against Washington we all know the Kings play the Wizards on Wednesday the same way they played played the magic tonight they win that game maybe not easily because Kyle kusman had a 31-point game

But they they win that game right we all we all know this but for some reason Sacramento just just struggles but look a lot of great individual performances in tonight’s game which we will get to but I want to start with the Kings defense because for the I mean first off they

Got a really good defensive stop on on palero with two seconds left to make sure he forced a very very tough three I don’t know if that was what the magic Drew up but they went for the Hail Mary win on at home and it it failed

Miserably but great defense by the Kings there the Kings had a lot of great defensive moments in this game but here’s what I want to point out the Sacramento Kings only held their opponents to under 110 points in regulation not including overtime in regulation 13 times in the first

63 games right so only 13 of the first 63 games that the kings hold their opponent under 110 points that is nothing especially considering that the kings in regulation have now held their opponents under 110 points scoring for seven straight games they’re in a really really good stretch defensively right now they

Figured some things out they’re playing hard on that end of the ball what I wondering is and what I think a conversation that needs to start happening in King circles are we leaving the it’s just a good defensive stretch the kings are playing good defense right now and

Entering the no the Kings have figured something out and this defense is getting kind of legit or is entering that for real category because look the Kings showed in the playoffs last year that they play good hard physical defense but they also showed that they could do that in the playoffs

When as we know officiating is a little bit lightened they let a little bit more go the stage wasn’t too big for the Kings defense defensively the Kings did what they needed to do in that seven game series against the Warriors other than stop Steph Curry for going for 50

Points in in game seven to win that Series right they did not lose to the Warriors in the playoffs because of their defense they did it because their offense didn’t necessarily step up but we were waiting to see would that defense carry over into to this season

And there have been moments there have been times but it hasn’t been consistent now we’ve got seven straight games we’ve got basically the entire month of March that the kings are playing not just great defense for them top defense in the league right it it’s a small

Sample size like I mentioned the kings are a top five defensive team in the month of March of course there are a lot more months before March that matter too you can’t just throw all those out but if the kings were to hold their opponent to 109 points per game for an entire

Season they’d be a top defense in the league period now of course where did things change a lot of people are going to point to Keon Ellis and rightfully so Keon Ellis once again tonight he did his job defensively two Steals and a block tonight as much as I want to continue to

Hyperfocus on the defense though because the defense for the Kings as a whole was really really good tonight when talking about Keon Ellis I thought his offensive imp on this game was the key or one of the major keys to Sacramento’s Victory Keon Ellis in this game 19 points four

Of nine shooting from three-point range to be honest with you I almost like the nine attempts more than I like the four made threes because that shows that one the kings are getting him looks two he’s taking those looks without hesitation and three he’s making those looks because

You best believe assuming Keon Ellis is going to be playing Major minutes for the kings in the postseason whether it’s playin or playoffs which of course why wouldn’t he at this point teams are going to DARE him to shoot and are going to risk allow giving him space on the

Perimeter instead of a fox or a Keegan Murray or a Malik monk or other players on this roster he has to be ready to take that shot he has to be willing to take that shot without hesitation and hopefully he can have consistent games like he had tonight where he’s knocking

Down a decent percentage of those looks do I think he’s going to get nine of them a game I don’t know I don’t think expecting Keon to score 19 points a n shoot four of nine from three-point range that’s not necessarily fair but if he is knocking down threes at a rate

That you have to respect defensively while on the defensive end making the impact that we know that he’s able to make every single night that Keon Ellis Ellis Island impact like the Kings obviously have something here he also had five rebounds six assists and didn’t turn the ball over

I mean offensively this is the best game we’ve seen from Keon Ellis period defensively he’s probably had better more noticeable impactful performances defensively probably had better statistical performances but again here is an a situation here is a night where Keon was impactful on defense did what

He does on the defensive end of the floor and then stepped up in an offensive way when the Kings really needed it because one guy in particular had a really rough night that was Malik monk we’ll get to that in a second let’s talk about dearon Fox 2 31 points

