NBA Notes: Kings, Doug Christie, Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Magic

Kings

Coach Doug Christie said Tuesday that the Kings would “get it right.” Two nights later, nothing looked right at all.

Sacramento followed that vow with two more home losses, including a 33-point drubbing by the Hawks after falling behind by 44. The skid is now four straight and the mood has shifted from frustrated to fed up.

Christie didn’t hide it. He sat down at the podium Wednesday and immediately called the effort “shameful,” then spent 12 minutes unloading on a 3-9 team that has lost its defensive edge, its physicality and, in Christie’s view, its pride.

He pointed to Atlanta’s 33-8 fast-break advantage as evidence.

“You’re not getting back, you’re not communicating, you’re not building walls, you’re not being physical,” Christie said, via Sean Cunningham of KCRA 3. “This ain’t about anything but competition and effort. Play them 10 times and you wouldn’t get a result like that if you’ve got any damn pride.”

He also challenged his veterans to represent the jersey the right way.

“These people come through the turnstiles. They should not leave embarrassed,” Christie said. “Unacceptable. Simple as that.”

With the starters posting brutal plus-minus lines — DeMar DeRozan at -31, Domantas Sabonis at -38, Russell Westbrook at -34, Dennis Schröder at -20 — Christie said lineup changes have to be considered. He subbed his entire starting group out less than three minutes into the second half.

“Young guys will at least try to compete,” Christie said. “It ain’t about talent. It’s about want.”

Christie even joked that at age 55 he would have shown more fight.

“I would’ve used all six fouls,” he said. “We’re not touching anybody. And then we’re looking at the refs crazy.”

He ended with a pointed message for the vets.

“They need to lead,” Christie said. “The young players are watching. Do not let them think this is OK. If you’ve got ten minutes of ‘put it down,’ then give ten. Respect the game. What we did out there wasn’t it.”

Knicks

Jalen Brunson left Madison Square Garden on crutches and in a walking boot after turning his right ankle in the closing minutes of Wednesday’s loss to Orlando, as relayed by Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.

The injury came with less than 2 minutes left in a game the Knicks trailed by 16.

Brunson drove the lane, planted awkwardly and immediately grabbed at his leg. He stayed in long enough to shoot his free throws, then exited for good.

Coach Mike Brown had no update postgame and Brunson didn’t speak with reporters.

It’s the same ankle Brunson badly sprained late last season, costing him about a month.

Bondy also noted the irony: Brown told reporters during camp that he wouldn’t hesitate to “throw the towel in early” in blowouts to protect his stars. Instead, Brunson was still on the floor down double digits.

Since arriving in New York in 2022, Brunson has played at least 65 games every year.

Magic

Orlando’s blowout win at MSG came with a scare of its own. Paolo Banchero exited in the second quarter with a left groin strain and didn’t return.

He told Fred Katz of The Athletic that he felt the pain when trying to accelerate up the floor after a defensive rebound.

“I slowed up and felt it right away,” Banchero said. “I didn’t want to risk further injury.”

Banchero will undergo an MRI but is hopeful this isn’t a major setback. He compared it to the oblique tear that cost him more than two months last season.

“This wasn’t nearly as painful,” he said. “If it were torn, trainers said I wouldn’t be able to move. That’s encouraging.”

Jonathan Isaac started the second half and likely gets the first uptick in minutes if Banchero has to sit. Tristan Da Silva could also slide into a bigger role.

Orlando is back at .500 at 6-6 after a 1-4 start.