How Harkless encouraged Hield in Kings’ loss to Warriors a day after their sideline spat
Maurice Harkless and Buddy Hield exchanged words again as the game was getting away from the Kings in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors Monday night, but it was different this time.
A day after Harkless barked at Hield during a heated exchange on the Sacramento bench, Harkless was seen offering Hield instruction, encouragement and a handshake. That moment wouldn’t change the Kings’ fate in a 113-98 loss to the Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, but it was a welcome sight for a team that has endured a series of hardships over the past four weeks.
“We talk about communication a lot,” Barnes said. “It’s something that has improved over the course of the season, but it has to get better. That’s an example of guys talking it out. It’s great to talk it out on the sideline, but we’ve got to bring that back to the court to those live situations.”
Stephen Curry scored 30 points to lead the Warriors (25-6), who avoided their first two-game losing streak following a blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors. Damion Lee scored 18 points. Draymond Green had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, his first triple-double of the season and the 31st of his career.
Tyrese Haliburton recorded his third consecutive double-double with 24 points and 11 assists for the Kings (13-19). Barnes scored 19 points. Hield had 18, five rebounds and four steals with five turnovers. Chimezie Metu added 16 points.
Haliburton agreed communication is key for a Kings team that seems to be putting a new emphasis on individual accountability.
“Quiet teams lose, so we’ve got to communicate more. We’ve got to talk more. It’s just going to help us in the long run.”
Acting coach Doug Christie was proud of the way his team competed against a “championship-level team” with seven players out due to injury and NBA health and safety protocols. Over a span of about 30 hours, Hield played a total of 80 minutes with Haliburton (79) and Barnes (77) also logging heavy minutes.
“We’re not looking for moral victories,” Christie said. “That’s not what we are doing, but what we are looking for is growth on a night-to-night basis.”
De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell, Terence Davis, Louis King, Marvin Bagley III and Alex Len were out for the third game in a row after entering NBA health and safety protocols. Richaun Holmes missed his seventh consecutive game due to a right eye laceration.
The Kings faced a daunting task on the second night of a back-to-back against a Warriors squad that is now tied with the Phoenix Suns for the best record in the NBA. Hield and Barnes played 40 minutes apiece in Sunday’s 121-114 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Haliburton played 38 minutes. Harkless logged 32 minutes off the bench.
The fatigue was evident at times for the Kings, who trailed 13-4 after going 2 of 12 from the field to start the game. Sacramento was fortunate to be down by only 10 after shooting 36.4% with seven turnovers in the opening period. The Kings managed to get within three on a 3-pointer by Barnes early in the second quarter, but they trailed 58-46 at the half.
Sacramento was down by 15 early in the second half. That’s when Hield got hot. He made five 3-pointers in the third quarter, helping the Kings storm back into the game with a 20-6 run. The Kings took a 79-77 lead on a 3-pointer by Hield with 1:34 to play in the third, but the Warriors pulled away after taking an 84-79 lead into the fourth.
