What we learned in DeRozan’s perfect Kings preseason debut vs. Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
BOX SCORE
SACRAMENTO – There was good, bad and ugly in the Kings’ 122-112 loss to the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night at the Golden 1 Center.
But relax. It was just the opening of the preseason.
While Sacramento undoubtedly has a long list of things to work on before the 2024-2025 NBA regular season begins later this month, there are many positives to take from the loss.
The largest? DeMar DeRozan, who was perfect in his unofficial debut in Sacramento. No, literally. He didn’t miss a single shot he attempted, connecting on 6-of-6 for 15 points in 15 minutes in the first half.
De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis each added 11 points, with the latter also recording eight rebounds and four assists.
Keegan Murray looked sharp on both ends of the floor as he worked his way to becoming a two-way star, finishing with eight points on 4-for-6 shooting, two rebounds and one assist.
Keon Ellis scored just two points, but his primary job was defending Warriors superstar Steph Curry, who finished with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 on 3-pointers in 16 minutes.
The Warriors’ leading scorer was former Kings guard and nemesis Buddy Hield, who finished with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field and 6 of 7 on 3-pointers in just 19 minutes. He was booed by the G1C crowd when he entered the match and sporadically afterwards, but he was unfazed by it.
Here are three lessons from the Kings’ loss:
All eyes on DeRozan
In his unofficial Kings debut, DeRozan looked like he fit right in with his new team.
Just 47 seconds into Sacramento’s 2024 preseason opener, DeRozan scored his first points on a dribble handoff from Sabonis, which coach Mike Brown hopes will provide plenty of opportunities for the Kings’ offense this season.
DeRozan had 10 points at the end of the first quarter, and he added five more to end the half. In addition to all of his field goal attempts, he also knocked down both of his free throw attempts.
Not bad for the new guy in town.
The couch and the new boys
Besides DeRozan, the Kings have made a number of other under-the-radar moves this season.
DeRozan should be the only new player in Sacramento’s starting lineup this season, but the team’s other signings will compete for minutes once the regular season is over. Now is the time to prove that they deserve this opportunity.
Jordan McLaughlin, Devin Carter and Orlando Robinson all sat out due to their respective injuries, but Boogie Ellis, an undrafted free agent who signed a contract after his standout performance in the summer league, turned heads in his limited minutes. The USC product finished with 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field and 2-of-6 on 3-pointers.
Jalen McDaniels, acquired in a trade with the Toronto Raptors, played 21 minutes – some with the starting unit – and finished with six points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field, with four rebounds and one steal.
Isaac Jones, another undrafted free agent, added 10 points in 20 minutes. He signed a two-way contract with the Kings this summer.
Veteran Kings center Alex Len also impressed, falling just one rebound short of a double-double, with 10 points on 5 of 7 shooting, nine rebounds, five assists and one steal.
Mason Jones, a veteran guard who played in five games for the Kings last season, scored seven points.
Sacramento’s sixth man it turns out
He’ll be right back.
DeRozan got the loudest ovation during the introductions, but the reaction to Monk entering the game at the 6:02 mark of the first quarter wasn’t far behind.
Sacramento loves its sixth man, who re-signed to a four-year, $78 million contract this offseason, and he showed exactly why.
When Monk gets going, no matter when that is, it’s hard to turn that switch off. From deep 3s to big finishes at the rim, his energy is irreplaceable.
Monk left the game at the 8:18 mark of the second quarter, and Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee quoted a source reporting that it was for personal reasons and not injury related.
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