Tonight 10 of 22 from the field eight rebounds three steals for dearon Fox he was just as active just as GA engaged and at times even more impactful defensively than Keon Ellis was we know dearen I mean he’s one of the best in the league in deflections he’s he’s

Close to the top of the league in steals I think he has like 16 now straight games or something like that where he’s he’s recorded at least one steal dearon fox has made tremendous growth defensively before our eyes he doesn’t have as many opportunities to show himself as an elite Lockdown

Defender as Keon Ellis does or maybe opportunity is the right word he doesn’t show it as much because of the focus and the attention and the effort that he has to put in on the offensive end of the floor but we know dearen Fox is capable of playing really really good defense

When the Sacramento Kings needed it they needed it tonight and then of course offensively he led the push uh uh with with his 31 points now there’s there’s a play that I actually want to focus on for dearin that was good in the moment and great in the moment but I think a

Lot of people are are not going to pay attention to or talk about as much I’m I’m probably I imagine I’m going to be the only show that talks about this play in detail after Chris Duarte had one of the worst Closeouts I’ve ever seen of a three-point shot shot just basically

Tackling whoever made the shot I can’t remember if it’s Cole Anthony I don’t know who it was but basically just tackled the dude he hits the shot he banked it in believe it or not it was a four-point play the magic had used the end of the third quarter and and

Completely shut the Kings down held them basically scoreless or without a field goal for like a FIV minute stretch to come storming back they take a lead on that play and the kings are not necessarily unraveling but it’s like oh God here are the Orlando Magic at home

They’ve battled back they have all the momentum going to the fourth quarter and then dearon Fox hits a buzzer beater three to tie the game up I think it was at 81 a buzzer beater 3 heading to the fourth quarter now it wasn’t quite as impactful as his buzzer beater 3 the

Last time he was in Orlando when he did it from over half court to win the game but still I thought that play was massive for Sacramento to stop the bleeding or to stop the the magic from carrying any kind of momentum or significant momentum heading into the

Fourth quarter right the the kings that shot quieted the crowd and kind of snuffed out that magic push and it helped kind of settle things down for what would end up being a back and forth heck of a battle of a fourth quarter I I don’t think that shot should be

Understated that was a massive shot by dearen Fox he had 12 points in the fourth quarter according to Frankie cardelli this is the 22nd game with 10 or more points in the fourth quarter which leads the NBA he also has the most fourth quarter points in the NBA since

January and I think he’s like top two or top three fourth quarter points period this season clutch Fox fourth quarter Fox we’re used to this right I just talked about that positive right that big three that he hit and I want to make sure he gets credit for that there’s no

Butt to it however for the second straight game I thought dearon Fox was still doing way too much from the three-point line as much as I loved that shot and as much as I understand that in a game like this where others were struggling offensively like you’re

You’re going to live or die you’re going to ride it out with dearon Fox but there was a point in this game I can’t remember exactly when it was it was late fourth quarter I think the game was tied or something dear pulled up for a like middle of the shot clock deep

Three-pointer like he was Steph Curry I know you’ve been signed to Steph Curry’s brand dear but that’s not your shot like it was just a bad bad shot from dear and he barely reached the rim right he front rimmed it very short he took 12 three-pointers in this

Game went three of 12 so uh one of four by the way in the fourth quarter so 25% in the fourth quarter so 12 of his 22 shots over half of his shots were from the three-point line I understand the magic a physical defensive team teams

Are game planning to crowd the paint and suffocate the paint a little bit against Sacramento and force them to shoot because of how much they like to get downhill and they’re they’re aware of Mike Brown’s pillar of his offense which is paint touches and spray threes so so

It’s it’s what other defenses are doing it’s not just dearen being lazy and just chucking threes but he’s now taken 27 threes in the last two games it’s too much it’s too much right it worked out tonight it’s fine it’s not anything to harp on but that’s just to me that’s

