Sports

March 13, 2024

While I didn’t exactly get the winning streak that I wanted, the Kings did win three out of four games last week, so I really can’t complain. While they only lost one game, it was a pretty disappointing one as the Kings blew yet another double-digit lead against the 11th-place, 30-35 Houston Rockets. The Rockets, like the New Orleans Pelicans, are one team we just can’t figure out how to beat. We are now 0-3 against them this season and won’t be playing them again.

The good news is after that devastating loss, the Kings turned around and beat the 2nd place in the east, 42-24 Milwaukee Bucks. And they didn’t just beat the Bucks; they beat them by 35 points. They held the reigning 3-point champion, seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard, to only 10 points. Lillard’s points per game average this season is 24.7. He hasn’t scored this little since the second game of the season. I don’t always have faith that the Kings can win a championship with this team, let alone win a playoff series, but if they play like they played against the Bucks, I think we have a chance.

Can it really be as simple as the Kings getting complacent against a team they feel they should beat? Because they sure didn’t let up against the Bucks, and they looked amazing. The Kings had 34 assists in this game, which is a lot, but as Kings legend Mike Bibby said after the game, “Passing is contagious.” Shooting guard Malik Monk had five of those assists, which pushed him into the Kings record book for the most assists by a reserve in franchise history.

Monk, our sixth man of the year hopeful, is becoming my favorite player this year; I just love his tenacity and his play-making ability. He is so fun to watch and so vital to this team’s success. Hopefully, they keep the passing bug and work their way a little further up the standings, as they are still in the first play-in tournament position.

Speaking of records, center Domantas Sabonis is now the all-time Kings franchise leader in consecutive double-doubles with 47. Sabonis has been a double-double machine this year; he’s gotten 59 of them in 64 games played. Let’s hope the Kings kept it up when they welcomed the Los Angeles Lakers to Sacramento on Wednesday, March 13th, after they beat them at home the week before. So far this season, we are the team that the Lakers can’t beat, and I’d like to keep that record.

The Kings also play the New York Knicks on Saturday, March 16th, and thanks to some dear family members of mine who want to cheer me up, my son and I will be there for that one. I can’t wait! Next, the Kings finish their home stand against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, March 18th before going to Toronto to play the Raptors on Wednesday, March 20th. Let’s go Kings!