Kings-Rockets gameday live: What happened to the highest-rated offense in NBA history?
The Kings lit the beam while lighting up scoreboards last season with the highest-rated offense in NBA history, but they haven’t been the same so far this season.
The Kings will conclude a two-game set against the Houston Rockets on Monday at Toyota Center, where they suffered a 107-89 loss Saturday in their lowest-scoring game since February 2022. Help could be on the way in the days to come, but De’Aaron Fox (ankle) and Trey Lyles (calf) have been ruled out for Monday’s game.
Kings guards Davion Mitchell and Malik Monk acknowledged the team’s focus on physicality and defense could be taking something out of them offensively, but they agreed they have to be able to “do both.”
“That’s the tough part, trying to play as fast as they want, and also trying to play really good defense,” Mitchell said. “It’s tough, but I think really good teams accomplish that and that’s how teams become really good teams when they can do both. So, we’ve got to figure it out, and it’s only the fourth game or fifth game of the season, so we have a lot of room to improve, and I think we will.”
The Kings (2-3) expect a return trip to the playoffs after winning 48 games to secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference last season. The Rockets (2-3) aren’t expected to be a playoff team after going 22-60 last season, but that didn’t stop them from handing the Kings a humbling loss.
Sacramento scored 19 points in the first quarter, 15 in the third and 21 in the fourth. Houston shot an abysmal 13% in the third quarter — going 3 of 23 from the field — and still beat the Kings by 18.
Sacramento led the league in scoring (120.7 ppg) last season while recording the highest offensive rating (119.4) in NBA history. The Kings were No. 2 in the NBA in field-goal percentage (.494) and No. 9 in 3-point percentage (.369).
So far this season, the Kings rank 15th in scoring (113.2 ppg) and 15th in offensive rating (109.9). They are 27th in field-goal percentage (.434) and 21st in 3-point shooting (.326).
Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter were the team’s top 3-point shooters last season with Murray shooting 41.1% and Huerter shooting 40.2%. This season, Murray is shooting 25% and Huerter is shooting 20%. Murray over the past four games has made 19 of 57 (.333) from the field and 7 of 35 (.200) from beyond the arc.
On a brighter note, the Kings are 14th in the NBA in defensive rating (110.9) this season after finishing 24th last season (116.0). They are 18th in scoring defense (114.4 ppg), up from 25th last season (118.1).
Following Saturday’s loss in Houston, Kings coach Mike Brown was asked if his team has an established identity outside of 3-point shooting.
“We’re sort of heading that direction with the physicality, and it has to be defensively, because we’re not going to hit 3s all the time,” Brown said. “Especially come playoff time. We just experienced it (in a seven-game first-round series loss to the Golden State Warriors). In order to be a championship-level team, you’ve got to be able to defend because the ball is not going to go in the hole all the time.
“I’m not sure if we’re ready to embrace that all the way, because we’ve done it in spurts. If some shots are going in, we’re feeling a little bit better about ourselves. If our shots are not going in, you can just look at the body language. Our head drops. Our shoulders drop a little bit. We really let that impact us if we’re not getting it done offensively instead of just going out there and saying, ‘I’m going to freaking fight defensively and I’m going to rebound. I’m going to get a stop. I’m going to do something else to help this team win besides making shots.’ When we get to that point, we’ll be pretty good, because the shot’s going to fall most nights.”
Fox watch
Fox will miss his third game due to a right ankle sprain when the Kings visit the Rockets on Monday. He sustained the injury in an overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 29. Fox is with the team in Houston, but he has been ruled out for Monday’s game. Brown did not have an update on Fox’s recovery prior to Saturday’s game.
Kings at Rockets
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Toyota Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Rockets -1.5
Over/under: 218.5
Injury report
Kings: OUT — De’Aaron Fox (ankle); Trey Lyles (calf).
Rockets: OUT — Tari Eason (leg); Victor Oladipo (patellar tendon); Amen Thompson (ankle).
Upcoming schedule
Nov. 6 at Houston Rockets
Nov. 8 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Nov. 10 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Nov. 13 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Nov. 15 at Los Angeles Lakers
