It was cold outside in Chicago, but how hot were the Kings against the Bulls?
Here are three takeaways from the Kings’ 108-89 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night at United Center:
Fox catches fire
The Kings trailed by 13 early in the third quarter following a frustrating first half in which De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield combined for five points on 1-of-12 shooting. That’s when Fox and Hield caught fire.
The scoring barrage started quietly enough with two free throws from Fox. He followed that trip to the line with an emphatic transition dunk, a 3-pointer from the right wing, another 3 from the top of the arc and then a lightning-quick crossover that resulted in an uncontested floater in the lane.
The Kings still trailed by two before Hield checked into the game and drilled a 3-pointer, giving his team a 75-74 lead. Hield then hit another 3 while falling to the floor, and Fox buried one from the corner in front of the Bulls’ bench, putting the Kings up 81-74.
After being held to 45 points in the first half, Sacramento scored 36 in the third quarter and 27 in the fourth.
Fox totaled 25 points, six assists and four rebounds for the Kings, who concluded their four-game trip with a 3-1 record. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Marvin Bagley III had 16 points apiece. Hield had 14 points. Willie Cauley-Stein had 11 points and 16 rebounds.
Looking ahead
As grueling as this trip was with four games in seven nights, freezing temperatures in Cleveland, Indianapolis and Chicago and a difficult game against the Pacers, the Kings might look back on it as one of the easiest portions of their schedule.
The road ahead looks more difficult. Over the next four weeks, the Kings will run the gauntlet, playing 13 games in a row against Western Conference playoff contenders who were .500 or better going into Monday’s games.
The schedule includes two games each against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. The Kings will also play the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets.
“We’re in the West, sir,” Cauley-Stein said. “It’s always difficult in the West.”
Zach attack
The Kings got their first look at Bulls guard Zach LaVine — a player they tried to sign over the summer — and probably saw more than they wanted to see.
LaVine had 19 points, two rebounds and two assists. He made 7 of 13 field-goal attempts and 3 of 5 from 3-point range. He drove down the middle for a highlight-reel dunk in the first quarter and buried a big 3-pointer after the Kings cut the deficit to six midway through the third.
The Kings signed LaVine to a four-year, $78 million offer sheet in July, leaving the Bulls with two days to match the offer. The Bulls matched, and the Kings moved on to other free-agent targets.
Going into Monday’s game, Lavine was averaging 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He was shooting 44.4 percent from the field but a career-low 30.9 percent from 3-point range.