In a down-to-the-wire slugfest at the Golden 1 Center, the Sacramento Kings felt the sting of a season opener loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the final score at 117-115. In his first appearance draped in Kings colors, DeMar DeRozan racked up 26 points, complemented by 7 rebounds and 2 assists. This info comes courtesy of CBS News Sacramento, which captured the details of Thursday night's nail-biter.
Having rebounded from a loss to the Lakers earlier this week, the Timberwolves were headlined by big performances including Julius Randle's 33 points and Anthony Edwards's pivotal free throws that sealed the deal for Minnesota's victory. In the final seconds, fouled on a drive, Edwards didn't flinch as he sank a pair of free throws, giving him a total of 32 points for the game. As for the Kings, a potential game-winner from Keegan Murray found nothing but the rim, capping the tense showdown as detailed by ABC 10 Sacramento.
Despite the loss, there were notable performances in the Kings' roster. Standout stats came from Domantas Sabonis, who put up 24 points and nabbed 8 rebounds, and Murray, who contributed 23 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double evening. It was Sacramento's first match after making a significant leap in the previous season, exiting a 16-year playoff drought only to stumble at the NBA Play-In Tournament, as reported by ABC 10.
The back-and-forth afforded no easy breaths for either team. Minnesota finally hammered in an 11-0 run, led by Edwards and Naz Reid with consecutive 3-pointers, turning a five-point deficit into a six-point lead during the fourth quarter. This result was part of an aggressive 3-point shooting showcase, with Minnesota going 20 for 50 from beyond the arc, their most in the first two games of any season, as per ABC 10.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves ready themselves for a home opener against Toronto, and the Kings set their sights on a Saturday night showdown with the Lakers in Los Angeles. Both teams will be itching to build their narratives early in the season, dusting off the opener's pressure and eyeing the long game that stretches out before them.
