Tag: Sacramento Kings

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NBA (Basketball)

The Sacramento Kings Aim To Bounce Back From Recent Struggles As They Host The Brooklyn Nets On Monday

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

The Sacramento Kings are thankful that De’Aaron Fox has been playing through a thumb injury and other issues, even though his performance has dipped recently.

After suffering their worst loss under interim coach Doug Christie, the Kings hope Fox will turn things around Monday night when they face the Brooklyn Nets, who are on a 10-game home losing streak.

The Kings are 10-4 under Christie, following a 13-18 record under Mike Brown, but they are still winless on their six-game road trip. Sacramento took their second-largest loss of the season on Saturday, falling 143-120 to the New York Knicks.

Fox scored just 14 points on 6 of 20 shooting in the loss to the Knicks, marking the 10th time this season he’s been held under 20 points, with the Kings going 5-5 in those games.

“I had 60 with my hand taped,” Fox said, referring to his 60-point game against the Timberwolves in November despite playing with an injured pinkie on his shooting hand. “People can make up the excuse they want. Sometimes you just don’t play well.”

Fox, who played despite being listed as questionable with a right thumb sprain, missed three games earlier this month due to a right glute contusion. In his seven games since returning from that injury, Fox is averaging 17.1 points and shooting 35.0 percent (43 of 123).

Sacramento’s DeMar DeRozan expressed respect for Fox’s commitment: “I’m pretty sure we all deal with some type of injuries that outside people can’t see. It’s easy just to say, ‘sit down.’ But I respect (Fox), I commend him for even just being out there.”

Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks

Domantas Sabonis, who posted his sixth triple-double with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, values Fox’s presence on the court: “We’re fighting for something… just by him being on the court, it helps us immensely.”

Fox scored 31 points in Sacramento’s 108-103 loss to the Nets on November 24, but the Nets had a full roster including Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, and Ben Simmons. However, Thomas is out with a left hamstring injury, Johnson is sidelined for the 10th time in 13 games due to a right ankle injury, and Simmons may miss the game because of back soreness.

Despite these injuries, the Nets are still winless at home since December 3 and lost 106-97 to the Miami Heat on Saturday, marking their 11th loss in 12 games.

Though Brooklyn fought back in the fourth quarter, cutting an 18-point deficit, they couldn’t muster enough offense and were held under 100 points for the 14th time this season and for the eighth straight home game.

“The resiliency and fight, that’s why I’m proud of the guys,” said first-year Nets coach Jordi Fernandez. “We’ll work at it, we’ll watch it, and we’ll be better. I love the fight, the togetherness.”

Brooklyn has been struggling offensively during its home losing streak, with an average defeat margin of 14.9 points and shooting under 40 percent five times, including a 37.5 percent effort against the Heat.

Keon Johnson and D’Angelo Russell led the Nets with 22 points each. Johnson has been performing well, shooting 45.7 percent from the floor over the past two games and posting back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in his career.

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NBA (Basketball)

Kings extend winning streak to seven with Christie’s energizing leadership

Sacramento Kings Interim Head Coach Doug Christie draws out a play before an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks

The Kings are on a strong run after securing their seventh straight win on Sunday against the Chicago Bulls. This victory improved their record to 7-1 under interim coach Doug Christie and pushed them above .500 for the first time since November 21.

returned to the starting lineup for Sacramento at the United Center after missing three games due to injury. Fox shared how Christie’s approach has energized the team following their 124-119 win.

“He’s bringing a type of energy that’s a little bit contagious,” Fox said when asked about what has changed for the Kings under Christie. “I mean, like I said before, he’s the same guy that he was, but whenever you’re at the front of the helm, I feel like you’re probably feeling it a little more.”

“But we’ve got a good thing going right now, so you want to continue to play at a high level. And playing this team, obviously Zach [LaVine] been doing what he’s been doing, but I mean, they’ve been playing at a high level as well. So to be able to come in here and get a win is always good.”

