Kings Don’t Have the Magic, Fall to Orlando at Home

The early season woes at home continue for the Sacramento Kings. 

The Kings remain winless on their home court after dropping a 107-100 contest to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday in Sacramento. The Kings have lost four straight games and are 0-6 at home so far this season.

“To get out of this, you have to put together a 48 minute game,” Kings head coach Doug Collins said. 

Zach LaVine led the Kings with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including an efficiently nice 6-of-9 from the three-point line. 

Darius Acuff Jr. scored 29 points to total 288 points early into his young season, which is the most by any rookie through the first 11 games of a campaign since Michael Jordan scored 289 for the Chicago Bulls in 1984.

“It’s not often you see players come into the league with that type of poise and shot making especially guards,” Magic guard and fellow Arkansas alum Anthony Black said of Acuff. 

Domantas Sabonis missed the King’s 114-108 home loss to Miami on Sunday due to left knee soreness. He was not his usual self when we returned to the court, grabbing only two rebounds with five assists while going scoreless.

De’Andre Hunter scored 15 points, Keegan Murray added 11 points and Precious Achiuwa chipped in 10 points for the Kings, who lost despite making six more three-pointers and one more free throw. 

The Magic were led by Franz Wagner, who scored a season-high 33 points with seven rebounds and seven assists to help Orlando snap a four-game losing streak. 

Wagner shot 10 of 21 from the floor including 10 of 10 from the free-throw line. He previously put up a 30-points, 11-assist double-double during the Magic’s 126-119 loss against the Golden State Warriors over the past weekend. 

Anthony Black scored 26 points with seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. Desmond Bane scored 15 points and Wendell Carter Jr. grabbed 11 rebounds to go with his extra eight points for the Magic.

Wagner hit a three-point jump shot to cap an 18-5 run that put the Magic up 52-43 with 3:10 remaining in the second quarter. Orlando maintained its lead throughout the remainder of the first half and the entire second half, as making seven field goals made the difference. 

The Magic won without Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac and Tristan da Silva on the court. Banchero missed his eighth consecutive game after sustaining a high ankle sprain in a 115-93 home loss to Minnesota on Oct. 23. 

Up next for the Kings is a home game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Orlando travels to Utah on Wednesday to take on the Jazz.