Kings can’t recover from slow start, lose to Jazz and chance at winning record

The Kings entered Friday with a shot at finishing with their first winning record in 13 years.

The Jazz had no interest in being gracious hosts. Utah opened the game with a 13-0 run and never trailed in handing Sacramento a 119-98 loss at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

Buddy Hield scored 17 points to lead the Kings (39-41), who can still finish at .500 with victories Sunday at home against the New Orleans Pelicans and at the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday in the season finale.

“We’re going to finish .500,” Hield said. “It was just a bad one tonight.”

Winning one of the remaining games will put the Kings at 40 victories, which would be their highest win total since they last made the playoffs in 2005-06.

“Well I think that’s a big deal,” Kings coach Dave Joerger said before the game on the team trying to reach the 40-win mark. “I think there’s a big difference between 40-something and 30-something aesthetically to the eye. Real credit to our guys and the work that they put in. It’s been an exciting season and hopefully we can finish this out.”

On top of losing the game, the Kings, who were already without center Willie Cauley-Stein for personal reasons, saw two players leave with injuries Friday. Guard De’Aaron Fox (foot) and center Kosta Koufos (calf) each left in the first half and did not return. Joerger said the Kings were taking Saturday off, so an update on both players likely won’t come until Sunday.

Donovan Mitchell had 23 points and nine assists for the Jazz (49-30) and Grayson Allen made his first nine shots and scored a career-high 23 points.

“I don’t care who you are,” Hield said about Allen’s night. “If you’re in the league and you see a couple shots go down, you’re going to feel good.”

Allen entered the game averaging 4.1 points this season and set a career high with 14 points in his last game.

This story was originally published April 5, 2019 at 9:13 PM.