Since Christie took over after Mike Brown’s firing, he has helped the Kings bounce back from a six-game losing streak. Their first win under Christie came against the Dallas Mavericks on December 30, and now, during this seven-game streak, Sacramento is averaging an NBA-best 50.3 rebounds, along with 121.6 points per game (second) and 9.4 steals per game (third) (h/t NBA TV).

Fox and teammate DeMar DeRozan both explained how Christie’s simplified offense has helped the Kings get into a rhythm on the court, as Sacramento recorded 33 assists and just seven turnovers against the Bulls.

De'Aaron Fox
De’Aaron Fox (NBA)

“Obviously you’re just trying to get high drags, point actions — it’s stuff that everybody in the league basically runs, but you have to be able to do it with pace, and you have to be able to attack every single time that you’re going down the court,” Fox said.

“So those are just the little nuances of [Christie’s offense]. If you watch Memphis play, that’s pretty much all they do. They’re not running a ton of plays. They have a bunch of guys that can shoot the ball and get downhill, and that’s what they do at a high level. So that’s kind of something that we’re doing right now, and I think we’re doing it at a high level.”

“Doug just tells us, ‘Go out there and just bring your game’ when we play,” DeRozan said after the game. “That’s all. That’s what he says, ‘Just bring your game. I can’t teach y’all how to play. Y’all know how to play,’ you know? And him putting that trust in us and having a selfless group like we have, that’s the outcome that you get.”

The Kings’ trust in playing to their strengths has worked throughout the seven-game streak and helped them deliver a clutch performance on Sunday. Fox and DeRozan combined for 18 points in the fourth quarter, and despite the lead changing 28 times, Sacramento held a 114-113 lead with 5:42 left and never gave it up.

The entire team contributed, with Fox leading the way with 26 points and DeRozan adding 21 against his former team. Domantas Sabonis finished with a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double, Malik Monk had 18 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, and Keegan Murray chipped in 14 points, including three 3-pointers.

“Just allowing them to play to their strengths,” Christie said after the win. “I think sometimes we get into actions that aren’t really actions. Just get to the business; there’s no need to do a lot of other stuff on top of the fact that we want to drive, kick, swing and move the basketball. So it gives us more time to do that, allowing them to just kind of use their special talents.”

“I mean, Fox is fast. He can handle the basketball and get to the rack. Malik is the same way. DeMar is one of the best iso players in the game, so you put him in position. Domas’ rolling ability. When you go down the list — Keegan’s shooting.

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

We got some defenders on the wings. All those different things, trying to just — don’t make it hard. Just go get at it, and we live with the results. And on the other end of the floor, let’s lock arms and play really hard on that end.”

After Christie moved from assistant coach to interim coach, DeRozan recently shared a highlight reel of Christie’s NBA playing days with the team. He did this to show the Kings that Christie had once done the very things he now asks of them, and DeRozan believes it has had a positive effect.

For Christie, DeRozan’s gesture shows the strong bond within the team.

“I would tell you it’s priceless, man,” Christie said about DeRozan showing the video. “I mean, that’s the type of trust, love, and respect I want out of all of them, but having that time with DeMar in the summer, watching how he gets down, and then really just always being a hundred with him and trusting him to do his thing.

For him to show that in that moment, it says a lot about who he is, but it says a lot about our team and what we’re trying to [do].”

“It’s together. I’m not separate as a coach. They’re not separate as players. They have their room. I have my room, but at the same time, we are together as one. It’s not a hand, it’s a fist.”

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Kings aim to maintain momentum under Doug Christie as they face the Warriors in Sacramento

Sacramento Kings (NHL)

The Golden State Warriors will face the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night in San Francisco, marking the first meeting of these teams since 2016 without Mike Brown coaching. Brown, who was fired as the Kings’ head coach last month, had been with Sacramento for three seasons.

The Kings have won three out of four games since Doug Christie took over as interim coach. Before the change, the Kings had lost five games in a row under Brown, with a 110-89 record during his time as head coach.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who worked alongside Brown for six seasons, expressed his surprise at the firing, especially since Brown had been named Coach of the Year just a year and a half ago.