Just not dearon Fox at his best thankfully they were able to overcome it Fox did hit some big shots he had that massive floater that he was fouled by Jonathan Isaac we’ll talk about Jonathan Isaac in a little bit because he was phenomenal tonight um so he had great

Moments and that his his shot selection doesn’t ruin his game for me in any means but I think it’s worth talking about and I think it’s worth bringing up because I love that he’s added a three-point shot to his game but if he go sometimes he goes overboard the

Three-point shot I feel to where it takes away from what he does best and most of the time his shot selection is fine he takes good looks from three three they don’t necessarily always drop that particular three that I brought up terrible shot selection at a bad moment

Thankfully the kings were able to overcome it but had they lost that would have been a big moment that we talked about Malik monk didn’t score a single point for the Sacramento Kings and yet in kind of a silly way I think he did the Kings

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Prize picks pick more pick less it’s that easy zero points zero of from the field five assists for Malik monk if you had told me coming into tonight’s game that Malik monk wouldn’t score a single point I would have told you how bad did the Kings or I would

Have asked you how bad did the Kings lose by it’s pretty awesome that the kings were able to win this game with Malik struggling this much and really where Malik goes is where the bench goes and the King’s bench got obliterated by the Orlando Magic bench 49-7 in this game when Malik’s not

Scoring that second unit struggling to store score of course the kings are short-handed uh no Kevin herder right now no Trey LS right now Sasha fenov still out so that plays a large Factor as well thankfully the king starter stepped up I already talked about how

Great games dearon Fox and um Keon Ellis had I’ll talk later on the podcast about the great games that Keegan Murray and Damon sabonis had we’ll get into all that in just a second but even with Malik not scoring a single point in kind of a weird way I think he

Kind of did the Sacramento Kings a favor what I mean by that is Katie Christensen said on the Kings broadcast if you were listening she she talked about they were waiting in for for Mike Brown’s pregame press conference and and kind of the way it works a Pete Peak behind the the the

Curtain is there’s a set time that Mike comes to speak before every single game so we go there and we sit in the press conference room and we just kind of chap it up amongst ourselves until he shows up well Katie is in Orlando obviously on the broadcast and is waiting for Mike

Brown and and you’re interacting with the opposing team’s media we’re usually just talking and asking questions about the other team and just having General conversation and Katie shared that a lot of Orlando media were talking and asking about Malik Monk and expressing their desire or interest in the Orlando Magic

To pursue Malik in free agency this summer Brendan Nunes and I In This Very Room in fact last week talked about we think the Orlando Magic are the biggest threat to the Sacramento Kings to steal Malik monk away from them in free agency they have money they have cap space they

Might be willing to to make a big overpay in order to bring him to Orlando makes a lot of sense for them in in in in many ways so Malik in his Orlando showcase game didn’t score a single point now Malik said on Twitter he actually tweeted this

You can go and check it out he said I couldn’t throw a rock into the ocean tonight and he’s right and I appreciate the accountability from Malik monk all frustrations with Malik tonight were clearly with himself he just could not hit a shot again I don’t think that the the

People actually making the basketball decisions in Orlando are going to be swayed by one bad game from Malik especially when he’s the run away to in Sixth Man of the Year and he’s uh absolutely been phenomenal this season like everybody’s paying attention to it

So this is all said kind of as a joke kind of in Gest of course right but thank you Malik appreciate you adding even the slightest potential bit of hesitation to Orlando potentially snatching you away now you you can see if you’re watching on YouTube you can

See on the side of the screen I have I have Malik monk sandbagged his Orlando showcase if you didn’t aren’t familiar with the sand back term it’s a golf term meaning like you’re intentionally playing poorly um he he’s not doing that right if Malik Malik would love a

Bidding war Malik would love the Orlando Magic to throw a massive bag at him and and force him to make a tough decision where you either take the money and go go to Florida or stay in California and take what the Kings can offer you and stick with Mike Brown and stick with

Dearen Fox speaking of Mike Brown too Mike was asked about Malik I think Chris Beerman from the Sacramento be asked about Malik and his interactions with Malik and and Mike talked about like he and Malik are going to get into it but they don’t take it personally they

