No-show Kings disappearing from NBA playoff race after 132-116 loss to Orlando Magic
The Kings took exception when the national media neglected to acknowledge their existence in the Western Conference playoff race leading up to the NBA restart at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, but so far they haven’t shown up.
The Kings fell behind by double digits in the opening period and never recovered, dropping to 0-2 in the NBA bubble with a 132-116 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday at HP Field House.
Terrence Ross came off the bench to score 25 points for the Magic (32-35), who are battling the Brooklyn Nets for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 11 rebounds. Aaron Gordon scored 22.
Harry Giles III had a career-high 23 points and eight rebounds for the Kings (28-38), who will now face a series of must-win games if they hope to stay in the playoff race. Sacramento squandered an opportunity to gain ground on the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies, who lost earlier in the day.
“It’s tough,” Giles said. “You just got to keep fighting. Still have six games left. Can’t get too down on ourselves because it’s still basketball and if you quit now, you’re going to be done. There’s no need to have six games left and have no fight left. We’ve got to have some fight. It’s frustrating because we had high hopes coming in here. I’m not saying that it’s over. I’m just saying that it’s a tough spot for us right now. We just have to stay positive and get back to work and try to just turn it around each game. That’s all we can do at this point.”
De’Aaron Fox was held to 13 points after scoring a career-high 39 in Friday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Buddy Hield continued to struggle in the bubble, scoring 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field and 2-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.
The Kings lacked energy, urgency and focus from the outset, but the game was a nice showcase for Giles, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the organization declined to pick up his option for the 2020-21 season. Giles made 9 of 11 from the field and converted five of his six free-throw opportunities to surpass his previous career high of 20 points against the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 30, 2019.
Giles was asked about playing with pride despite the team’s struggles.
“In my situation, that’s what I have to do anyways, come off the bench and show pride,” Giles said. “When we’re down, lacking energy, lacking some swag, not really being ourselves right now, it’s for guys like me who come in and provide energy and have been around for those last three years to come in and put some Sacramento swag on it or something. Just put some fight in the game because these last two games haven’t been good. I’m not going to bash my teammates because those are my guys. We go to war. They work hard. We’ve just got to play harder. We’ve just got to come together.”
Kings get blown out
The Kings won the opening tip and immediately threw the ball away, committing their first turnover six seconds into the game. The Magic jumped out to a 7-0 lead over the first 1:15 and went up 21-12 on a 3-pointer by D.J. Augustin. Gordon encountered little resistance, making each of his first four shots on a variety of easy layups and floaters. Markelle Fultz made a 75-foot heave at the buzzer to put Orlando up 44-26 at the end of the first quarter.
The Magic continued to pour it on against the defenseless Kings early in the second period. Orlando went up by 21 on a 3-pointer by Fultz and led 57-33 following a 3-pointer by Ross. Giles provided a spark off the bench to help the Kings cut the deficit to 17, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Gordon pushed the lead back up to 23.
Sacramento fell behind 57-33 early in the second quarter and trailed 78-54 at the half. The Kings shot 47.7% from the field in the first half, but they made only 3 of 15 from 3-point range, committed eight turnovers and committed 14 fouls, sending Orlando to the free-throw line 15 times. The Magic shot a blistering 61.9% from the field and knocked down 11 of 19 (.579) from beyond the arc.
The Magic led by 35 going into the fourth quarter. There was a frightening moment when Magic forward Jonathan Isaac went down with an apparent left knee injury with 9:19 remaining. Isaac was taken off the floor in a wheelchair as players from both team offered encouragement.
Isaac was expected to miss the rest of the season after injuring the same knee in January. He returned for the team’s final scrimmage in the bubble and scored 16 points in Friday’s win over the Nets.
Coach’s challenge
Walton made wise use of his coach’s challenge after Fox was whistled for two fouls in a span of 32 seconds midway through the first quarter. The first offense was a reaching foul against Augustin. The second came when Augustin tried to draw a charge on the driving Fox at the other end of the floor.
Fox made a driving floater, but officials called him for an offensive foul. Walton immediately challenged the call. Officials determined Augustin had not established position. They reversed the call and hit Augustin with a blocking foul, sending Fox to the free-throw line to complete a three-point play.
Walton improved to 17-11 in coach’s challenges this season.
Kokoskov leaves Kings for Fenerbahce
Kings assistant coach Igor Kokoskov officially parted ways with the team and exited the NBA bubble Saturday to begin a new chapter in his career as head coach for Fenerbahce of the EuroLeague.
Kokoskov joined Luke Walton’s staff in Sacramento this season after serving as head coach of the Phoenix Suns in 2018-19. He has more than 20 years of coaching experience in the NBA and internationally, and was named head coach of the Serbian national team earlier this season. Kokoskov landed the new job with Fenerbahce in early July but remained with the Kings until Saturday.
The Kings said Walton will conduct a search for a replacement during the offseason.
“I’d like to congratulate Igor on his promotion to head coach of Fenerbahce and thank him for his dedicated time with the Kings,” Walton said. “He has been a valuable member of my coaching staff and his natural ability to guide our players will continue to inspire the team as we move forward in Orlando. We wish him all the best.”
Up next
The Kings will face the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday. Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double in a wild 153-149 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday, finishing with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Kristaps Porzingis had a big game as well, posting 39 points and 16 rebounds.
Kings upcoming schedule
Spurs 109, Kings 100
Magic 132, Kings 116
Aug. 4 vs. Mavericks, 11:30 a.m. (NBCS)
Aug. 6 vs. Pelicans, 10:30 a.m. (NBCS, NBA TV)
Aug. 7 vs. Nets, 2 p.m. (NBCS)
Aug. 9 vs. Rockets, 5 p.m. (NBCS)
Aug. 11 vs. Pelicans, 6 p.m. (NBCS, TNT)
Aug. 13 vs. Lakers, TBD (NBCS)
This story was originally published August 2, 2020 at 5:37 PM.