Kerr commented on the progress the Kings had made under Brown, saying, “When you think about where that franchise was before Mike got there, and where they’ve been the last couple years, it’s really shocking.”

In Christie’s first game as interim coach, the Kings lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, but they bounced back with wins against the Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Memphis Grizzlies.

The team has relied on a balanced attack, with De’Aaron Fox scoring 33 points against Dallas, Domantas Sabonis grabbing 17 points and 21 rebounds against Philadelphia, and Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan combining for 60 points in the win over Memphis.

Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors

Despite their improved performance, the Kings are still not in a playoff spot. Monk emphasized the need for consistency, saying, “There’s no ups and downs. Can’t be too high. Can’t be too low. We’ve got to keep working, but we’re happy for sure.”

The last time the Kings met the Warriors, Sacramento won impressively in the conference 9/10 play-in game, beating Golden State 118-94. Keegan Murray led the Kings with eight 3-pointers and 32 points, helping them reach the second round of the play-ins.

The Warriors are entering the game on a two-game winning streak. They won 121-113 against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, despite resting Stephen Curry, who has been dealing with knee soreness and a sprained right thumb. Curry, along with Brandin Podziemski (abdomen) and Gary Payton II (calf), did not play.

Golden State relied on its bench, getting 16 points from Lindy Waters III. Despite missing Curry, the Warriors hit 23 three-pointers in the win. The Kings, in their own win against the Grizzlies, made 21 three-pointers.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Grizzlies look to bring their “competitive fire” against the Kings in Sacramento

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

The Memphis Grizzlies are heading to Northern California with their strong recent form, starting with a game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

The Grizzlies have won 15 of their last 19 games and will play the Golden State Warriors on Saturday as part of a back-to-back. This will be the final game of a five-game road trip for Memphis, which included a loss to Oklahoma City and wins against New Orleans and Phoenix in the past week.

On Tuesday, Memphis defeated the Suns 117-112, even without star guard Ja Morant, who is out indefinitely with a sprained right shoulder. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cam Spencer mainly took over the point guard duties in Phoenix. Spencer, the reigning NCAA champion from Connecticut, played 16 minutes, his third-highest of the season.

The Grizzlies got contributions from all nine healthy players in that game. They are hoping to add a tenth player for the Sacramento game, as rookie Zach Edey is trying to return from a concussion that caused him to miss two games.

With key players like Morant, Marcus Smart, Santi Aldama, Jake LaRavia, and Brandon Clarke all injured, coach Taylor Jenkins knows the team must work together to keep winning.

“It starts with our mentality, our competitive fire,” Jenkins said. “To be able to sustain it for 48 minutes just shows poise and resilience.”

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

This mindset has been especially important on the road, where the short-handed Grizzlies have won five of their last seven games, including wins in Boston, Washington, and Atlanta before their current trip.

In their 115-110 win against the Kings at home last month, Memphis got double-digit scoring from four different bench players. Smart, Aldama, and LaRavia combined for 45 points off the bench.

Edey missed that game with an ankle injury, and if he plays on Friday, he will face Kings star Domantas Sabonis for the first time.

Sabonis had a huge game on Wednesday, contributing 17 points, 21 rebounds, and seven assists in a 113-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Kings have won two of their last three games since firing coach Mike Brown.

Those wins were over the Dallas Mavericks and the 76ers, with interim coach Doug Christie encouraging his players to take pride in defending their home court.

“Don’t nobody come in your house messing with your stuff. You feel what I’m saying?” Christie said. “This is where we reside, and when you come up in here, you’re going to feel us up in here. That’s just the way it is. It doesn’t matter.

There’s nothing like your home. These people deserve that and that’s what we’re going to give them.”

The Kings made a big comeback against the 76ers, scoring the final 15 points of the game to win by six. De’Aaron Fox, who had 18 points in the previous matchup with Morant, has been on fire in the last two games, scoring 33 and 35 points as part of the Kings’ two-game win streak.

