The search is over.
After dropping their first two games of the NBA season, the Sacramento Kings jumped all over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Russell Westbrook's return.
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SIGN UP HERE The Thunder kept it close, but the high-powered Kings offense kept rolling, coming away with a shocking 131-120 win on the road.
Iman Shumpert came up huge for Sacramento, but it was a team effort. Seven Kings players scored in double figures, including a big -time double-double from De’Aaron Fox.
Westbrook and Paul George combined for 61 points, but it wasn’t enough for the still-winless Thunder to keep up with a young Kings team.
Here are three takeaways as the Kings start 1-2 on the season.
NBA
Shumpert wants minutes
The easiest way to earn minutes in the NBA is to take advantage of every opportunity. After playing just 14 games last season, Shumpert started Sunday for the Kings and made the coaching staff take notice.
Shumpert scorched the Thunder for 16 points in the first quarter to get the Kings off to a fast start. He finished the evening with 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting. He added four assists, three rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 30 minutes.
That’s how you earn more minutes.
Fox vs. Westbrook
Fox grew up idolizing Westbrook. After averaging 11 points and 7.7 assists versus against the Thunder last season, the second-year pro went to work in OKC.
Fox scored 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting and added 10 assists in 42 minutes of action. More importantly, he helped lead the team to its first win on the season.
Westbrook returned from injury after missing the first two games and put up a typical 32-point, 12-rebound, eight-assist performance.
Harry and Marv
The rookie bigs will have struggles some nights, and on others, they’ll find ways to help the team win. Against the Thunder, Harry Giles came in and found a way to slow NBA strongman Steven Adams, finishing with eight points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks in a solid 17 minutes of action.
Marvin Bagley got his scoring game going late, dropping in 13 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench. He was active on the glass and earned some crunch-time minutes.
The young guys are showing signs of improvement every time they step on the floor.