Thunder Dominate Kings 132-101 in Sacramento
Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a commanding performance against the Sacramento Kings, cruising to a 132-101 victory that left the home crowd stunned. The game, part of the Emirates NBA Cup, saw the Kings struggle to find their rhythm while the Thunder capitalized on their strengths, even without several key players. With this win, Oklahoma City improves to 9-1 overall and starts 1-0 in their West A group play, while Sacramento falls to 3-6 on the season and 0-1 in the tournament.
The Kings entered the matchup shorthanded, missing both Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. Sabonis, who had been dealing with lingering injuries, was resting after playing through discomfort in recent games. This absence clearly impacted Sacramento’s frontcourt presence, and the team struggled to maintain cohesion against a determined Thunder squad. Oklahoma City, despite also missing star wing Jalen Williams and role players Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Kenrich Williams, looked composed and motivated, bouncing back after a narrow 121-119 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers earlier in the week.
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Russell Westbrook, as usual, carried much of the offensive load for the Kings. By halftime, he had already recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists, showcasing his ability to create opportunities even on a team struggling to space the floor. Westbrook connected on three three-pointers in the first half, providing a much-needed boost in a lineup that otherwise had limited shooting options. Yet, despite his efforts, the Kings couldn’t keep pace with the Thunder’s fast start.
Interestingly, Sacramento held a brief lead after the first quarter, up 32-30, thanks to a starting lineup featuring Westbrook, LaVine, DeRozan, and Schroder, with Drew Eubanks stepping in for the injured Sabonis. That early promise faded quickly, however, as Oklahoma City made adjustments and began dominating in the paint, exposing defensive gaps. Sacramento’s perimeter defense was particularly porous, allowing the Thunder to score at will and limit the effectiveness of players like Keon Ellis, who saw no minutes until the fourth quarter.
The Thunder’s victory not only reinforced their position as a top contender in their group but also highlighted their depth and resilience, even when key contributors are sidelined. With a strong start in group play, Oklahoma City seems well on their way to advancing to the knockout round of the Play In. Meanwhile, Sacramento will look to regroup and bounce back in their next game at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are also off to a strong start in the NBA Cup.
Ultimately, last night’s game was a stark reminder of the gap between a healthy, motivated Thunder team and a Kings squad battling injuries and inconsistency. While Westbrook continues to put forth herculean efforts, the Kings will need more balance and contributions across the roster if they hope to turn their season around.
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