Kings can’t overcome this shocking stat in NBA Summer League loss to Celtics
The Sacramento Kings had a chance to win in the end, which was hard to believe considering how lost they looked at the beginning.
The Kings went scoreless for nearly seven minutes while missing 18 of their first 19 shots in Wednesday’s NBA Summer League game against the Boston Celtics. The Kings nearly overcame a 16-point deficit, but the Celtics held on for an 82-76 victory at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Hugo Gonzalez recorded a double-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Celtics (3-1). John Tonje scored 18 points, Milos Uzan had 13 and Chris Cenac Jr. came off the bench to post a double-double of his own with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Rookie first-round draft pick Alex Karaban had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Kings (1-3), who will conclude summer league play with a consolation game against the Charlotte Hornets at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Karaban went 7 of 15 from the field and 5 of 7 from 3-point range.
Emanuel Sharp scored 12 points for Sacramento. Adam Flagler had 11. Jonathan Mogbo had nine points and 11 rebounds.
The Kings chose to rest rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 pick in Junes NBA draft, along with second-year guard Nique Clifford and second-year center Maxime Raynaud. Without them, Sacramento struggled to score.
The Kings trailed 13-2 after going 1 of 19 from the field to start the game. They got their first basket on a putback by Mogbo with 9:03 to go in the first quarter. They didn’t score again until B.J. Edwards hit a midrange jumper with 2:22 to play in the opening period.
The Celtics led 39-28 at the halftime break and 57-49 at the end of the third quarter. The Kings got within five on a floater by Flagler with 5:59 to go, but the Celtics responded with an 11-0 run to secure the victory.
Schedule/results
California Classic
Kings 79, Nets 76
Kings 91, Warriors Blue 85
Kings 95, Bucks 89
NBA Summer League
Kings 91, Clippers 85
Wizards 104, Kings 85
Nets 115, Kings 83
Celtics 82, Kings 76
7/17 vs. Charlotte Hornets
