NBA Kings to open season at home vs. Jazz
For just the second time in franchise history, the Kings will host the Utah Jazz to begin the season.
The NBA released the Kings’ 2018-19 regularseason schedule Friday, and Sacramento welcomes Utah to Golden 1 Center on Oct. 17. The only other time these teams have met to tip off a season was on Oct. 11, 1980, when the Kings were still in Kansas City.
The Kings open at home for the fifth time in six seasons. However, they play seven of their next nine games on the road, including a four-game Eastern Conference swing between Oct. 29 and Nov. 4.
Sacramento has lost three of its last four season openers and eight in all during its 12-season playoff drought, the longest current streak in the NBA. Only three teams in the nation’s top four pro sports leagues have a longer hiatus: the Miami Marlins (Major League Baseball) at 14, the Cleveland Browns (NFL) with 15 and the Seattle Mariners (MLB) at 16.
OAKLAND – Derek Carr played only one series, and it almost featured an interception. He fluttered a pass over the middle after his arm was hit, but Jordy Nelson knocked the ball away from Lions safety Glover Quin to prevent an easy pick. The Raiders’ starting quarterback completed two of four passes for 11 yards before ceding duties to Connor Cook in Oakland’s preseason opener Friday night, a 16-10 Raiders win.
Here are five early takeaways from Jon Gruden’s return to the Coliseum and our first look at the 2018 Raiders in game action.
1. Rookie DT stands out early: P.J. Hall began training camp on the physically unable to perform list, so he’s played catch-up the last week in Napa. Hall didn’t start on Friday, but he stood out early with a third-down sack and a batted pass. Hall brought down Lions starting quarterback Matt Cassel for a nineyard loss on third-and-five to force a punt on Detroit’s first drive. Later in the first quarter, Hall deflected a Cassel pass at the line of scrimmage and celebrated accordingly.
“P.J. Hall had a big sack to get things started,” Gruden said at halftime on the TV broadcast.
The Raiders drafted Hall in the second round and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst in the fifth to sure up a defensive line that was anything but sturdy a year ago. The Raiders needed help at defensive tackle, especially after Denico Autry signed with the Colts in free agency. Mario Edwards Jr. and Justin Ellis were the first two DTS on the field for Oakland, but don’t be surprised if the two rookies play sizable roles this season.
If Hall’s early exploits are any indication, the Raiders made a nifty little selection with the Sam Houston State product.
2. Connor Cook looks sturdy as backup QB: Last year’s third-stringer is this year’s backup (for now) thanks to a strong first couple weeks in Napa, and he continued a solid preseason on Friday night.
Cook’s early highlights included a 41-yard completion to Johnny Holton, a 24-yard completion to Paul Butler and a 7-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Switzer after scrambling to his left.
Cook went 11-of-19 for 141 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Most importantly, though, Cook made smart decisions when he scrambled and didn’t throw an interception. EJ Manuel trotted out under center for Oakland’s first drive of the second half, putting a bow on Cook’s efficient day under center that solidified his standing as the No. 2 for now.
3. Colton Miller commits costly penalty: The rookie left tackle played only two series – one more than the three interior offensive linemen but the same as starting right tackle Ian Silberman – and made one costly mistake.
Bay Area News Group/tns Los Angeles Angels second baseman David Fletcher forces out the Oakland A’s Matt Olson on a fielder’s choice during the fifth inning of Friday night’s game in Anaheim. The Angels won 4-3.
Marshawn Lynch reeled off a 60-yard run to the end zone down the left sideline, but Miller’s hold negated six points. The Raiders eventually ended the drive with a Johnny Townsend punt.
Miller’s second series came and went without any hiccups, and the rookie absorbed words of wisdom from Donald Penn on the sideline. Penn stayed next to Miller, squatting down in a stance and demonstrating footwork in his sweatsuit.
4. Eddy Piñeiro perfect in first game action: The rookie kicker got off to a perfect start Friday, hitting a chip shot from 21 yards to give the Raiders a 3-0 lead and a 48-yarder off the infield dirt as the first-half clock expired to give the hosts a 13-7 advantage. He also nailed a 45-yard field goal off the infield dirt with just over two minutes remaining in the game to put Oakland up, 16-10.
5. Chris Warren stating case to make 53-man roster: The running back room is a crowded one with Lynch, Doug Martin, Jalen Richard and Deandre Washington, but Warren is a sneaky contender to make the 53-man roster. He showed why Friday, running 13 times for 86 yards (6.6 yards per carry) while shouldering the biggest workload of any running back.
The Raiders might have to take four running backs if Warren keeps carrying the ball like this. One would assume they’d be Lynch, Martin, Ricard and Warren, with Washington falling by the wayside.