Week in review: Kings bounce back against short-handed Suns

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Weekly Record: 1-1

Season Record: 12-8 

The In-Season Tournament provided a nice distraction from the grind of the regular season, even if it didn’t end the way the Kings hoped. After winning Group C, the Kings opened this week with a Quarterfinals matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. In the one and done format, the Kings were eliminated after falling to the Pelicans for a third time this season, this time by a final of 127-117.

Sacramento jumped out to a 32-17 lead after a Malik Monk 3-pointer at the 4:27 mark of the first. The crowd was engaged and everything was going their way. Just as fast as it started, it all came undone for the Kings.

The Pelicans finished the first with an 18-4 run and stole the momentum of the game. Sacramento didn’t go away, but missed shots and turnovers killed the team early and they weren’t able to recover.

De’Aaron Fox led the way with 30 points, but he turned the ball over six times, including four in the first quarter. Domantas Sabonis posted a 26-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double and Malik Monk added 21 points off the bench.

Brandon Ingram dropped in 30 points to pace the Pelicans, but he received plenty of help. C.J. McCollum, Herb Jones, Jonas Valanciunas and Trey Murphy all made major contributions as New Orleans advanced to play the Los Angeles Lakers in next round of the In-Season Tourney.

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