Respect one another I genuinely think and that’s this is even with his best friend from college dear and fox here in Sacramento I think Malik’s relationship with Mike Brown is the most important relationship that’s going to have the biggest factor in Malik’s decision to stay in Sacramento or leave I don’t

Think he’s ever going to leave because of his relationship with Mike Brown what I mean by that is if Malik is choosing between the Kings and say a magic team who’s throwing more money at him one of the biggest factors in my opinion to swaying Malik to stay here in Sacramento

Will be his relationship with Mike Brown so I thought that quote before the game was was really cool and and really interesting and then Malik goes out has his worst game probably of of his time as a Sacramento King at least scoring the basketball offensively I don’t think

There’s been a game that he hasn’t scored a single point yet as a king could be wrong I I can’t remember one I can’t recall one regardless I guess this was was the right opponent to do it against and the Kings won the game regardless so so it’s fine it’s all good

Uh so Shad out Malik monk there like I mentioned the Orlando Magic bench decimated the king’s bench tonight one because Malik wasn’t scoring two because Jonathan Isaac was scoring I have been a fan of Jonathan Isaac for a very long time the basketball player I know off the court

He’s little you he just has he has his things um J and Isaac in so many ways guys is exactly what the Sacramento Kings have been looking for and wanting forever like he is a elite lockdown defensive Wing who is guarding Damon sabonis tonight and doing a great job right he

Is a versatile Defender the biggest thing standing in Jonathan Isaac’s way is his health because he has suffered some pretty catastrophic injuries over the course of his career and he has missed a lot of time that that being said as we saw tonight do I think

Jonathan Isaac is a 25 point 10 of 13 shooting three of four from three-point range seven rebound one assist two block player every single time he plays if he stays healthy no like this was a massive game for him but he’s capable of having Knights like this and he’s capable more than capable

Of making the defensive impact that he made he changed the game early on when he came in right the kings were were rolling pretty early and then they the the magic went on a big push in very like in many ways the way like Malik

Makes an impact on a game or Keon Ellis has made an impact and a quick change for Sacramento when he comes on the floor that’s what Jonathan Isaac did against the Kings Tonight Jonathan has one season left on his contract after this season it’s a non-guaranteed season worth 17.4

Million I think he’s going to make a Major Impact for the Magic in the playoffs this year I’m very excited to watch the Magic in the playoffs this year because I think they’re very entertaining and they’re very fun even if I don’t like their interest in

Malik I have a hard time believing that wherever Isaac goes he won’t cash in completely on that full 17 million of course if he gets hurt then there’s like the well there there’s certain times that the the magic have before that contract becomes guaranteed so this is just completely spitballing

And throwing it into the wind here but like the Kings won’t be able to acquire Jonathan Isaac in free agency this summer plus they wouldn’t have the money to do so anyway but if there is ever a trade scenario or trade possibility in the future where the Kings could go out

And potentially get Jonathan Isaac I am all freaking for it I’m telling you I know again off the court he’s got his political beliefs and things like that and honestly it’s it’s nothing like he’s doing things illegal or or horrible anything like that if you don’t like him

As a person in his political beliefs and stuff like that that’s fine but as a basketball player in so many ways he’s exactly what the Sacramento King’s need I would have zero in or zero hesitation at all other than what are you giving up to get a player that’s been injury

Riddled to bring him to Sacramento I also trust that Monty wouldn’t do anything foolish and and overell to get him here I have no idea if the Kings have any interest in Jonathan Isaac I do so I’m using my platform here to speak on it but Jonathan Isaac was phenomenal

In this game tonight I would love to see him in a king’s Jersey sometime today’s episode of the locked on Kings podcast is also brought to you by eBay Mot M passion drive and patience what brings home the win is also what keeps your ride or die alive eBay Motors has

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Turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win keep your ride or die alive at ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply eBay guaranteed fit only available to us customers Keegan Murray has been in a bit of a funk offensively and we’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting for that

