SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento Kings learned a tough lesson Wednesday evening at Golden 1 Center. In the NBA, you have to create your own momentum and play through adversity.
The Kings played a spirited game against the Toronto Raptors, but with every call seeming to go the other way. Despite three players scoring 20 points or more for the Kings, they fell to the Eastern Conference’s best team by a final of 114-105.
Here are three takeaways as the Kings one at home to drop to 6-5 on the season.
Momentum killer
The Kings were flying high midway through the third quarter. They had cut the Raptors lead to seven at 78-71 and then the officials took over.
After a defensive stop, Iman Shumpert chased down the rebound as the 24 second shot clock expired. The officials stopped play, conversed on the sidelines for over two minutes and then called a jump ball.
NBA
Willie Cauley-Stein won the jump, but was called for a loose ball foul. Toronto stole momentum off the play, rattling off eight straight points and the Kings never recovered.
Bonanza Buddy
Buddy Hield has taken his scoring touch to a new level this season. He struggled a bit from the perimeter, knocking down 3-of-9 from long range, but that didn’t stop from dropping in 24 points to go with four rebounds and three of assists.
With another offensive outburst, Hield is now averaging over 20 points per game for Sacramento and he’s posted 17 points or more in all but one contest this season.
Welcome back Bogi
Bogdan Bogdanovic missed all of training camp and the first 10 games of the season after undergoing a procedure on his left knee on Sept. 25.
The second-year wing made an immediate impact for Sacramento, scoring seven points on 3-for-7 shooting.
Coach Dave Joerger limited Bogdanovic to just 18 minutes in his first game back, but it won’t be long until he’s 100 percent and ready to assume a major role on the team.