By Morris Phillips
That familiar, streetball taunt, “You can’t guard me!” took on a broader context Sunday night at the Chase Center.
As in, nobody in a white Kings’ uniform can guard anyone in a blue Warriors uniform for the next 12 minutes… or so it seemed.
The Warriors’ 50-point, second quarter laid the Kings to waste in Sacramento’s 130-125 loss that dropped them to 0-3 to start the season. Even the Kings’ late push that saw them down 126-122 with 1:04 remaining was more about the hosts than the Kings, as the Warriors missed 12 consecutive shots in the fourth. That drought prompted Coach Steve Kerr to get his starters back in the game.
The Kings trailed 89-71 at halftime, and that set a record for the most points a Sacramento Kings team has allowed in a half.
“We can’t give up 50 points in the second quarter, or no quarters,” Malik Monk said. “It’s hard to win an NBA game like that.”
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 33 points. Nineteen of those came in the last, seven minutes before halftime as the superstar hit his all-too-familar boiling point. Andrew Wiggins kicked in 24 for Golden State
The Kings first three opponents have dropped 34 made threes while shooting better than 38 percent from distance. An even more troubling trend is found in the Kings’ frequent fouling. The Warriors attempted 36 free throws (making 26) bringing the total for the Kings’ opponents to 91 attempts in just three games.
De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 26 points, but he missed five of six from three. Fox’s backcourt mate, Kevin Huerter had accuracy issues as well missing 11 of his 14 shots and finished with nine points.
Domantas Sabonis unfortunately was on the floor for the densest portions of Golden State’s onslaught. The Kings power forward collected 19 points, 14 rebounds but was an unsightly -25 on the plus/minus meter in just 22 minutes on the floor.
The Kings’ seven reserves that played were fantastic, combing for 26 made baskets on 54 shot attempts. That production allowed the Kings to turn a 26-point, third quarter deficit into a more palatable 5-point loss.
Keegan Murray and Richaun Holmes each scored 16 points, and Monk added 15.
“Mike’s doing a great job with those guys,” coach Steve Kerr said. “They’re fighting, they’re competing. They’ve had three close losses now to start the year.
“We let our guard down and they took advantage of it.”
The Kings host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday at Golden 1 Center.
KINGS GET RINGS: Coach Mike Brown and his assistant coach Leandro Barbosa received championship rings in a ceremony before the game in recognition of their contributions to the Warriors’ coaching staff in 2021-22.
Brown spent six seasons with the Warriors, almost all of that time as Kerr’s lead assistant.
“Fantastic friends there,” Brown said when asked about the occasion on Saturday. “Still got my place a block and a half from the arena and all that stuff, but I’m locked in on this game tomorrow.”
Sports Radio Service 