Decade of futility: Kings end 2010s with loss to Kawhi Leonard’s Los Angeles Clippers

A decade of misery and misfortune ended fittingly with another frustrating loss and hopes for a more prosperous new year.

The Kings began the decade with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 1, 2010, and ended it with a 105-87 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday at Golden 1 Center.

Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points for the Clippers (24-11). Paul George just missed a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

Richaun Holmes had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings (12-22), who have lost eight in a row. Buddy Hield had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists for Sacramento, the only team in the NBA that did not reach the playoffs in the 2010s.

“They showed why they’re one of the top teams in the league and we’ve got to learn from it,” Kings coach Luke Walton said. “Keep working, build and (have) high expectations for 2020. It’s going to be a better year.”

The Kings were blown out despite off shooting nights by Leonard and George, who combined to make just 14 of 46 from the field and 4 of 21 from 3-point range.

The Kings have lost 10 in a row against the Clippers dating back to 2017. They haven’t beaten them in Sacramento since March 19, 2013, losing 14 in a row to the Clippers at home.

The Kings kept the game close in the first quarter as Leonard and George combined to miss 11 of their first 13 shots. The Clippers took control in the second period, staging an 11-2 run to open up a double-digit lead. Los Angeles led by as many as 18 in the first half and went up by 19 in the third quarter.

The Kings cut the deficit to 11 in the fourth, but they couldn’t get any closer.

Happy for Harry

Backup big man Harry Giles III received a warm ovation when he checked into the game for the first time with 4:08 to play in the first quarter. Giles finished with six points, two rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes off the bench.

Giles appeared in his second game in a row after posting 11 points, three rebounds and three assists in a 120-115 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Prior to Sunday’s game, Giles had not played since Nov. 27. He had not appeared in a home game since Nov. 17. Giles missed the start of the season with knee soreness and has had trouble establishing a role in Walton’s rotation.

Walton said he chose to play Giles against the Nuggets and Clippers based on matchups and the fact that the Kings were playing three games in four nights, but his role going forward remains unclear.

“Harry did a very nice job with his opportunity (against the Nuggets) … and he’ll get more of an opportunity tonight,” Walton said before Tuesday’s game. “Besides that, I can’t speak on what it’s going to look like a week from now.”

Bagley still sidelined

Second-year forward Marvin Bagley III missed his third game in a row with a midfoot sprain. Bagley sustained the injury in the third quarter of a double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. The Kings said he would miss “a few games,” but the team has provided no definitive timetable for his return.

Bagley previously missed 22 games with a broken right thumb. He has appeared in nine games this season, averaging 13.7 points and 6.9 rebounds.

Shorthanded Clippers

The Kings caught the Clippers shorthanded without two of their best backcourt players. Clippers guards Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams both missed the game.

Beverley, the team’s starting point guard, was unavailable after hurting his right wrist in a 120-107 loss to the Utah Jazz on Saturday. X-rays were negative, but Beverley is expected to miss a few games. Beverley was an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection in 2017 and and All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2014.

Williams, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2015, 2018 and 2019, was held out due to personal reasons. Williams is the team’s third-leading scorer. He averages 19.0 points and 6.3 assists per game.

Injury report

Clippers: OUT — Patrick Beverley (wrist), Lou Williams (personal).

Kings: OUT — Marvin Bagley III (foot).

Kings upcoming schedule

Jan. 2 vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.

Jan. 4 vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Jan. 6 vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.

Jan. 7 at Phoenix, 6 p.m.

Jan. 10 vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 4:22 PM.