The Kings beat the Blazers 121-82 in regular season finale to earn at least 1 more home game
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) De'Aaron Fox scored 24 points and the Sacramento Kings assured themselves of at least one more home game by beating the Portland Trail Blazers 121-82 in the teams' regular-season finale on Sunday.
Sacramento will head into the play-in tournament on Tuesday night, hosting Golden State in the ninth versus 10th-place game in the Western Conference that is a rematch of a first-round series last year that the Kings lost in seven games.
“It’s exciting,” guard Davion Mitchell said. “We get to get a little payback for last year. We know they’re going to come here with energy. It’s a home game. We know it’s going to be loud. It’s going to physical. I think we ready for it.”
Sacramento will need to win that game and then again on the road on Friday night against the loser of the New Orleans Pelicans-Los Angeles Lakers in the No. 7 versus No. 8 matchup to make it into the playoffs.
After snapping an NBA-record long 16-year playoff drought last season, the Kings were in good position to finish in the top six and return to the postseason this year before losing five of six games headed into the season finale. Now they must get in through the play-in tournament without key injured players Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter.
Waiting for them is the Warriors team that spoiled their season last year when Stephen Curry scored 50 points in a Game 7 win for Golden State in Sacramento.
“We welcome anybody that’s in front of us,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “Just excited about an opportunity to play, to go play one game right now and swing for the fences and try to get a win. It's a great opportunity for us to go do it.”
Sacramento cruised in the finale against a short-handed Blazers team playing out the string on a lost season. The Kings opened a 20-point lead in the second quarter and never were threatened.
Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 11 rebounds for his 77th double-double of the season, the most since Moses Malone also had 77 in 1978-79.
“We just wanted to bring the physicality to them and kind of be the team that knocks them back,” forward Keegan Murray said. “I feel like we did that opening up the game that way and hit them in the mouth in the third quarter, too. That’s what we wanted to do.”
Dalano Banton led Portland with 17 points before getting ejected for a flagrant foul in the fourth quarter. Banton set a record for futility by missing all 15 of his attempts from 3-point range.
The Blazers were missing 10 players who accounted for more than three-quarters of the team's points this season because of injuries.
The patchwork lineup provided little resistance for Sacramento as Portland missed 21 of its first 22 attempts from 3-point range and trailed 65-37 at the half. Portland shot 7 for 45 from 3-point distance for the game.
The Blazers finished the season tied for the third-worst record in the NBA with the 61 losses, tied for the second-most in franchise history behind only the 64 in 1971-72.
“It’s been a challenge,” coach Chauncey Billups said. “It’s pretty challenging, but it is what it is. It’s been a long year, but also it goes by fast. It’s crazy.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Moses Brown vs. Domantas Sabonis (Kris Murray gains possession) | |||
11:41 | Justin Minaya misses three point jump shot | |||
11:41 | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | |||
11:38 | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | |||
11:35 | Kris Murray offensive rebound | |||
11:35 | Keon Ellis shooting foul (Kris Murray draws the foul) | |||
11:35 | +1 | Kris Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-0 | |
11:35 | +1 | Kris Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-0 | |
11:23 | +2 | Harrison Barnes makes two point cutting layup (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 2-2 | |
11:23 | Rayan Rupert shooting foul (Harrison Barnes draws the foul) | |||
11:23 | Harrison Barnes misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
11:20 | Moses Brown defensive rebound | |||
11:06 | Moses Brown turnover (lost ball) (Keon Ellis steals) | |||
11:00 | +3 | Keon Ellis makes three point jump shot (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 2-5 | |
10:36 | Rayan Rupert misses three point jump shot | |||
10:32 | Justin Minaya offensive rebound | |||
10:31 | Moses Brown misses two point layup | |||
10:30 | Moses Brown offensive rebound | |||
10:29 | +2 | Moses Brown makes two point putback layup | 4-5 | |
10:09 | +3 | Keegan Murray makes three point jump shot (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 4-8 | |
9:51 | Justin Minaya turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
9:38 | Moses Brown shooting foul (Domantas Sabonis draws the foul) | |||
9:38 | +1 | Domantas Sabonis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-9 | |
9:38 | +1 | Domantas Sabonis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-10 | |
9:27 | Kris Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
9:22 | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | |||
9:16 | Domantas Sabonis turnover (lost ball) (Moses Brown steals) | |||
9:09 | +2 | Dalano Banton makes two point running layup | 6-10 | |
8:56 | Keon Ellis misses three point jump shot | |||
8:51 | Kris Murray defensive rebound | |||
8:46 | Justin Minaya misses three point jump shot | |||
8:44 | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Kris Murray misses two point driving layup | |||
8:30 | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | |||
8:30 | Domantas Sabonis turnover (lost ball) (Moses Brown steals) | |||
8:29 | Keon Ellis blocks Moses Brown's two point layup | |||
8:27 | Kris Murray offensive rebound | |||
8:16 | Kris Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
8:16 | Keegan Murray defensive rebound | |||
