Kings gameday live: Losing streak continues as Thunder steals victory from Sacramento
Coach Luke Walton admitted his team’s toughness, togetherness and resolve are being tested after the Kings lost their fourth in a row Friday night, falling 105-103 to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
“It’s being tested, but it’s not going anywhere,” Walton said. “We’re together. We’re a group that’s worked too hard. We’re 13 games into a season and, yeah, it’s a tough patch right now, but we’re not going anywhere. We’re sticking together. We’ll get through it together.”
The Kings still had a chance to win after squandering an 18-point third-quarter lead, but Luguentz Dort poked the ball away from De’Aaron Fox and drove to the basket for the game-winning layup with 1.7 seconds remaining.
The Kings went 5-4 to start the season despite playing the league’s toughest schedule, but now they’ve lost four in a row, conjuring memories of two nine-game losing streaks last season.
“I’m at a loss for words for tonight, but I think in general if we’re going to preach consistency, we have to live up to that, and right now there’s too many areas in our game where we’re not doing that,” Kings forward Harrison Barnes said.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort scored 22 points apiece for the Thunder (5-6), which has won four in a row. Oklahoma City finished with a 52-49 rebounding advantage despite getting outrebounded 33-25 in the first half.
Barnes scored 21 points to lead the Kings (5-8). Richaun Holmes had 16 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots. Fox had 16 points and five assists.
Tyrese Haliburton returned to the starting lineup after missing two games with back tightness. Haliburton finished with eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
The Kings will continue their four-game road trip when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
“I’m frustrated. I think we’re all frustrated,” Haliburton said. “If you’re not, you shouldn’t be here, so guys are mad. Nobody’s happy losing — nobody — so I’m not going to come up here and say everything’s fine. It’s not. We’re angry, but we can’t control tonight’s outcome anymore. We’ve got to just get in tomorrow, workout, get ready for Detroit. One game at a time. That’s all we can really do, but, yeah, obviously we’re frustrated.”
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).
Thunder: OUT — Vit Krejci (G League); Theo Maledon (G League); Isaiah Roby (G League); Paul Watson (G League); Aaron Wiggins (G League).
Haliburton, Davis remain questionable
The Kings could be missing two members of their backcourt again Friday when they try to end their three-game losing streak against an Oklahoma City Thunder squad that is riding a surprising three-game winning streak.
Kings guards Tyrese Haliburton and Terence Davis are listed as questionable against the Thunder after missing Wednesday’s 136-117 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Haliburton has missed the last two games due to low back soreness. The 2021 Rookie of the Year finalist is averaging 13.6 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds this season. Davis, who was held out of Wednesday’s game due to left ankle soreness, is averaging 4.1 points and 1.4 rebounds.
The Kings (5-7) have lost three in a row to the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and Spurs despite the reemergence of De’Aaron Fox, who is averaging 23.6 points on 48.4% shooting over the past five games. The Thunder (4-6) is coming off a string of victories over the Los Angeles Lakers, Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans.
Oklahoma City is led by point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 22.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Rookie guard Josh Giddey is starting alongside Gilegous-Alexander, averaging 9.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists.
Oklahoma City is 29th in the NBA in scoring at 99.1 points per game, but the Thunder is 13th in scoring defense, holding opponents to 106.7 points per contest. The Kings are sixth in the NBA in scoring (110.9) but 26th in scoring defense (111.5).
Fox watch
Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox picked up his production over the past two games with Haliburton out of the lineup, but Fox was already turning a corner before Haliburton started experiencing back tightness.
Over the first seven games this season, Fox went 47 of 129 (.364) from the field, 6 of 39 (.153) from 3-point range and 24 of 38 (.631) at the free-throw line. Over the last five games, he has made 44 of 91 field-goal attempts, 6 of 15 from 3-point range and 24 of 30 free throws, shooting 48.4% from the field, 40% from beyond the arc and 80% at the stripe.
Fox scored a season-high 37 points with six assists, three blocked shots, two rebounds and one steal in Wednesday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He is now averaging 20.2 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds.
Gametime decisions
Kings coach Luke Walton provided updates on Haliburton and Davis during his pregame news conference. Walton said both players will be gametime decisions.
“They’re going to get out there on the court and do their pregame workouts, and we’ll see how they’re doing,” Walton said.
They’re back
The Kings announced about 30 minutes before tipoff that Haliburton and Davis would be available against the Thunder, good news for a team that needs to get back on track after losing the first game of this four-game road trip.
Haliburton will return to the starting lineup next to Fox with Harrison Barnes at small forward, Chimezie Metu at power forward and Richaun Holmes at center.
Shakeup
Walton made a significant change to the starting lineup, inserting Metu at power forward in place of Maurice Harkless.
Metu has appeared in only three games this season, averaging 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He came off the bench to post 13 points and six rebounds while knocking down 5 of 9 field-goal attempts and 3 of 7 from 3-point range in Wednesday’s loss to the Spurs.
Harkless started the first 11 games for the Kings but has struggled to get going offensively. He is averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 40.4% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc.
Halftime
The entertainment district in Oklahoma City is known as Bricktown. The Kings and Thunder fired up a bunch of bricks in the first quarter, but Sacramento took control in the second period to open up a 62-48 lead.
The teams combined for 39 points on 16-of-51 shooting in the opening period before the Kings erupted for 39 points of their own in the second quarter. Fox and Barnes attacked the paint to get to the free-throw line nine times. Holmes came out with great energy and aggression, posting 10 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots in 16 minutes.
The Kings held the Thunder to 35.8% shooting while amassing a 33-25 rebounding advantage.
Sacramento Kings at Oklahoma City Thunder
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Paycom Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Kings -4
Over/under: 218
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 Thunder.
This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