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NBA (Basketball)

Kings close game with 15-0 run to defeat 76ers

Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers

Malik Monk made key plays in the final moments to help the Sacramento Kings beat the Philadelphia 76ers 113-107 on Wednesday night.

Monk scored a go-ahead basket on a goaltended layup with 33.8 seconds left, then stole the ball from Paul George seven seconds later. He teamed up with DeMar DeRozan to make four free throws that sealed the win.

Sacramento scored the last 15 points of the game to secure their second straight victory.

The 76ers, playing the first game of a back-to-back, decided to sit Joel Embiid, who had been averaging 26.3 points during a four-game win streak. Embiid’s absence allowed George, who scored 30 points, and Tyrese Maxey, who added 27 points, to lead the team.

Despite this, the 76ers led for most of the second half after tying the game 57-all at halftime. They were up by 10 points in the final period and held a 107-98 lead with 3:34 left before Sacramento made its comeback.

De’Aaron Fox started the rally with a floater, followed by two free throws from Monk and a 3-pointer from Keon Ellis. A basket by DeRozan tied the game at 107 with one minute remaining.

Sacramento Kings (NHL)

Maxey missed a short jumper that could have given the 76ers the lead again. This set the stage for Monk to score and give the Kings their first lead since the start of the third quarter.

Monk’s steal from George came during a scoreless finish for the 76ers, who committed five turnovers and had just four shot attempts in the final minutes.

Fox led Sacramento with 35 points, hitting 13 of his 16 shots. Domantas Sabonis grabbed a game-high 21 rebounds and added 17 points along with seven assists. Monk finished with 20 points, DeRozan had 18, and Trey Lyles contributed 12 points for the Kings, who are now 2-1 under interim coach Doug Christie.

For the 76ers, Eric Gordon had 14 points, Caleb Martin scored 12, and Andre Drummond posted 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Maxey also had six assists and four steals in the loss, as Philadelphia fell to 7-13 in games without Embiid.

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NBA (Basketball)

76ers look to continue strong play in New Year’s matchup with Kings

Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings both end 2024 on a high note and hope to continue their good form into the new year when they meet on Wednesday night.

The game features two coaches with strong ties to the Toronto Raptors: the 76ers’ Nick Nurse, who spent 10 years with the team, including five as head coach, and Kings interim coach Doug Christie, who was part of the Raptors’ 2000 playoff team and played over four seasons in Toronto.

In his second year coaching the 76ers, Nurse has turned the team around. After a rough 3-14 start, they’ve won 10 of their last 13 games. They are currently on a four-game winning streak, including three straight road wins to start a four-game Western road trip.

Tyrese Maxey (30.0 points per game) and Joel Embiid (26.3) have been the stars during this stretch, though Embiid (sprained left foot) will not play on Wednesday. Paul George has been a solid contributor, averaging 31.3 minutes per game.

However, the biggest positive for the team has been the play of Caleb Martin. Martin’s return to full health has been a key factor in the 76ers’ improvement.

“I had a sigh of relief for him,” George said after Martin hit a career-high seven 3-pointers in a Christmas Day win over the Boston Celtics. “Just to watch him battle and work and just put countless hours on getting his body together. He’s a warrior.

Sacramento Kings (NHL)

It was eating away at him that he couldn’t be himself and he couldn’t be available for us. Again, he’s a warrior, so he’s ready when he’s called upon.”

Martin has averaged 11.8 points during the winning streak, shooting 56.7% from the field and 12-for-18 from beyond the arc. He’s also contributed with 15 rebounds, four steals, and four blocks in the last four games. He posted a team-best plus-27 plus/minus in 38 minutes during Monday’s 125-103 win over Portland.

Meanwhile, the Kings are coming off a much-needed victory. They snapped a six-game losing streak with a 110-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks, giving Doug Christie his first home win as interim coach. Christie took over as interim coach after the Kings fired Mike Brown following their fifth straight loss, a 114-113 defeat to the Detroit Pistons.

