Kings Under Review: Willie Cauley-Stein a game-changer in win vs. Thunder

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Kings coach Dave Joerger likes to set short-term goals for his young team. He looks at the season in five-game portions, and knows very well that his squad is in the middle of one of the season's toughest stretches.

After dropping back-to-back games to the Denver Nuggets and Warriors by a total of four points, Sacramento found a way to scramble out a victory against one of the hottest teams in the NBA. It wasn't pretty, as he Kings blew big leads multiple times. But with the game on the line, they found a way to close out the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

The 119-116 win pushed the Kings three games over the .500 mark at 31-28. Here are the positives and the negatives from the victory.

POSITIVE

Sacrifice

The difference between winning and losing in the NBA often comes down to one play. Sometimes it's a big shot, or a pair of free throws. Every once in a while, it's a stop on the defensive end.

Harrison Barnes was draped all over Thunder star Paul George on the final possession, forcing the MVP candidate to miss a 31-footer at the buzzer that would have tied the game. But even that wasn't the play of the night.

With 11.5 seconds remaining and the Kings leading 118-116, OKC guard Russell Westbrook attacked the rim like he had the entire evening. As he approached the key, Willie Cauley-Stein cut off his pathway to the rim. Westbrook crashed into the Kings center as he hit the floater over the top.

After a review of the play, the officiating crew stuck with their original call - an offensive foul against Westbrook. The play changed the outcome of the game.

With the development of De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and even Marvin Bagley III, Cauley-Stein has had to take a step back on the offensive end. He's come up with some tremendous plays this season, but against Westbrook and the Thunder, the 26-year-old showed a new level of commitment to winning.

He added 10 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes of action for his 18th double-double of the season. 

POSITIVE

Homecoming

The great state of Oklahoma loves Buddy Hield. The former Oklahoma Sooner drove to Norman earlier in the day to watch his alma mater hold on to beat the Texas Longhorns, 69-67. He returned to in time to light up the Thunder.

Hield torched OKC for 34 points on 12-of-22 from the field and 3-for-5 from behind the arc. He came out hot, dropping in 14 points in the first quarter, and then kept it going all night.

Sacramento's leading scorer added five rebounds, four assists and set a new career-high with nine free throw attempts. He also knocked down his 200th 3-pointer of the season.

NEGATIVE/POSITIVE

Battle at the Point

Westbrook vs. Fox is must-see TV. The veteran put on a show against Fox, dropping 41 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes of action. When he gets in the open court, he is nearly impossible to stop.

Fox did his best, but once Westbrook gets moving downhill, it takes a team effort to slow him down.

Although the stat comparison is lopsided, Fox still managed to score 19 points, including nine in the fourth quarter. He also posted a 9-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio, blocked three shots and picked up a steal.

Lastly, Fox came away with the victory, which in the end is the only stat that matters.

[RELATED: NBA Power Rankings 2019: How teams stand after All-Star Weekend]

POSITIVE

Building Momentum

Marvin Bagley has arrived. The 19-year-old forward is becoming the double-double machine the Kings thought he would be when they drafted him with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The rookie plays with contagious energy and passion. Against the Thunder on Saturday, he notched his 12th double-double of the season. Bagley finished the game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals in 36 minutes off the bench.

In the month of February, Bagley is averaging 17.6 points and 9.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game. Since returning from injury, the rookie big has scored in double-figures in 16 out of 18 games. He's quickly becoming the team's No. 1 option off the bench and earning the trust of the coaching staff.

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