Short-Handed Kings Fall to the Warriors 101-92
By: Morgan Ragan
The short-handed Sacramento Kings started fell to the Golden State Warriors 101-92 in front of a sold-out crowd at Sleep Train Arena on Wednesday night.
DeMarcus Cousins was out with a strained hip flexor and the Warriors were without center Andrew Bogut sat with a flare reaction from a cortisone shot in his ailing left shoulder.
Despite Bogut's absence, Golden State managed to score 52 points in the paint. The Kings fell to 0-8 without Cousins in the lineup.
"The story of the game was our turnovers and our inability to take care of the ball, and our inability to share the basketball. We are no longer making plays for each other," head coach Michael Malone said postgame.
Sacramento had 21 turnovers that led to 22 points for Golden State.
Isaiah Thomas made two free throws near the end of the 3rd quarter to give the Kings a one-point lead headed into the 4th quarter. Thomas finished with 26 points-- his 32nd 20-point game for the season.
Sacramento was also without Marcus Thornton who they traded to Brooklyn in exchange for guard Jason Terry and forward Reggie Evans.
Kings general manager Pete D'Alessandro said his team is still having conversations as the Thursday trade deadline approaches.
"Our roster is an unfinished product. Change is good when you've lost a lot," D'Alessandro said.
Malone has cautioned his players to stay away from all the trade rumors that are on the Internet.
"Once that deadline comes there will probably be a lot of relief on our guys knowing that it's over and that they will be here for the next 28 games," Malone said.
Analysis:
Before the game Malone talked about being excited for Ben McLemore's future in Sacramento.
"My main thing moving forward is Ben McLemore. This is an opportunity for him to go out there with no pressure on him to show what he's capable of doing. Now he gets an opportunity with consistent minutes. We just want him to relax, play and grow up in these 29 games."
McLemore had three points and five fouls in 19 minutes against the Warriors. Foul trouble gave Malone no choice but to sit McLemore more than he wanted to. The rookie is slowly losing his chances to show what he can do.
It's been reported the Kings are shopping Jimmer Fredette for a 2014 second rounder before the deadline Thursday.
Coming off his career high game, scoring 24 points at Madison Square Garden, Jimmer continued to be inconsistent against the Warriors with 2 turnovers and 3 points in his 4 minutes of play.
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