Panic averted. After a brutal game against the Utah Jazz on Thursday evening, the Sacramento Kings showed intestinal fortitude Friday in Portland. The end result was still a loss, but there is a huge difference between dropping a game by 39 points and falling 118-115 in the final minute to a solid Trail Blazers squad.
Dave Joerger and De’Aaron Fox both missed the game due to a stomach ailment, but other stepped forward. The Kings competed for a full 48 minutes, which is a very good development as they wrapped up their preseason schedule.
It wasn’t a win, but there was a lot to like. Here are some notes from the Sacramento’s three point loss to the Blazers.
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Bagley shines
There is still a portion of the Kings’ fanbase that is bitter about the team selecting Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic. They will compare the two all season long, but it will take much longer than that to give an honest assessment of the pair.
The Kings might not win a lot of games this season, but we are already seeing Bagley improve and adjust to the NBA game. While his teammates were falling flat against the Jazz on Thursday, the rookie posted 17 points and eight rebounds.
On the second night of a back-to-back, the 19-year-old showed more of his game, scoring 15 points and grabbing six rebounds in 26 minutes of action. He even hit his first 3-pointer in an NBA game. He’s showing growth at a startling rate.
NBA
Leave him out there
With De’Aaron Fox on the sidelines, fill-in coach Elston Turner asked Yogi Ferrell to help him out. The veteran guard played a total of 40 minutes for the Kings, scoring 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
He added five assists and held his own against one of the better backcourts in the NBA. There will be nights like this during the regular season, and Ferrell is quickly showing that he is up to the task.
A rebound game
Buddy Hield was a mess against the Jazz. Against the Blazers on Friday, the Kings coaching staff once again started him at the small forward position. He made adjustments and looked much better in Portland.
The third-year pro finished the evening with 19 points on 4-of-11 shooting. He added four assists and three rebounds in 34 minutes.
A non-rebound game
Willie Cauley-Stein soared through the air for multiple alley-oop dunks, showing off the tremendous athleticism that makes him such an intriguing player. He also finished the night with just two rebounds in 20 minutes of play.
Cauley-Stein can really get up. His 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting helped the team compete, but his lack of focus on the glass played into the team’s 48-37 disadvantage in rebounding.
Mason continues his push
The plan is for Frank Mason to fill in early in the season while Bogdan Bogdanovic recovers from a knee issue. Once Bogi is cleared for action, all bets are off for Mason. He’ll have to struggle for minutes and there are no guarantees.
Outside of the Jazz game, Mason has played extremely well in the preseason. He started and dropped in 14 points and eight assists in 29 minutes. Through six games, Mason has a 34-to-9, assist-to-turnover ratio, which is exactly what you want out of a reserve guard.
Numbers game
Sacramento lost the rebound battle again, but improved in other facets of the game. The Kings held the Blazers to 44.8 percent shooting, which is a huge improvement over the previous games. They only allowed Portland to knock down 16-of-38 (42.1 percent) from behind the arc, including 9-of-17 shooting from the Trail Blazer bench unit.
The Kings also held the advantage in turnovers, giving the ball up just six times compared to 15 for the Blazers. Their ability to control ball helped the Kings keep the came close. Plus, Sacramento shot an impressive 29-for-33 from the free throw line. 10 of those makes came from Hield.