By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A slow start damaged the Sacramento Kings on the latest installment of NBA Saturdays. They ended up losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Golden 1 Center.
Domantas Sabonis put up a triple-double, his second in a row across a back-to-back stretch and fifth overall in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season.
“I thought we did a really good job fighting throughout the game. We just did not make wide-open shots early on and mostly throughout the game,” the Lithuanian big explained the losing effort on Saturday.
French center Rudy Gobert contributed heavily to a solid start for the visitors in Sacramento. Banking in 10/13 field goals, he posted a 21-point, 17-rebound double-double.
“We were going through our coverages but we were not connected as a team in the first half,” Sabonis commented on team defense and specifically against fellow European star, “Leaving wide open shots for a player play after play does not help.”
The Kings were forced down to 17-11 and into a distance of five games from the leaders of the Western Conference.
“On paper, they have a great roster. They are playing together this year. They are connected,” the Kings leader rejected a suggestion about the Wolves potentially exceeding expectations, “Defense wins games and they are the number one defense in the NBA.”
Resuming action in the Regular Season, the Kings will go on a three-game road trip next week. The Portland Trail Blazers make the first stop on Tuesday.
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