The Sacramento Kings have been one of many greatest surprises within the league this season, thanks largely to their explosive offense. Entering Monday evening’s showdown with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Kings had been scoring 117.7 factors per 100 possessions, which ranked second solely behind the Denver Nuggets.
Early on, they gave the Grizzlies, and the remainder of the league, one other reminder of their offensive firepower by pouring in 12 3-pointers within the first quarter to tie an NBA file for essentially the most 3s made in a single quarter. They went 12-of-13 from downtown within the first and scored 47 factors, and did not decelerate the remainder of the best way. They completed 22-of-40 from 3 in a 133-100 win.
For essentially the most half, it was fairly easy basketball. They performed with tempo, each in transition and within the halfcourt, bought into the paint to break down the protection, moved the ball, and shot confidently. Even if it wasn’t groundbreaking, placing up that type of capturing show in opposition to the league’s greatest protection was nonetheless extraordinarily spectacular.
The Kings are able to these bursts as a result of they unfold the ground with shooters round Domantas Sabonis and have 5 guys on the market who can resolve with the ball of their palms. During the primary quarter, that they had 5 completely different gamers make no less than one 3, and 5 completely different gamers have no less than one help. Harrison Barnes led the capturing division with 4 makes, whereas Sabonis led the playmaking division with six dimes.
Entering Monday, the Kings had been seventh within the league in 3-point makes an attempt per recreation at 36.8 and tenth in proportion at 36.7. They have seven completely different gamers taking no less than three 3s per recreation, and solely two of them are capturing beneath 34 %. Kevin Huerter, within the midst of a breakout season, leads the best way at 41.4 %, simply forward of rookie Keegan Murray at 41.3 %.
While the Kings nonetheless have their points on the defensive facet of the ball, the offense has been so superior that it hasn’t mattered — no less than not but. Come playoff time, the Kings’ lack of ability to get stops could also be an issue, however simply getting there may be the primary aim for a franchise that owns the longest lively playoff drought (16 years) in any main North American skilled sports activities league.
At 27-19, the Kings sit alone in third place within the Western Conference and are on tempo to finish their ignominious place within the file books.