Despite only making slight adjustments to the game plan, the Kings responded well to Christie’s leadership. Domantas Sabonis, who had a triple-double in the win, credited the change in emotion and voice as key to the team’s improved performance.

“We’ve spent three summers now with him,” Sabonis said of Christie. “He works his butt off, and just to see him installing what he believes in the guys, and the guys reacting that quickly to it, is awesome.”

The Kings are hoping to build on their win against the Mavericks, but their recent history with the 76ers isn’t great. The Kings ended a 10-game losing streak to the 76ers last March. The Kings hadn’t beaten Philadelphia since February 2019. In the last meeting in Sacramento, Sabonis had a triple-double, and Embiid did not play in the Kings’ 108-96 win.

The Kings may be without starting forward Keegan Murray (11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds per game), who is listed as doubtful for the game due to left ankle soreness.

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NBA (Basketball)

Doug Christie earns his first win as Kings’ interim coach following Mike Brown’s departure

Sacramento Kings Interim Head Coach Doug Christie draws out a play before an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks

Doug Christie became the interim head coach of the Sacramento Kings during a tough time for the team, with a losing streak, fans booing, and questions about firing Mike Brown, who had led the team to its first playoff appearance in 16 years in 2023.

Christie earned his first win as head coach on Monday with a 110-100 victory over the Mavericks, a win that was crucial for both the team’s season and for him personally. It wasn’t easy, as the Kings fell behind by 18 points early against a Dallas team missing stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

During a timeout, Christie told his players: “You’re getting close.” He referenced a Bob Marley lyric about taking a bucket to the well and not knowing when the bottom will fall out. After the Kings received two technical fouls in the second half, Christie reminded his players not to let the referees distract them from their gameplan.

The team responded well, finishing the third quarter with a 17-2 run, breaking their six-game losing streak, and giving Christie his first win as head coach.

“Are we going to still struggle from time to time?” Christie said. “Yes, but the good will needed to happen to show that a lot of things that we talk about — we’re able to do. Now, we need to do it with the consistency, the intensity and the violent aggression, in my opinion, that needs to be there to win games at this level.”

Luka Doncic gestures in the 2nd half

Domantas Sabonis, who had 17 points and 16 rebounds, said it was “really cool” to see Christie get his first win.

“We’ve spent three summers now with him,” Sabonis said. “He works his butt off and just to see him installing what he believes in the guys, and the guys reacting that quickly to it is awesome.”

Being an NBA head coach, even as an interim, still feels unreal to Christie. Before getting the promotion, he had been busy with assistant coaching and scouting. He planned to rest during the team’s weekend trip to Los Angeles but found himself coaching the game against the Lakers on very little sleep.

Christie’s goals as a coach are small steps: first simplifying the offense, then focusing on defense. The Kings allowed only 40 points in the second half against the Mavericks.

He wants the fans, who have seen 12 coaching changes since 2007 and only one playoff appearance, to know they are valued. Christie promised to give them a team they can be proud of, where players will give their best effort. From his players, he hopes for understanding and support.

“This is hard,” Christie said before the game. “This is high leverage, the best in the world. There are only a certain amount of people who do it, from my perspective and the players’ perspective. Whatever you say about the word ‘pressure,’ it’s there.”

Christie explained that his role is to put his players in a good position and then let them play. His success as a coach will depend partly on De’Aaron Fox, the team’s best player, who had earlier pushed back on reports that he was involved in Brown’s firing.

Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks (NBA)

Christie had been an assistant with the Kings since 2021 and served as an interim head coach in 2022 when Brown was sick, winning two games. Monday’s win, however, was his first as a semi-permanent head coach, with the expectation that he’ll get the rest of the season to prove himself.

One area Christie wants to improve is the team’s performance in close games. The Kings are 6-13 in games decided by five points or fewer in the final five minutes. Christie believes that being “clutch” depends on which team is willing to fight and sacrifice.

“When it comes to that point, what are you willing to do?” Christie said. “I know what I’m willing to do for you, and I’m going to support them in any way I can. Because it’ll always be my fault. It’ll never be their fault. They go do their job. I’m here to take the bullets.”