Offensive Breakout game it wasn’t the 40 fiveo performance that he had in Sacramento earlier on this season but in some ways I think it was just as needed or just as impressive 22 points for Keegan Murray tonight eight of 12 from the field six of seven from three-point range you love that also

Seven rebounds two assists and two blocks making an impact shooting the basketball still rebounding the basketball which he’s been doing a much better job in the month of March and then also making his defensive impact with the couple of blocks and just some solid defensive moments overall it’s the the question with

Murray breaking out of his offensive slump that he’s been in and has has gone through a couple times this season it’s never been about can he get back to or can he explode again for a 30 or 40o game the Kings would love that and they certainly could use that in the playoffs

But what’s more valuable to the Sacramento Kings especially entering playoff time is if Keegan Murray can become the guy that is you can like basically pencil in well pencil in means you can erase it you use permanent ink you can permanently write in like 17

Points a game if Keegan can be that guy string together a a consistent a long stretch of games where he has like 17 points or more going into the remainder of the season and and and throughout the playoffs right that to me is is what the

Kings need the most out of Keegan right now now you don’t want him to sacrifice his defense you don’t want him to sacrifice his recent rebounding success in order to achieve those 17 points in a game like tonight shows that he’s capable of that but Keegan has only

Scored 17 or more points three straight times once this season he’s had a number of games where he’s done it two games in a row but for the most part Keegan will have a couple big scoring nights and then it’s back down to the low teenss and barely double digits so I

I don’t think it’s unrealistic to make that request of Keegan if I’m Mike Brown right especially with Kevin herder out and who long knows how long Kevin herder is going to be out Keegan your defense has been phenomenal we’re going to continue to ask a lot

From you on the that end of the floor your rebounding has been so much better we’re going to continue that to expect that from you every single game scoring wise though we need the consistency and reliability of 17 points a night can give that to us if he does a let’s say a

Best of seven series again against whichever opponent if he does it five times in those seven games that’s fine misses it a couple of games like maybe 16 15 14 a couple of games I think the Kings can survive that what they that the reverse though can’t be the thing

You can’t get only two games of 17 plus points from Keegan Murray in a best of seven series and hope or and feel good about your chances of winning unless dearon Fox damanda sabonis and Malik monk are going crazy offensively basically every single night the kings are going to need steady scoring from

Keegan maybe a game or two of him going off and going crazy that would be great but more importantly for this Kings team in my opinion right now steady offensive input steady 17 points a game or more if he can do that the kings are in fantastic shape let’s talk about damont

Sabonis to really quick 21 points seven to 14 from the field I love that 14 number by the way I got on sabonis on Wednesday night for only taking what was it nine shots he only took nine shots on a game where offensively the kings were struggling number one and two were just

As short-handed as they were in tonight’s game no Sasha no herder no Trey Lyles in that game either and and sabonis only found nine Shots tonight he found 14 of them that 14 number it’s only five shots more but those five shots make a difference he shot 50% from

The field that gives him 20 plus points he’s one of three kings to have 20 plus points tonight also 14 rebounds and eight assists so with the double double that’s now 503 straight why is that number significant because that ties Kevin Love for the longest double double streak in

NBA history sabonis is tied it that means Monday against the 76ers he’ll either take the streak for himself he’ll he’ll become one one of one or he’ll end tide with Kevin Love and have another crack at it next year we’ll see but damanda sabonis is phenomenal he also I

Think broke his cons his his double double total double double record in the season last season I think it was 65 with the Kings tonight I think he got his 66th this season so I mean he’s just been unbelievable right unbelievable and he’s going to get Kevin Love’s record on

Monday I’m not afraid of jinxing that he’s going to get it he’s just that dominant statistically unless knock on wood he gets hurt which that shouldn’t count anyway against him regardless a couple more numbers I want to talk about quickly before we wrap up a couple of

