The Sacramento Kings have routinely struggled against inferior teams this season, but Monday's home loss to the Chicago Bulls was near the bottom of the barrel. After leading by as many as 21 points in the third quarter, the Kings crumbled as Chicago adjusted their game plan to come back and take the lead with less than a minute left, winning the game.
Chicago's electric duo of DeMar DeRozan and Coby White were phenomenal and virtually unstoppable against Sacramento's poor defensive efforts. DeRozan finished with 33 points, shooting an impressively efficient 10-12 from the field and 11-12 from the charity stripe. White contributed a game-high and career-high 37 points, also with elite efficiency, shooting 14-19 from the field.
Despite all five of Sacramento's starters scoring in double-digits, nobody was able to propel the offense in the fourth quarter. Star point guard De'Aaron Fox led the way with 20 points and 10 assists but went quiet with just one point in the fourth. In his defense, Chicago's defensive game plan in the fourth quarter was spectacular, forcing Fox to pass on nearly every possession.
After a slow start, missing his first seven attempts, Kings star big man Domantas Sabonis finished with 18 points and 21 rebounds, extending his double-double streak to 43 before fouling out late in the game.
The only "glass half full" takeaway for Sacramento would be their elite free throw shooting, knocking down 16 of 18 attempts, which is usually one of their casualties.
With 22 games remaining, Sacramento's inconsistent play must reach an end. Whatever Mike Brown has to do to fix his squad, he needs to do it. Time is running out before it is win-or-go-home, and with how the Kings are playing, they will likely be going home.
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