Christie emphasized that turning the season around will take time, and wins will come as a result of the process.

“It’s hard in this league,” Christie said. “Winning is difficult. So, totally understand that. I think they’re beginning to feel it, and that’s going to be the process that we have to go through on a night-to-night basis. I’m here for it, and I think that they’re ready to do it.”

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NBA (Basketball)

After parting ways with Coach Mike Brown, the Kings face off against the Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings

LeBron James has led the Los Angeles Lakers to a strong run ahead of Saturday’s game against the struggling Sacramento Kings, a team dealing with changes after head coach Mike Brown was fired on Friday.

James, who is playing his final game before turning 40, has helped the Lakers win four of their last five games, including a thrilling 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day. In that game, he scored 31 points and added 10 assists.

Although James will celebrate his 40th birthday on Monday, he is still playing at a high level, averaging 23.5 points per game, along with 7.9 rebounds and 9.0 assists this season. The four-time MVP has only averaged nine or more assists per game twice in his 21 seasons.

James also led the Lakers to a win over the Warriors on Wednesday despite Anthony Davis leaving the game early with an ankle injury. Austin Reaves stepped up, recording 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for his first triple-double of the season and third of his career. Reaves scored the game-winning layup with 1.7 seconds left.

“It’s always difficult to play without A.D., so I guess our job is even more heightened,” James said. “We have to do a little bit more. Everyone has to chip in, especially on the defensive end because A.D. is our anchor.”

Davis’ status for Saturday’s game is uncertain, which means the Lakers may be without his 25.7 points and 11.4 rebounds. Guard D’Angelo Russell is expected to return after missing the Christmas Day game due to a sprained left thumb.

While Davis is listed as questionable, both James and Rui Hachimura missed Friday’s practice due to illness.

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

In Doug Christie’s first game as interim head coach, the Kings are facing their own availability issues. Domantas Sabonis missed Thursday’s 114-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons because of illness and didn’t practice on Friday.

The Kings also have to deal with the absence of Brown, who was fired after just over two seasons in Sacramento, with the team sitting 12th in the Western Conference with a 13-18 record.

Without Sabonis on Thursday, the Kings seemed to be on track for a win but lost after Detroit’s Jaden Ivey made a go-ahead four-point play with 3.1 seconds left. De’Aaron Fox, who fouled Ivey on the decisive 3-pointer, led the Kings with 26 points.

The Kings allowed 37 points in the fourth quarter and were outscored by 15 in the period. Their struggles on both ends of the floor were too much for Brown to overcome, leading to his firing.

Brown, who conducted Friday’s practice, was dismissed just before the team was set to fly to Los Angeles. Last season, he led the Kings to the playoffs, ending a 16-year postseason drought.

Sacramento’s issues were clear when they led by 19 points in the third quarter on Thursday but allowed Detroit to make 7 of 12 (58.3 percent) from 3-point range in the final period.

“We knew this was a game that was winnable,” Fox said. “We gave ourselves a chance to win going into the fourth quarter and we didn’t do a good job. We gotta be able to finish games better.”

The Kings are currently on a five-game losing streak, which includes two losses to the Lakers last week. The most recent of those losses was a 103-99 defeat on Dec. 21.

This losing streak is the longest for Sacramento since a seven-game slide in January 2022.

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NBA (Basketball)

Kings dismiss coach Mike Brown midway through his third season

Mike Brown (NBA)

The Sacramento Kings have fired coach Mike Brown midway through his third season after the team struggled with a five-game losing streak.

General manager Monte McNair called the decision “difficult” and thanked Brown for his efforts. Assistant coach Doug Christie will step in as interim coach, starting with Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Brown was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2022-23 after leading the Kings to end the longest playoff drought in NBA history, which lasted 16 seasons. However, Sacramento lost in the play-in tournament last year and struggled this season with a 13-18 record. This led to the decision to fire Brown, just months after he signed a contract extension through 2026-27.