Them bad most of them good let’s get the bad out of the way for the second straight game the Kings struggled to score in the paint I think they had 34 points in the paint against Washington tonight just 32 points only 31 of their 87 shot attempts were inside the paint

Again defensively I think this is a game plan like teams are packing the paint defensively against Sacramento and forcing them to to beat him from three-point range on paper coming into this season you would think that would have been a terrible strategy because of how many three-point weapons the Kings

Have on this this roster but like Jason Ross and I discussed yesterday just because they have a lot of three-point rep weapons doesn’t mean they’re a great three-point shooting team they’ve lived and died more often than not died from the three-point line at times this season they typically lose games when

They’re not hitting their threes so teams are daring them to shoot it and not letting Fox and sabonis and monk to have their way in the paint and get downhill but the King still even with defenses emphasizing that you need to come up with more than 32 points in the

Paint you’re going to be in big trouble I think in the playoffs if that’s all that you can muster also the Kings for the second straight game got outrebounded pretty handily 49 to 42 they were outrebounded the uh the the Orlando Magic had 12 offensive rebounds in this game including three straight offensive

Rebounds with a chance to I think it was EI I think it was to take the lead late in the fourth quarter they got three different cracks at it or maybe it was to tie the game regardless they got three different cracks at it and missed

All three which you give an NBA team three opportunities to score in one possession most of the time they’re going to score eventually so the Kings got to clean that up because we know how much that bit them in the butt last season in the playoffs so the Kings got

To figure that out but now to the good right a couple things in the good category and we’ll end on a positive note after this win 26 fast break points tonight that is King’s basketball they got out in transition got up and down the floor got good shots because of it

26 fast break points you’d love to see that only seven turnovers despite the fact that they were playing fast they were trying to get up and down this was a physical defensive game the Kings took care of the basketball you love to see that too plus it limited the Orlando

Magic in in scoring a lot of points off of uh turnovers and finally free throws Keon Ellis did MIT miss a clutch free throw it was funny it was like a Kings Gauntlet that the fans got put through the Kings gave up three offensive rebounds somehow stopped the the the the

Magic from scoring in those three straight looks then the Kings went back the other way Keon Ellis was fouled went to the free throw line for two free throws missed the first one which kept it a a close game for Orlando and it gave them a chance to win it there at

The end but the Kings is a hole from the free throw line 18 of 21 that’s 85% in a game that comes down to a couple of points free throws matter oh so much and there have been many games this season where it has been close that the

Kings have lost because they were shooting in the 70s or a lot of times worse than the 70s from the free throw line I think all of us are still contemplating or or nervous about the inevitable game in the playoffs where Sacramento is struggling to hit

The their free throws and whether or not they’re able to overcome that right overall a gritty hardfought really really impressive and and crucial win for Sacramento tonight on Orlando I’m glad they bounced back doesn’t forgive what happened on Wednesday but they bounced back they’re tied with the magic

Sorry they’re tied with the Mavericks they’re half a game back of the Suns in sixth now where do you go from here I don’t have the highest of expectations or the greatest of feelings of that game against the 76ers on Monday but I hope the Kings prove me wrong and get that

Win against Philadelphia who has been struggling as of late we’ll see if they’re able to do that because after that it’s basically a two game mini playoff series Kings Mavericks Tuesday night Friday night can’t wait for next week those games are going to be terrifying those games are going to be

Stressful but those are the games we live for especially in in March especially with the regular season still going on we’ll certainly take that versus the Kings paying attention and Kings fans paying attention to tank ofon and March Madness at this time of year right I appreciate your support so much

Here on the lockdown Kings podcast can’t wait to you join me on the next episode if you’re going to the game on Monday let me know hit me up I’m at the top of Section 105 I’d love to meet up with you and chat with you and say hi um but

Until next time my name is Matt George you’ve been listening to the lockon Kings podcast part of the locked on podcast Network

Matt George breaks down the Sacramento Kings’ crucial bounce-back victory in Orlando, where the defense continued its recent run of success.

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The Sacramento Kings Earn Gritty Victory With Their Legit(?) Defense
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