Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox snaps out of shooting slump in win over Brooklyn Nets
The Sacramento Kings got back on the winning track Monday in Brooklyn, avoiding their third straight loss against the lowly Nets and getting De’Aaron Fox to snap out of his recent slump.
The Kings won 110-96 at Barclays Center while getting 30 points from Fox, his most since New Year’s Day, when he scored 35 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento’s next opponent on a six-game road trip.
The Kings overcame being foul happy on defense and allowing the Nets to get to the free-throw line 30 times where they scored 26 points to Sacramento’s 11. Keon Ellis added eight points in the fourth quarter. DeMar DeRozan scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Fox scored 16 points in the game-changing third quarter, helping the Kings take a lead into the final frame after being down for much of the first half.
The Kings were looking to avenge a Nov. 24 loss to the Nets at Golden 1 Center in former assistant Jordi Fernández’ return to Sacramento.
For Brooklyn on Monday, De’Angelo Russell scored 19 points and Jalen Wilson had 15. Day’Ron Sharpe had 12 points with 11 rebounds while Tosan Evbuomwan added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Sabonis had his 20th career game with 20 rebounds and his seventh triple-double of the season with 21 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Kings opened a 12-point lead, their largest of the game to that point, with 6:06 remaining when Keegan Murray hit a 3 from the left corner. Sacramento opened the fourth quarter on a 17-7 run after struggling to separate. Sacramento’s defense limited the Nets to 37% shooting on the night and just 42 points in the second half.
Fox breaks out
The Kings’ starting point guard had been struggling with his shot recently, which has led to observers wondering if Fox should take time off to heal his sprained right thumb and injured left pinkie while he’s not far removed from a glute contusion that caused him to miss three games earlier this month.
Fox got off to a strong start Monday against the Nets, hitting a pair of 3s from the left wing and recording 10 points in his first seven minutes before his first rest. He tied a game high for points in the first half while hitting 6 of 12 shots and 2 of 5 from 3.
Fox kept the scoring going in the third quarter. He scored 16 points in the frame while helping the Kings take a two-point lead into the fourth. Fox was 4 of 7 from 3, marking the most he’s had since making four on Jan. 12, his first game back from the glute injury. Fox didn’t scored in the fourth quarter, but Sacramento outscored Brooklyn by 12 in the frame.
Halftime report
The Nets took a 30-22 lead after the first quarter while the Kings had six turnovers leading to eight points. Sacramento went on an 8-0 run over two minutes in the middle of the second to tie the game at 38. But Brooklyn took a 54-47 lead into halftime.
The Nets made 17 of 18 free throws in the first half while the Kings had 10 turnovers leading to 12 Brooklyn points. Fox and DeMar DeRozan each had 14 points. Sabonis had nine points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
Sacramento shot just 2 of 12 from distance.
Kings’ potential trade target dealing with injury
The Nets on Monday were missing forward Cam Johnson, who has often been linked to Sacramento in trade rumors. Johnson, who turns 29 in March, would give the Kings another wing option who could be a threat behind the arc. Johnson is a career 39% 3-point shooter and has made just under 42% this season while the Nets have struggled.
Johnson has been in and out of the lineup since late December and has missed nine of Brooklyn’s last 12 games with an ankle injury.
Fernandez said Johnson will be reevaluated next week, making it likely he will miss the next two or three games. Johnson returned from the injury for two games Jan. 19 and 21 but tweaked the ankle.
“Right now, we obviously want him to get that ankle right,” Fernandez said. “He was good when he came back. He tweaked it again. It’s unlucky. We just want to make sure now it’s strong enough that he’ll be able to play through things and (get back to) 100%.”
Johnson has been one of the most discussed trade targets throughout the NBA this season. The Nets appear willing to play ball given the team already traded point guard Dennis Shroder to the Golden State Warriors and forward Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nets came into Monday’s game at 14-32 after losing 22 of their last 27 games. The trade deadline is Feb. 6 at noon Pacific Time.
Fernandez has kind words for Mike Brown
Fernandez was an assistant under former Kings coach Mike Brown the last two years before getting the head job in Brooklyn this season. The two have a long history going back to Brown’s time with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2009-13 and Fernandez considers Brown his leading mentor.
Fernandez was asked prior to Monday’s game if he’s maintained contact with Brown after the Kings fired him in December.
“Yeah, obviously private conversations are private,” Fernandez said. “But I’ve talked to him a few times just to check on him, give him my support. Because to me, loyalty is the most important (thing) in this business, just to show that love and support is here.
“I would not have gone to the Kings if not for Mike Brown, I would not have the job I have today (without) Mike Brown. So that’s important to me to make sure that things are good.”
Kings playing down to competition
The Kings in recent seasons made a habit of playing down to their competition, which was possible on Monday given the Nets had been one of the NBA’s worst teams over the last two months. Brooklyn hadn’t won a home game since beating the Indiana Pacers Dec. 4.
“I try to say ‘nameless and faceless,’ like our opponent has no face,” Christie said before Monday’s game. “We are our opponent. Especially as we continue to establish our identity, it’s definitely difficult. ... Last game (against the Knicks on Saturday) was the first time that I kind of saw us being something that I’m not down with and I don’t accept.
“But you go through that,” Christie continued. “That’s not a bad thing.”
Injury report
The Nets were missing several players, including Johnson (ankle), Cam Thomas (left hamstring strain), Ben Simmons (lower back soreness), Trendon Watford (left hamstring strain), Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot injury recovery), Maxwell Lewis (left tibia fracture) and De’Anthony Melton (ACL tear recovery).
Things got worse for Brooklyn late in the second quarter when big man Noah Clowney had to be helped off the floor with what appeared to be a leg injury.
The Kings had none of their regulars listed on the injury report, including Fox. Their only absences were Colby Jones, Isaac Jones and Isaiah Crawford, who were on assignment with G-League Stockton.
This story was originally published January 27, 2025 at 7:45 PM.
