Why third meeting with Minnesota was not a charm for Sacramento
Kings lose 132-105
MINNEAPOLIS – The Kings end their two-game trip with a 132-105 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday at Target Center. Here are three takeaways from the game:
It’s been a while
With the Timberwolves pulling away from the Kings early in the second quarter, coach Dave Joerger went deep into the bench.
All 13 active players took the floor. For many, it had been a while since they played.
When Skal Labissiere entered the game less than three minutes into the second period, it was only the ninth game he’s played this season. He didn’t play in the Kings’ previous nine games and twice played just eight minutes when he did appear.
Labissiere, who averaged a team-low 5.1 minutes going in, played 29 minutes and scored nine points.
Among the Kings who played more minutes than usual were Harry Giles III and Ben Mclemore. Giles, who averaged 9.7 minutes, scored 13 points in 21 minutes. Mclemore’s 17 minutes were 11 more than his season average. He had seven points.
None of the starters played after the break, as Joerger opened the second half with a lineup of Yogi Ferrell, Troy Williams, Justin Jackson, Labissiere and Kosta Koufos.
Three starters played seven minutes or fewer: Willie Cauley-stein (seven minutes, one point), De’aaron Fox (six minutes, zero points) and Nemanja Bjelica (five minutes, zero points).
Hield’s birthday spoiled
Buddy Hield was the only Kings starter who got it rolling early. Maybe he was inspired because it was his birthday.
Hield made his first four 3-point attempts and scored 16 of Sacramento’s first 17 points. Even as Joerger emptied the bench, he left the starting shooting guard in, but Hield cooled the rest of the way.
He played 18 minutes, all in the first half, and finished with a team-high 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 5 of 10 from outside the arc.
The Timberwolves were not gracious hosts on Hield’s 25th birthday. overall, 4-of-7 from 3-point range) and Iguodala (10 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the perimeter).
The Warriors (21-10)
Not this time
The Kings had already played the Timberwolves twice, both at Golden 1 Center, and won each meeting by 11.
Minnesota looked determined not to let Sacramento complete a trifecta.
The Timberwolves led by 36, and even as the Kings went to a reserve-heavy lineup, Minnesota left most of its starters in. The Kings, trailing by 30 at the break, got to within 12 in the third quarter before the Timberwolves reestablished control.
The teams will meet one more time, when the Kings visit Target Center on Feb. 25. cemented a two-game winning streak, while the Grizzlies (16-14) struggled without star point guard Mike Conley (left hamstring soreness).