Crazy end of the match and another bitter defeat for the Kings

Clearly, things rarely go according to plan Kings. In complete discomfort since the start of the season, they thought they could hold on to their seventh win of the season on the floor Portland.

They even celebrated him, but the joy was very short-lived. The Dantesque end of the game for the California franchise ended with another loss, two free throws by Danny Avdia with 1.5 seconds left. And the smiles turned into clenched jaws again.

The Kings have reason to be genuinely frustrated. DeMar DeRozan he had just made his second clutch shot of the game and thought he had given his team the win, 132-133 with 4.4 seconds left in overtime. Danny Avdija then returns to the field against Russell Westbrookwith Keon Ellis to help. The Israeli’s shot is too short as it sounds, but Mark Davies, the referee furthest from the action, signals a foul. Replays are far from clear, as Keon Ellis doesn’t touch Danny Avdia or the ball, and it’s a Blazers player who sends skin into Russell Westbrook’s chest.

« I made a lot of contact » he assumed in the comments reported by reporter Sean Hykinwhich will undoubtedly rub salt in the Kings’ wound. “ I didn’t expect to get fouled with one second left. I tried to get inside Russ and throw a punch. But when you watch the slow motion, I was pushed into the shooting position. It can be said that it was a foul, but few referees would have played it that way. »

« Our guys put up an incredible fight and put their hearts into it » noted Sacramento coach Doug Christievery disappointed. ” At the game… Whatever I say, I will be punished. I have a lot to say, so I probably shouldn’t say anything. »

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“When you fight at a high level like that, you can face anyone”

Christie may also have something to say about a rollercoaster-like fourth quarter. Until then, the Californian coach had made quite successful moves by moving Keegan Murray (17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 interceptions, 4 blocks) to position 3, in order to match the “classic” racket with two interior players, Prešas Achiuva and Maxim Reynaud. Then he went without Malik Monk, to revive Keon Ellis, who did not play a second in the last match against Wolves.

But Keon Ellis and the five made up only of substitutes (Dennis Schroeder, Nick Clifford, Dylan Cardwell, Dario Saric) completely took the water for the beginning of the fourth quarter. While the Kings led by one point early in this one, they trailed by 18 seven minutes later after being outscored 21-4.

It was still 113-98 in favor of Portland with less than two minutes to play, before the incredible comeback. Sacramento thought it could hold on thanks to plenty of aggression toward the rim and two 3-pointers by DeMar DeRozan, the last with eight seconds left to pull back into the game.

« When you fight at a high level like that, you can face anyone » underlined Doug Christie. ” We have enough talent here to win. Now we also have to turn on our brains and make sure we do things the right way to win, but hats off to these guys. This is what a team should do, and this fighting spirit is what our fans love. They kept fighting and refused to lose, and that’s what this franchise is all about. That’s what our team is built on, and that’s what we want to see. When you do that, most of the time you walk away with a win. »

Maxime Reynaud’s great match was not enough

Most of the time, but not this time. This failure adds to the list of disappointments of the season and will overshadow the top match Maxime Raynaudauthor of 29 points and 11 rebounds.

« This match will not be a story about ‘we were not far from victory’ and all that » complained Doug Christie to the media. ” That’s not what we’re here for. The comeback isn’t going to be better because we got up 18 points in the last two minutes or whatever, or because we had a shot to win. No. We are here to fight above all else, and the result is victory. We did the part of the job where we fought. But we are not leaving with success. So we have one more step left. »

Meanwhile, the Kings are still moving backwards, as they are now being counted out the same number of wins as the Pelicansthe red lantern of the West for a little extra defeat.