Kings gameday live: De’Aaron Fox erupts for 37 points, but Sacramento loses third in a row
Sacramento Kings at San Antonio Spurs
When: 5:30 p.m.
Where: AT&T Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Even
Over/under: 220
Morning injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Terence Davis (ankle); Tyrese Haliburton (back). OUT — Louis King (G League); Neemias Queta (G League); Robert Woodard II (G League).
Spurs: QUESTIONABLE — Keita Bates-Diop (back). OUT — Zach Collins (ankle); Jakob Poeltl (health and safety protocols).
Haliburton, Davis are questionable
The Kings could be shorthanded again when they open a four-game road trip against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at AT&T Center.
Guard Tyrese Haliburton is listed as questionable after missing Monday’s 109-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns due to lower back tightness. Guard Terence Davis is questionable due to left ankle soreness.
Kings coach Luke Walton was asked about Haliburton’s status following Monday’s game. Walton said he wasn’t sure when Haliburton would return, but he did not seem concerned about an extended absence.
“It’s a back,” Walton said. “Sometimes your back goes out and it goes for a day, sometimes it goes longer, but there’s no injury that we’re concerned about. You just can’t play until the back is loose.”
Walton started Buddy Hield in place of Haliburton against the Suns. Hield had 14 points and six rebounds, but he made just 5 of 16 from the field and 3 of 11 from 3-point range. Davis came off the bench to provide a spark, scoring 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3 of 6 from beyond the arc.
The Kings (5-6) are coming off back-to-back home losses. They suffered a 94-91 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday before losing to the Suns on Monday.
The Spurs (3-7) are coming off a 99-94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Spurs center Jakob Poeltl is out due to NBA health and safety protocols. Forward Keita Bates-Diop is questionable with a lower back contusion.
Poeltl is averaging 13.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists this season. Bates-Diop is averaging 3.4 points and 3.1 rebounds.
Beware of Dejounte Murray
Opposing guards have feasted on Sacramento’s porous perimeter defense in recent years, but that has changed with the addition of rookie first-round draft pick Davion Mitchell. The Kings will be tested once more by Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray, who is having the best year of his career.
Murray, 25, is averaging career highs of 17.6 points, 8.3 assists, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 steals. He posted a triple-double in an Oct. 26 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, finishing with 21 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds. Murray is also causing havoc on defense with eight steals and three blocked shots in the past three games.
Ruled out
The Spurs have ruled out Bates-Diop due to his lower back contusion, according to the team’s afternoon injury report. The Spurs are making G League players Joshua Primo and Joe Wieskamp available for the game. Primo has appeared in two games this season. Wieskamp has yet to make his NBA debut.
Still sidelined
During his pregame news conference, Walton said Haliburton and Davis would both be unavailable against the Spurs.
“Unfortunately, (Haliburton’s) back is still tight, so he will be out tonight,” Walton said. “TD will be out with the ankle as well tonight.”
Walton said Hield would start again in place of Haliburton.
Kings lose again
Fox erupted for a season-high 37 points, but the Kings couldn’t overcome another poor start in a 136-107 loss to the Spurs.
Sacramento was outscored 17-7 over the first five minutes and 34-20 in the opening period. The Kings trailed by as many as 25 against the Spurs, who came in averaging 107.4 points per game.
San Antonio shot 53.3% from the field and made 18 of 32 (.563) from 3-point range. Murray finished with 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Drew Eubanks had 18 points, Doug McDermott added 17 and Thaddeus Young came off the bench to post 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
Fox made 14 of 24 field-goal attempts, 2 of 5 from 3-point range and 7 of 8 at the free-throw line for the Kings, who have lost three in a row. The Kings shot 51.1%, but they made just 10 of 36 from beyond the arc and gave up 20 points off 14 turnovers.
The Kings spent a lot of time talking about their third-quarter collapse in Monday’s loss to Phoenix, but they started the game against the Spurs the same way they started the second half against the Suns.
“I’m as surprised as you are,” Walton said. “We watched it as a group last night when we got into San Antonio. We watched that third quarter (against Phoenix) and then we watched the fourth quarter to visually see the difference, talk about it, and, really, I don’t have an answer for you because I thought we were going to come out with much more energy tonight.
“Maybe coming off the five (games) in seven (nights) and then flying to Texas on the one (off) day. I don’t know. Maybe there’s some fatigue kicking in, but we’ve got to be able to fight through that. We can’t give in to that this early in the season, so whatever the reason was, it’s not a good excuse. We’ve got to get back and start playing some better basketball again.”
Note: Check back for updates with the latest news, notes, quotes and injury updates before, during and after tonight’s game between the Kings and Spurs.
This story was originally published November 10, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
