Sacramento Kings’ Chimezie Metu looks to shoot past Milwaukee Bucks’ Brook Lopez during the first half at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Wed Dec 7, 2022 (AP News photo)
Kings Winning Streak Comes To An End Bucks Beat Sacramento 126-113
By Barbara Mason
Wednesday night the Sacramento Kings (13-10) faced the Milwaukee Bucks (18-6) at Fiserv Forum. This was a huge challenge for Sacramento and they needed team leader De’Aaron Fox to be on his A game. The Kings, this season have shown some great defense.
They have risen from 18th in defense climbing steadily and in their past few games have been an amazing fourth in defense. The Kings just fell short getting defeated by the Bucks 126-113.
The Bucks outscored the Kings in both quarters in the first half. Milwaukee led after the opening quarter 34-29. They would extend their lead at the half leading 68-61. The Kings had done a great job in staying competitive in this game. They did take an 8-0 lead in the first quarter. This game was tied at 25 with 4:12 left in the opening quarter but the Bucks began to turn things around for the 34-29 lead after one.
The second quarter was very competitive for the Kings. The Bucks won the quarter by two points but Sacramento hung close through the entire quarter. Fox only had six points in the half and it was Harrison Barnes with 13 and Domantas Sabonis with 12 that kept the team afloat. The high score for the Kings was bench player Malik Monk with 14 points.
In the third quarter the Bucks took their largest lead of the game 78-66. Only four minutes into the quarter Milwaukee threatened to break the game wide open. Sacramento had a lot of work to do and they needed Fox who was having a rough shooting night hitting only two of eight.
An 8-0 run for Sacramento cut the Buck lead dramatically trailing 80-76 with under seven left in the third. After three quarters the Kings trailed by a mere three points 97-94. Fox had a great third quarter and had 13 points along with Huerter and Murray who each had 13 points for the game.
With five minutes left in the game the Bucks had a 12 point lead 117-105 and Milwaukee clearly had control of these final minutes. The Kings three game winning streak was in jeopardy. The final was 126-113. The Kings hung in this game for three quarters but could not finish this game strong the way they came into the game.
The Kings got another double double from Sabonis. He finished with 23 points. Every starter had double digits with Barnes shooting for 20 points Monk finished with 16 points. Sacramento could not handle the combination of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday. They had a combined 66 points for the game.
The Kings continue on this very tough road trip taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM.
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