Kings forwards Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray led a record-breaking 3-point barrage while Malik Monk and Chimezie Metu led a big effort from the Sacramento bench in a blowout win over the Orlando Magic.
Barnes scored a season-high 30 points in a 136-111 victory over the Magic before a crowd of 16,499 at Golden 1 Center. Barnes went 11 of 13 from the field and 6 of 7 from 3-point range on a night when the Kings set a franchise record with 23 3-point goals.
Barnes said it was just good to get a win after suffering disappointing losses to the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers.
“I thought offensively tonight, but really this season, as a team, we feel confident in what we can do,” Barnes said. “The biggest thing for us was walking out of here with a win, however that was. We felt like after the last game we let ourselves down.”
Murray made 5 of 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 15 points for the Kings (21-18), who eclipsed their previous record of 22 3-point goals. Kevin Huerter, Trey Lyles and Monk had 14 points apiece.
Domantas Sabonis had 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, recording his 17th consecutive double-double to extend his own franchise record. Metu added 11 points and nine rebounds in 14 minutes, helping Sacramento finish with a 54-39 advantage in points off the bench.
Kings coach Mike Brown said he was not surprised to see his team knock down 23 of 46 (.500) from 3-point range.
“The way we spaced the floor, the way we touched the paint, the way we shared the ball,” Brown said. “I don’t want to sound cocky or anything, but it doesn’t surprise me with the shooters we have and the way our guys know how to play on that side of the floor.”
Rookie Paolo Banchero had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Magic (15-26), who were coming off a win over the Golden State Warriors. Franz Wagner and Markelle Fultz each added 16 points.
Brown has implored his club to play better defense, specifically pointing to the team’s inability to prevent the opposition from getting inside for easy baskets. Going into the game, the Kings were 29th in the NBA in that area, allowing opponents to score 55.2 points in the paint per game. The Magic’s first four possessions resulted in four points in the paint and then an open 3-pointer by Gary Harris, prompting Brown to take a timeout after 2:04.
Orlando kept the game close until midway through the second quarter, when Brown went deep into his bench in search of a spark. Davion Mitchell, Malik Monk, Trey Lyles, KZ Okpala and Chimezie Metu all contributed as the Kings opened up a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
Metu received rotation minutes for the first time in weeks after being relegated to the end of the bench in mid-December. He provided immediate energy, producing six points, five rebounds and one assist in his first four minutes of action to help the Kings take a 15-point lead early in the second quarter. Prior to Monday’s game, Metu had appeared in only one of seven games since Dec. 23, logging one minute in a Jan. 1 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Kings went up by 15 early in the second quarter and led 72-52 at the halftime break. They shot 55.8% and made 12 of 26 (.462) from 3-point range in the opening half. They also tallied 20 assists on 29 made baskets with just six turnovers while outscoring the Magic 28-24 on points in the paint.
Sacramento led by 24 points in the third quarter and went up by as many as 31 in the fourth.
The number that pleased Brown most?
“Forty-two,” Brown said.
The Kings held the Magic to 42 points in the paint.
“That was great to see,” Brown said. “We can even be better than what we were tonight, but I tell you what, our guys – Orlando scored 78 points in the paint the first time we played them and, obviously, our last three opponents have had a field day in the paint. Watching our guys do their work early and talk and cover for each other on most possessions, it was beautiful to see.”
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