Key Highlights
- Sacramento Kings suffered their seventh straight loss to fall to 3-12 on the season.
- Zach LaVine struggled scoring less than 10 points for the second game in a row.
- Maxime Raynaud had his most impactful game of the season, contributing seven points and four rebounds while hitting his only triple.
- The Kings shot just 15-23 from the free-throw line and turned the ball over 18 times against Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sacramento Kings Struggle in Seventh Straight Loss to Oklahoma City Thunder
The Sacramento Kings continued their difficult start to the season with a 113-99 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, marking their seventh straight defeat. The team’s struggles are evident from various angles, as they face challenges both on and off the court.
LaVine’s Struggles Persist
In what has become a familiar pattern this season, Zach LaVine failed to close out the game once again, scoring just eight points in 30 minutes of play. This performance follows his poor outing against the San Antonio Spurs where he also managed less than 10 points. Over his last four games, LaVine has scored over 20 points only once and is struggling with his shooting from beyond the arc as well, making just 46% of his field goals but only 11 out of 24 attempts from three-point range.
Coach Dave Joerger’s team will need to find a way to get LaVine going if they hope to compete against stronger opponents. The inconsistency in his scoring has been a significant factor in the Kings’ poor start, as he is averaging just 14.7 points per game over his last seven games.
Raynaud’s Promising Performance
In contrast to LaVine’s struggles, Maxime Raynaud had an impactful game for the Kings. Playing 19 minutes against Oklahoma City Thunder, he contributed seven points and four rebounds while hitting his only triple of the night. His impact extended beyond the stat sheet as well; Raynaud handled pick-and-roll defense effectively and used his size to get in passing lanes.
Raynaud’s performance was the most impactful game of his season thus far, showcasing improvement with each appearance on the court.
Individual plus/minus metrics aren’t always a reliable measurement, but they reinforce that Raynaud is getting better as he gains more minutes. His ability to make plays and handle defense will be crucial as the Kings look for consistency across their roster.
Self-Inflicted Wounds
The Kings’ struggles against the Thunder were exacerbated by a series of self-inflicted errors, including poor free-throw shooting (15-23) and 18 turnovers. These mistakes overshadowed some positive aspects from players like Maxime Raynaud and Dennis Schroder, who also contributed four turnovers.
LaVine led the Kings with five turnovers, but his overall performance was a concern as he struggled to close out games. Other than Raynaud and Nique Clifford, every player on the floor turned the ball over at least once.
This lack of discipline is a significant issue for a team that faces well-coached opponents like Oklahoma City Thunder.
Free-throw accuracy remains a pressing concern as the Kings face strong competition in the NBA. A 65% free-throw shooting percentage against a disciplined opponent like the Thunder was not enough to secure victory, highlighting the need for improvement in this aspect of their game.
The Road Ahead
While the Kings showed some promise in this loss, they still have a long way to go. The team is 3-12 and playing on one of the toughest schedules in the NBA. Their struggles with free throws and turnovers are major issues that need addressing as they prepare for their next game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Coach Dave Joerger will need to find a balance between giving younger players more opportunities while also maintaining the performance levels required to compete at this level. The early season has been challenging, but with time and adjustments, there is hope that the Kings can turn things around and start showing their true potential.
