The Sacramento Kings may not be world-beaters, but you couldn’t tell based on how they handled the Warriors on Sunday night.
Luke Walton’s team handed Golden State an emphatic beating to the tune of a 100-79 decision. Sacramento had four players score in double-figures, led by 25 points off the bench from Bogdan Bogdanovic. The sixth-man shot 9-for-11 from the field and was one of six Kings players to shoot at least 50% for the game. Buddy Hield also chipped in 19 points.
For the Warriors, the game began with some promise, as the club began the contest trading baskets (and the lead) with Sacramento. However, Golden State simply wasn’t able to recover from a 12-2 run that the Kings used to close the first quarter. The halftime deficit was nine points before the game completely got away from Steve Kerr’s team in the third quarter where they fell behind by 21.
As has become somewhat commonplace this season, the Warriors allowed the Kings to shoot 60% from the field for the game but managed to connect on just 39% of their own looks. The brilliant shooting display from the Kings helped them to overcome 27 turnovers — a staggering number by any stretch.
Golden State was led by 14 points from Willie-Cauley Stein and got just eight points from D’Angelo Russell, who shot just 2-for-8 from the field.
With the loss, the Warriors fall to 5-23 on the season and remain in sole possession of the worst record in the league. The team will next take the floor on Wednesday night when they travel to Portland to do battle with Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers before beginning a five-game homestand when they welcome the Pelicans to Chase Center on Friday.
