Lost: De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III hurt again in double-OT loss to Timberwolves
The Kings lost De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III to new injuries and then suffered their worst loss yet, falling 105-104 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in double overtime Thursday night at Golden 1 Center.
Gorgui Dieng had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves (11-19), who had lost 11 in a row and were without the services of star big man Karl-Anthony Towns due to a sprained left knee. Robert Covington scored 19 points. Andrew Wiggins had 18.
Richaun Holmes had 20 points and 18 rebounds for the Kings (12-19), who have lost five in a row. Bogdan Bogdanovic had 19 points on 8-of-28 shooting. Bagley scored 18 points before leaving the game with a left foot injury in the third quarter. He left the locker room in a walking boot.
There was no immediate update on the condition of Fox or Bagley after the game. Kings coach Luke Walton said the team would know more Friday.
tThe Kings controlled the action early and led throughout the first quarter. They were up 35-29 with 8:22 to play in the second period, but the Timberwolves mounted a 7-0 run to take a 36-35 lead on a layup by Shabazz Napier.
Minnesota carried a 50-48 lead into the break despite shooting just 40 percent from the field and making 5 of 22 from 3-point range. The Kings were even worse, shooting 34.1 percent overall while making 4 of 17 from beyond the arc.
Sacramento went up by nine on a basket by Bogdanovic in the third quarter. The Kings led 79-71 going into the final period, but they were outscored 19-11 in the fourth. The game went into overtime after both teams missed shots in the final seconds, which was rather fitting considering each side shot less than 36 percent in regulation.
The Timberwolves outscored the Kings 8-2 to start the second overtime session. Kings guard Buddy Hield had a chance to win the game, but he missed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc as time expired.
De’Aaron Fox leaves early
Fox left the game with back spasms early in the first quarter and did not return. Fox hobbled off the court immediately after contesting a shot at the defensive end less than two minutes into the contest.
Fox only recently returned after missing 17 games with a grade-3 ankle sprain. In his first four games after his return, he averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds. He had one of his best games of the season in Monday’s loss to the Houston Rockets, tying his season high with 31 points while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out six assists.
Fox is averaging 18.8 points, 6.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds.
Marvin Bagley III hurt again
Bagley limped off the floor in obvious discomfort with 4:05 remaining in the third quarter after grabbing a defensive rebound. The Kings later announced Bagley would not return due to a left foot injury.
Bagley posted a season-high 18 points and four rebounds before leaving the game. He made 6 of 10 from the field and 6 of 7 free throws but missed all three of his 3-point attempts.
Bagley recently returned after missing 22 games with a broken thumb. He averaged 13.0 points and 6.9 rebounds in his first seven games since coming back from the injury.
Shooting woes continue for Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield’s shooting struggles continued against the Timberwolves. He missed five of his first six shots before finishing 6 of 19 from the field and 3 of 11 from 3-point range. Hield was 4 of 28 from 3-point range in the three previous games. He is 7 of 39 (.179) over the past four games.
“His shot will come,” Walton said before the game. “I’m not concerned about it. … If he starts turning down open 3s, then I’ll start worrying about it.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic is back
The Kings listed Bogdanovic as questionable in the hours leading up to the game, but he was cleared to play shortly before tipoff after missing the three previous games due to right ankle soreness.
The Kings missed Bogdanovic’s scoring and playmaking ability while he was out. They are 0-5 when he does not play this season.
Injury report
Timberwolves: OUT — Karl-Anthony Towns (knee), Jake Layman (toe).
Kings: None.
Kings upcoming schedule
Dec. 28 vs. Phoenix Suns, 6 p.m.
Dec. 31 vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 2 p.m.
Jan. 2 vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.
Jan. 4 vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.
This story was originally published December 26, 2019 at 9:58 PM.
