Nov 1, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Sacramento Kings ahead DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks within the first quarter at State Farm Area. Necessary Credit score: Brett Davis-Imagn Pictures DeMar DeRozan has been a helpful addition to the Kings, and he can have one other probability to point out why Saturday evening when Sacramento visits his former workforce, the Toronto Raptors.
DeRozan scored 27 factors and grabbed eight rebounds on Friday evening within the Kings’ 123-115 highway victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
The Kings have gained the primary two video games of a four-game highway journey and three straight total.
The Raptors have dropped 4 in a row after dropping 131-125 at residence to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
The Raptors will retire Corridor of Famer Vince Carter’s No. 15 in a ceremony on the recreation on Saturday.
DeRozan, who was acquired by Sacramento from the Chicago Bulls in July as a part of a three-team commerce, has scored 20 or extra factors in every of his first 5 video games with the Kings. The one different gamers to try this with the franchise had been Chris Webber (seven straight) and Oscar Robertson (six in a row).
One of many causes the Kings acquired DeRozan was to enhance in free throws, each in makes an attempt and taking pictures.
DeRozan went 8-for-10 on the foul line on Friday and the Kings had been 26-for-30 (86.7 p.c) for the sport. Final season, they had been final within the league in free-throw proportion at 74.5 p.c.
“DeMar has at all times been a great free-throw shooter,” mentioned Kings guard Kevin Huerter, who scored 10 factors on Friday. “Having him be one of many guys that will get there persistently over the course of the sport helps with that.”
De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 31 factors on Friday, whereas Domantas Sabonis contributed 15 factors and 14 rebounds.
Atlanta rallied to tie the sport at 109-109 with 5:51 left. DeRozan helped maintain off the Hawks by sinking 4 free throws within the last 1:25.
“We had been a little bit frantic there,” Kings coach Mike Brown mentioned. “And we put the ball in DeMar’s palms, and also you simply see his rhythm, his tempo. Actually, actually good. There is not any panic about something he does.”
Fox mentioned, “(DeRozan) simply makes the sport really easy. Clearly, groups do not need to swap smaller guards on him, after which he is capable of get to the free-throw line so effectively. So he is positively a tricky cowl, however he is such a prepared passer that he makes the sport a lot simpler for everyone else.”
The Raptors bought 33 factors and a career-best 12 assists from RJ Barrett on Friday and rallied within the second half after trailing by as many as 26 factors. Gradey Dick added a career-best 31 factors, and Jakob Poeltl had 19 factors and 12 rebounds.
The Raptors trailed 43-19 after one quarter however bought inside six a number of occasions within the fourth quarter.
“The primary quarter was positively an issue,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic mentioned. “We discovered the rhythm within the second quarter and located our mojo and vitality, and since that time we had been taking part in very well.”
Toronto was with out Scottie Barnes (proper orbital fracture), Immanuel Quickley (pelvic contusion), Bruce Brown (knee surgical procedure) and Kelly Olynyk (again pressure).
Ja’Kobe Walter, who had been out with a shoulder harm, put up 5 factors and 6 rebounds in 22 minutes throughout his NBA debut on Friday. He was drafted nineteenth total this 12 months.
“He has a extremely good nostril for the ball,” Rajakovic mentioned. “He is a extremely good on-ball defender. He has very energetic palms, lengthy arms. He is very disruptive, and he has an excellent really feel to go get offensive and defensive rebounds.”
–Discipline Stage Media