8:10 | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
8:10 | Moses Brown defensive rebound | |||
7:59 | Harrison Barnes personal foul (Moses Brown draws the foul) | |||
7:54 | Keon Ellis shooting foul (Duop Reath draws the foul) | |||
7:54 | +1 | Duop Reath makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-10 | |
7:54 | +1 | Duop Reath makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-10 | |
7:38 | +2 | De'Aaron Fox makes two point pullup jump shot (Davion Mitchell assists) | 8-12 | |
7:22 | Duop Reath turnover (lost ball) (De'Aaron Fox steals) | |||
7:18 | +2 | De'Aaron Fox makes two point running layup | 8-14 | |
7:10 | Rayan Rupert turnover (lost ball) (De'Aaron Fox steals) | |||
7:09 | +2 | De'Aaron Fox makes two point running dunk | 8-16 | |
7:09 | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | |||
6:50 | Duop Reath misses three point jump shot | |||
6:46 | Taze Moore offensive rebound | |||
6:43 | Dalano Banton misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:41 | Taze Moore offensive rebound | |||
6:37 | +3 | Duop Reath makes three point jump shot (Taze Moore assists) | 11-16 | |
6:19 | Kris Murray shooting foul (Domantas Sabonis draws the foul) | |||
6:19 | +1 | Domantas Sabonis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-17 | |
6:19 | +1 | Domantas Sabonis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-18 | |
6:08 | Justin Minaya misses three point jump shot | |||
6:04 | Davion Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
5:57 | +2 | De'Aaron Fox makes two point driving layup | 11-20 | |
5:52 | Keegan Murray kicked ball violation | |||
5:38 | Kris Murray misses three point fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:35 | De'Aaron Fox defensive rebound | |||
5:31 | Davion Mitchell misses three point running jump shot | |||
5:28 | Kris Murray defensive rebound | |||
5:21 | Keegan Murray personal foul (Duop Reath draws the foul) | |||
5:09 | Dalano Banton turnover (bad pass) (Keegan Murray steals) | |||
5:05 | Keegan Murray turnover (lost ball) (Duop Reath steals) | |||
5:00 | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | |||
4:56 | Keegan Murray defensive rebound | |||
4:43 | +3 | Davion Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Trey Lyles assists) | 11-23 | |
4:18 | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | |||
4:13 | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | |||
4:05 | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
4:01 | Kris Murray defensive rebound | |||
3:56 | Duop Reath misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
3:52 | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | |||
3:45 | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point pullup jump shot (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 11-25 | |
3:28 | Taze Moore misses two point driving hook shot | |||
3:24 | Kris Murray offensive rebound | |||
3:22 | +2 | Dalano Banton makes two point layup (Taze Moore assists) | 13-25 | |
3:06 | Davion Mitchell misses two point floating jump shot | |||
3:04 | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | |||
2:59 | Taze Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
2:55 | Davion Mitchell defensive rebound | |||
2:46 | +2 | Harrison Barnes makes two point cutting layup (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 13-27 | |
2:26 | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | |||
2:24 | Trey Lyles defensive rebound | |||
2:21 | +2 | Domantas Sabonis makes two point running layup (Trey Lyles assists) | 13-29 | |
2:01 | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | |||
2:01 | Kings defensive rebound | |||
2:01 | Kings 60 second timeout | |||
1:39 | Davion Mitchell turnover (lost ball) (Duop Reath steals) | |||
1:27 | Kris Murray turnover (bad pass) (De'Aaron Fox steals) | |||
1:25 | Justin Minaya personal foul (Trey Lyles draws the foul) | |||
1:16 | De'Aaron Fox turnover (bad pass) (Taze Moore steals) | |||
1:06 | Taze Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
1:01 | Rayan Rupert offensive rebound | |||
1:00 | +2 | Justin Minaya makes two point driving reverse layup (Rayan Rupert assists) | 15-29 | |
1:00 | Alex Len shooting foul (Justin Minaya draws the foul) | |||
1:00 | +1 | Justin Minaya makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 16-29 | |
0:50 | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
0:50 | Kings offensive rebound | |||
0:50 | Justin Minaya personal foul (Loose ball) (Alex Len draws the foul) | |||
0:50 | +1 | Alex Len makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-30 | |
0:50 | Alex Len misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:47 | Duop Reath defensive rebound | |||
0:32 | +2 | Taze Moore makes two point driving layup (Dalano Banton assists) | 18-30 | |
0:19 | Keegan Murray misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:15 | Duop Reath defensive rebound | |||
0:01 | Dalano Banton misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:01 | Justin Minaya offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:53 | Harrison Barnes misses three point jump shot | |||
11:50 | Trey Lyles offensive rebound | |||
11:49 | Duop Reath blocks Trey Lyles's two point putback layup | |||
11:48 | Duop Reath defensive rebound | |||
11:33 | Rayan Rupert misses three point jump shot | |||
11:29 | De'Aaron Fox defensive rebound | |||
11:24 | Trey Lyles misses three point jump shot | |||
11:20 | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | |||
11:11 | Taze Moore misses three point jump shot | |||
11:07 | Keon Ellis defensive rebound | |||
10:53 | De'Aaron Fox misses two point floating jump shot | |||
10:50 | Duop Reath defensive rebound | |||
10:37 | Dalano Banton misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:33 | Trey Lyles defensive rebound | |||
10:28 | +3 | Keon Ellis makes three point running pullup jump shot (Trey Lyles assists) | 18-33 | |
10:17 | De'Aaron Fox personal foul (Taze Moore draws the foul) | |||
10:07 |