The Kings have lost an NBA-worst nine games this season after leading in the fourth quarter. The most frustrating loss came in Brown’s final game as coach on Thursday night against Detroit.

Sacramento had a 10-point lead with under three minutes remaining but collapsed, with Jaden Ivey hitting a four-point play with three seconds left to give the Pistons a 114-113 victory. This left the Kings in 12th place in the Western Conference.

Sacramento had hopes of finishing in the top six of the West this season and avoiding the play-in tournament after adding DeMar DeRozan through a summer sign-and-trade deal, joining key players like Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray.

Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

Fox, in the second-to-last year of his five-year, $163 million contract, turned down an extension in the offseason. He said earlier this month on a podcast that he wanted to play for a team that could “compete at a high level.”

However, Sacramento has struggled this season, partly due to a league-worst 3-11 record in games decided by five points or fewer. Brown publicly criticized Fox for his role in the game-winning play against Detroit, saying he should have been closer to Ivey instead of committing a foul.

Brown had a 107-88 record in his two-plus seasons in Sacramento, with a winning record in both full seasons. Rick Adelman is the only other coach to post a winning record in a full season since the Kings moved to Sacramento.

Before Sacramento, Brown coached in Cleveland and Los Angeles, and he has a career record of 455-304 with seven playoff appearances in nine full seasons. He won Coach of the Year twice, including in Cleveland in 2008-09.

Christie will become the Kings’ eighth head coach since owner Vivek Ranadive took over in 2013. Under Ranadive, the Kings have the fourth-worst record in the NBA and have made the playoffs only once.

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NBA (Basketball)

Jaden Ivey’s clutch four-point play lifts Pistons over Kings

Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings

Jaden Ivey hit a 3-pointer while being fouled with 3.1 seconds left and made the free throw to give the Detroit Pistons a 114-113 win over the struggling Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.

The Pistons, who had been down by 10 points with 2:41 left, had the ball after Kevin Huerter made two free throws to put Sacramento up by three points at 113-110 with 10.8 seconds to go.

After a timeout, Ivey received the ball and made a 23-foot shot while getting fouled by De’Aaron Fox. The referee confirmed the foul, and Ivey made the free throw to give Detroit the lead.

The Kings had no timeout left, and Fox’s 50-foot attempt missed as time expired.

This win marked Detroit’s third straight victory as they continue their four-game West Coast road trip, which ends Saturday in Denver. Sacramento lost its fifth consecutive game, all at home.

A 3-pointer from Fox seemed to give Sacramento control at 107-97 with 3:36 left, but the Pistons responded with two 3-pointers from Malik Beasley and a layup by Cade Cunningham, cutting the lead to two points with 1:28 remaining.

Sacramento Kings (NHL)

DeMar DeRozan made a floater for the Kings with 1:16 left to stop the Pistons’ run.

Cunningham led the Pistons with 33 points and 10 assists, reaching 30 points for the fourth time this season. Beasley added 22 points, Ivey finished with 19, and Jalen Duren scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Fox led Sacramento with 26 points, Trey Lyles scored a season-high 20 points, and DeRozan added 19. Sacramento was without Domantas Sabonis due to illness.

Keegan Murray contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Malik Monk scored 15 points for the Kings.

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NBA (Basketball)

The road-experienced Pistons will face the Kings next

Detroit Pistons (NBA)

The Detroit Pistons hope to extend their success on the road when they aim for a third consecutive away victory on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings.

Last season, the Pistons were the team with the most losses, and their schedule didn’t get any easier when they faced a four-game Western road trip during Christmas. The teams they played — the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Kings, and Denver Nuggets — all finished with winning records last season.

However, the Pistons, who had lost their last home game to the Utah Jazz, pulled off wins against the Suns (133-125) and the Lakers (117-114) as they spent a California Christmas without snow.

Now, they will face the Kings, who have struggled on their five-game homestand, losing their first four games, including a 122-95 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

The Pistons’ success has come from a team effort. Jaden Ivey, Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Beasley, and Simone Fontecchio all scored in double figures in both wins. Jalen Duren had a double-double in Phoenix (17 points, 11 rebounds), and Ronald Holland II added 10 points in Los Angeles.

