The Kings are just one of many teams who have fallen victim to DeMar DeRozan's MVP-caliber play this season.
Losing to the Chicago Bulls 125-118 Wednesday night at United Center, Sacramento was unable to stop one of the league's best players. The 32-year-old 2022 NBA MVP candidate has been one of the best storylines so far this season, and a constant thorn in the side of any team who faces off against the Bulls.
“Obviously we had a tough time with DeRozan, which everybody has the past six or seven games," Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry said postgame. "Then when we tried to trap him and get the ball out of his hands, Coby White really hurt us too.
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“Everybody’s tried everything on DeRozan the last two and a half, three weeks and none of it has worked. I wish we could have done better but we’re no different than any other team in that department right there. Then what happens in this game in particular, when you start to double-team him and get the ball out of his hands, he’s such an unselfish guy and now you’ve got Coby White who shot the ball exceptionally well over the last couple of weeks also taking threes that we’re trying to close out on.”
DeRozan's 38 points in 40 minutes were followed by an additional 31 points from White, the third-year point guard who benefited from the Kings' heavy focus on the Bulls' superstar. On the opposite side of the ball, De'Aaron Fox kept pace with each of Chicago's leading scorers, scoring 33 points in 40 minutes for Sacramento.
Wednesday night was another stellar performance for Fox, who has been red hot since returning from an ankle injury.
Kings guard Justin Holiday, one of Fox's newest teammates acquired from the Indiana Pacers, has immediately benefited from playing alongside him.
“It’s been very very impressive," Holiday told reporters postgame. "Usually I’m on the east coast and I only see him twice.
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"From the outside looking in, you know how athletic, how fast how creative he is with the ball, finishing and getting to his spots … He actually knows where guys are. Now if you’re not going to stop him, he’s going to continue to kill you. He knows where guys are, he knows where to look for guys. I’ve been here four games and he’s put me in spots to where I can get some looks or some touches … He’s an all-around point guard, he’s going to score the ball for sure and he’s also going to get his teammates involved and I’m enjoying playing with him.”
The Kings' blockbuster trade with the Pacers brought Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento, a big man who can score and generate offense for the whole team, especially Fox. The move to acquire Sabonis appears to have created a domino effect of sorts. When Fox benefits from Sabonis, players like Holiday then benefit from Fox and so on.
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After missing eight games, Fox has been phenomenal in his five games since. He credits both feeling fresh after the injury and benefiting from what his new teammate brings to the court for his success.
“Definitely a bit of both," Fox said. "[Sabonis] is a great player, you basically know what you’re going to get from him night in and night out, he’s going to be consistent. But he definitely helps open the floor for everybody on the court, rather if he’s scoring or if he’s in the post passing and dishing it off. He’s been great for us so far.”
The Kings head into the All-Star break 2-2 after the blockbuster trade. Having not practiced much at all since shaking up the roster, Sacramento will use the time off to familiarize themselves with one another as they look to close out the season strong.