Kings Fall Victim to Victor Wembanyama in Home Loss to Spurs

The Sacramento Kings fell victim to Victor Wembanyama’s wrath on Friday. 

The elastic French superstar scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 124-109 win over the Kings in the NBA Cup in Sacramento. Fresh off a 52-point, 24-rebound game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, Wembanyama shot 10-of-18 from the floor including four baskets from the three-point line. 

Wembanyama recorded his seventh double-double of the season, which is tied for third place in the NBA with, of all people, Domantas Sabonis. The Kings veteran center finished with 17 points and a team-high 12 rebounds for the game’s only other double-double. 

Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper scored 19 points apiece and Harrison Barnes added 13 for the Spurs (7-2). San Antonio defeated Sacramento despite making two fewer field goals including one fewer three-pointer. The Spurs earned their advantage on the charity stripe, making more free throws (33) than the Kings attempted (19).

“I think we need to be more connected,” Kings guard Emanuel Sharp said on the defense. “Once we all get on the same page and we really get organized on the defensive end, we’ll be able to stay out of foul trouble as much.”

Rookie sensation Darius Acuff Jr. continues to lead the Kings in scoring, this time with 22 points on 9-of-20 shooting, including 3-of-9 from the three-point line. He was two assists away from a double-double. 

Zach LaVine scored 14 points with a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line but an imperfect 1-of-6 from behind the arc. 

Leaky Black and Malik Monk each added 12 points for the Kings on a combined 7-of-13 from the floor. 

Nique Clifford scored five points in five minutes. The second-year guard from Colorado State averaged 25.1 minutes per game as a rookie with the Kings last year but is only averaging 6.4 minutes so far this season. 

“He got in tonight and I thought he did well with his minutes, which will help him continue to gain minutes,” Kings head coach Doug Christie said. “There’s a logjam in certain areas, so it’s nothing that Nique is or isn’t doing.”

The Kings never stood a chance, as the Spurs scored 75 points in the first half and led by 19 going into halftime. The Spurs' two highest-scoring halves this season came against the Kings. 

The Spurs led by as much as 24 points midway through the fourth quarter, but the Kings outscored San Antonio 29-25 in the final period for a 15-point win. 

Up next, the Spurs take on Portland on the road Saturday, while the Kings host the Miami Heat.