However, as Detroit owner Tom Gores observed during the win against the Lakers, everything revolves around Cade Cunningham. Cunningham scored 28 points and had 13 assists against the Suns and followed it up with 20 points and 10 assists against the Lakers.

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

“Our young men are performing well,” Gores said. “They’re really stepping up to what Pistons basketball is about. We’re watching all of our young men. Cade is just evolving into the leader he’s always been. So I’m very proud of that.”

The Pistons may face a tough crowd in Sacramento, but it could be one that is frustrated with the Kings. The team received rare boos from their home crowd after their worst loss of the season, a 122-95 defeat to the Pacers.

Sacramento guard/forward Kevin Huerter admitted that the boos were deserved.

“You never want to get booed at home, but we probably deserve it,” Huerter said. “We just lost three in a row, and then you get beat by 30 on your home court during Christmas time. They (the fans) deserve better.”

Kings fans are hoping for better offense. Sacramento had averaged 120.6 points in 10 games — going 5-5 — before scoring just 100, 99, and 95 points in their last three losses, the first two of which came against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Malik Monk, in particular, has struggled recently. He’s made only 6 of 27 3-pointers in the last three games. DeMar DeRozan has also had a tough stretch, averaging just 8.0 points on 9-for-30 shooting.

Monk stressed that the team needs to focus on playing together rather than looking for individual success.

“That (expletive) is just embarrassing,” Monk said about their offensive play. “Once we take one-pass, zero-pass shots, miss, they get a long rebound, go out in transition. Now, all our heads are down. So it’s just not playing offense the right way, not moving the ball.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Lakers aim for another win in their second matchup against the Kings

Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)

The Sacramento Kings are hoping that by reducing turnovers and fouls, they can improve their chances in a rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday afternoon in Sacramento.

In their last game against the Lakers on Thursday, the Kings lost 113-100 despite Austin Reaves scoring 25 points, Anthony Davis 21, and LeBron James 19. The biggest factors in the Lakers’ win were the turnovers and fouls. The Lakers turned 17 Kings turnovers into 24 points and scored 25 points from 21 Sacramento fouls, including a technical.

This gave the Lakers a big advantage, winning 49-24 in those areas. Even though the Kings shot better overall (45.1% to 40.4%) and from three-point range (37.9% to 36.4%), they still lost.

Kings coach Mike Brown pointed out that the reasons for the loss were clear, so he didn’t need to yell at the team. “They know exactly what we have to do. It’s whether or not we go do it. (Thursday), we didn’t go do it,” Brown said. “Somehow, someway, it starts with me. Somehow, someway, I’ve got to figure out how to get them to do it. If need be, I’ve got to find somebody else that can do it.”

The loss was Sacramento’s second straight at home after they won three in a row, including two on the road. The Kings are looking to make the most of a stretch of nine games, with only one on the road, during the holiday season.

LeBron James reacts in the 2nd half

One more key moment in the Lakers’ win was LeBron James playing 34 minutes, allowing him to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leader in minutes played with 57,471. In comparison, the Kings’ active leader in minutes played is DeMar DeRozan with 39,276.

“It’s just a commitment to the craft and to the passion and love I have for the game,” James said after the game. He also had seven assists and six rebounds in the win. Anthony Davis contributed 19 rebounds, helping the Lakers dominate the boards 53-43.

The Lakers’ depth was another important factor. Although bench scoring had been a concern for the Lakers, D’Angelo Russell scored 16 points and Gabe Vincent added 12, giving Los Angeles a 30-19 advantage in bench scoring.

“I really felt like this might be my favorite win we’ve had all season,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “We had so many different contributions at different times.”

For the Kings, bench scoring has been an issue since Malik Monk moved into the starting lineup on Dec. 1. While Monk has averaged 18.0 points in those eight games, the Sacramento bench has contributed just 24.8 points per game.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 26 points in Thursday’s loss.