Kings get belted on the boards by the Indiana Pacers, fall back to .500
Ten games into the NBA season, there is an abundance of optimism but some lingering concern rooted in a correctable problem.
Kings coach Luke Walton wouldn’t go as far Sunday as saying “concern,” but the one bugaboo that irks any coach at any level of basketball is a breakdown in fundamentals. For as much as the NBA has changed, from a big-man sport for decades to the recent barrage of 3-point shooting, games are still won and lost on fundamentals, such as boxing out and rebounding.
The Kings lost 94-91 to the Indiana Pacers at Golden 1 Center, undone by too many shots that were too short or too long, including two in the maddening final seconds, and the inability to snag boards.
Indiana outrebounded the Kings 54-33, a staggering difference, and there were boards to be had as the Kings shot just 29 percent from 3-point range and 36 percent overall in front of 12,993 fans, the smallest crowd of the season and one that took awhile to get going, just like the product in front of them.
The Kings stand at .500 through the first mini lap of a marathon season, which is encouraging given the schedule and the franchise’s struggles over the years. The Kings last produced a winning campaign in 2006, also the last playoff appearance.
“I’m encouraged by our competitive spirit and our competitiveness and our togetherness, and I’m encouraged where we’re headed,” Walton said. “I know what needs to get better, and that’s rebounding.”
Everyone in Indiana’s starting lineup hit for double figures, led by the 22 points by guard Caris LeVert and the 12 points and 15 rebounds from center Myles Turner and the 17 and 10 from forward Domantas Sabonis. The Pacers (4-7) were bigger across the line than the Kings, by design. The Kings were coming off a 140-110 home rout of the Charlotte Hornets where everything worked, from 3-point bombs to boards.
“It was clear their game plan was to slow us down,” Walton said. “They played a bigger style of basketball. Give them credit. That’s a team built for the Eastern Conference playoffs.”
Added the coach on the art of boards, “We’ve got to box out, got to attack the ball off the rim and not wait for it. When we do that, we’re a good rebounding team.”
Still, the Kings had their chances. De’Aaron Fox missed a runner down the lane with 8 seconds left and Tyrese Haliburton missed a 3 on the Kings’ final good look. The plan was to have Barnes isolate on top of the key, but the Pacers took that option away. Option 2 was Haliburton taking the 3, of which he’s more than capable, having made three already in the game.
Golden 1 went suddenly silence as his shot missed, almost in slow motion, and people bolted for the exit as if they were handing out cash prizes out front. The good news, as announced by public address announcer Scott Moak, was the fans earned a free taco because the Kings made 10 3’s.
“I would take that shot, absolutely,” Walton said of Haliburton’s attempt.
Harrison Barnes led the Kings with 22 points. Fox and Haliburton scored 17 each and Buddy Hield also had 17, including 3 on a spinning shot just inside halfcourt to beat the first-quarter buzzer.
Said Fox, “We were right there but it wasn’t enough.”
The Kings host defending Western Conference champion Phoenix on Monday before embarking on a four-game road streak, starting at San Antonio on Wednesday.
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 5:52 AM.