Whether it was the change in game engine, or De’Aaron Fox being limited to eight minutes because of injury, or just the start of a road trip, things went badly for the Sacramento Kings as they suffered their first loss of the season, 110-102, at the Charlotte Hornets.
The Kings overcame a big deficit to win this one in real life, but couldn’t do the same here, though they did get a 22-point deficit down to single-digits by the end. They’re now 5-1 in the replay (2-4 in real life after six games).
Harrison Barnes had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Domantas Sabonis had 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Kings, who shot just 34.5%.
Charlotte was a little better at 38.5%. The Hornets pulled down 20 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Kings 74-61. Four Hornets finished with point-rebound double-doubles: Mason Plumlee (20/10), PJ Washington (17/14), Jalen McDaniels (13/14) and Nick Richards (17/13).
2022-23 Sacramento Kings Replay Home Page
The Kings got off to a good start. Sabonis had five points in a 9-0 run that put Sacramento ahead 15-7 after four minutes. They were still up by eight at 28-20 but the Hornets ended the first quarter on a 12-1 run to go ahead 32-29.
The Kings took the lead a couple of times in the second quarter, including by four at 47-43 after Terence Davis hit his third three-pointer of the quarter. Once again, Charlotte finished the quarter with a run. They scored 11 straight points to go ahead 62-51, and it was 62-54 at the break.
The Hornets poured it on the third quarter and held the Kings to just 15 points on 4-for-21 shooting. Plumlee scored twice to make it a 16-point lead at 73-57. Another set of back-to-back baskets by Plumlee made it a 21-point lead at 87-66. It was 90-69 at the end of three quarters.
The Hornets scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to take what would be their largest lead of the game at 23 points. But the Kings chipped away, and made it a 10-point game at 100-90 with a little more than six minutes left. Charlotte grew the lead back up to 16 at 107-93 with under four minutes to go. The Kings got it down to single-digits in the closing minutes but no closer than the final margin.
This game was played with Highlight Maker Hoops Prime Time.
ROGER SPORTS & GAMES 