It had been a very long time since the Golden 1 Center had vibrated like this! For the first of Domantas Sabonis in his new colors, the Kings won 132-119, and they thus put an end to Wolves’ winning streak. In this back-to-back that looks like a playoff series, Sacramento was keen to erase the spanking received the day before, and yet, we thought they were going to live the same evening… D’Angelo Russell signs a 5 -0 entry, then Anthony Edwards takes over, and the Kings are already 13 lengths behind (29-16). Even if the Sabonis-Fox duo is well, the lack of automation is paid cash.
But the awakening of the Kings will be thunderous, and it is Harrison Barnes who will change the game. The former NBA champion catches fire at 3-points, and Sacramento signs a 12-0 to take control (49-45). The room is standing, and it hasn’t happened often… Sabonis continues his work of undermining and De’Aaron Fox finds his legs. At the break, the Kings are still ahead (71-64). But there is a lot of talent on the Minnesota side, and Russell takes over the game after returning from the locker room. It’s All-Star level, and it evens (80-80). Towns takes over, and Minnesota is back in front to attack the last quarter (102-99).
Sacramento is looking for a second wind, and it is Sabonis who will bring it. Well recovered from a blow to the face, the Lithuanian dominates near the circle, and Davion Mitchell punishes from afar. We then witness a furious crossover, but when it comes to attacking the “money time”, the Wolves crack. As in the second quarter, they conceded a 10-0, and the tap from Sabonis then the 3-pointer from Barnes once again capsized the room. Minnesota is knocked out, and the Kings finish the game 18-4 in five minutes to win 132-119.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
A major trio. The Kings appear much more balanced with a Fox-Barnes-Sabonis spine. Sabonis’ vision of the game and his ability to play “point center” completely change the game. His agreement with Metu was interesting, and the Nigerian made good use of the caviars. To confirm…
What an atmosphere! It was only a regular season game, and we didn’t hear the bells, but the new room in Sacramento had rarely vibrated like that. It was Barnes’ big pass in the second quarter that lit the fuse, and the one-sided end to the game allowed the public to give their players a standing ovation.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Harrison Barnes. The former Warriors winger has been in great shape for ten games. Much more aggressive than in the past, he refuses no shots, and he attacks the circle. His serenity is reflected in his general address: 8 out of 11 on shots, 10 out of 10 on free throws. A metronome.
✅ The Fox-Sabonis duo. We associate them because they combined well, and they tried to play together. The success of the Kings depends above all on their understanding, and the two left-handers have found each other rather well. Fox’s speed pairs well with the Lithuanian’s mobility and game vision.
✅ D’Angelo Russell. He shook the room, even silenced it. He’s the Russell of the Nets, clever and creative. It took Gentry sticking Davion Mitchell on his back to calm him down, especially in the fourth quarter.
⛔The Wolves bench. Like Malik Beasley, the substitutes did not bring much. Only Naz Reid had some problems before he died. As a result, Chris Finch shot his incumbents a lot, and they ended up cracking.
THE FOLLOWING
Sacramento (21-36) : Saturday trip to Washington
Minnesota (29-26) : passing through Chicago on Friday
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
