Joerger Returns To Sideline For Kings, Durant Scores 33 In Warriors' 119-104 Win

Sacramento Kings head coach Dave, watches Golden State Warriors point guard dribble up the court at Golden 1 Center. Joerger coaches his first game since leaving a road game due dehydration and stress. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey. Feb. 2, 2018.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sacramento, Calif. —

The Sacramento Kings jumped out to a 20-7 lead on the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on Friday night. Of course, that didn’t last long.

When the first 12 minutes ended, the Warriors was leading 29-27, and never relinquished the lead the rest of the way, though the Kings did get back in the game to trail by one point midway through the fourth quarter before they imploded.

Golden State beat the Kings 119-104. Kevin Durant lead the Warriors (41-11) with 33 points, six assists, and four rebounds. Stephen Curry added 23 points, six assists, fiver rebounds, and two assists while Klay Thompson contributed six rebounds, and three assists.

Draymond Green had 13 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, to round out the four All Stars’ sluggish start, but terrific ending. The Kings cut the Warriors’ lead 89-88 in the fourth quarter, but were outscored 30-16 in the final 7:55 of the game.

The Warriors committed 25 turnovers for the night with five players having three or more miscues. The Kings turned in 19 points on the Golden State’s mishandling of the basketball. The Warriors just missed their season high of 26 turnovers, which happened way back in October against the Detroit Pistons.

“When’s the All Star Break?,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr asked after the game. “We’re limping to the finish line at All Star Break. We’ve got to fight through to the break and then we need to get the hell away from each other.”

Zach Randolph had 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steal for the Kings (16-35). De’Aaron Fox kicked in 16 points, six assists, one steal, and one block and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 12 points, six assists, three rebounds, and three steals.

Rookie Justin Jackson had 17 points, three rebounds, and one assist as a starter for the Kings. Jackson also had the assignment of guarding Durant. He asked several teammates for a tutorial on how to contain one of the best scorers in today’s game.

“I was asking a few guys, ‘do you have some tips for me,’ before the game,” Jackson said. “For him, you try to make it hard as possible. Obviously, he hit some key shots. He’s a hall of famer.”

Publicity Agents OpticalVision. Footage by T. Ray Harvey

With Curry and Durant, the Kings were able to beat the Warriors at the Oracle on Nov. 27, their first meeting of the season. Sacramento snapped an eight-game losing streak in Oakland that dated back to 2013.

The Kings returned from a 3-3 record on the road that started Jan. 13 in OKC. They have three more games on their current four-game homestand, with the second of a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.

Dave Joerger was back at work after he collapsed on the sideline in the first quarter of the San Antonio game, which the Kings won with assistant coach Elston Turner filling in. Joerger admitted that rigors of the NBA led to stress. He said before the game that he is fine. But know he knows by experience to start listening to his 43-year-old body.

“It’s a situation where you get concerned,” Joerger said before the game. “There are coaches around the country that it has happened to and family members say that it has happened to them at one time or another. I drink a lot of water and I wasn’t feeling great and I should have stayed back.”

After the game, Joerger said he was thankful to be back in his element.

“It was okay, fun, and I appreciate you asking,” Joerger said when asked how he felt to coach again. “It was a good game. A great atmosphere is always great at Golden 1. I was propping up my beverage over there to keep me hydrated.”

Cauley-Stein returned to action after suffering a right knee bone contusion and a left foot strain in the victory over the Miami Heat on Jan. 25. He had 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 35 minutes as a starter.

Six players for the Kings scored in double figures for the Kings. Buddy Hield came off the bench to score 16 points, making 7 of 14 shots from the field.

PUBLIC INFORMATION

Sacramento Kings:

The Kings have dropped four-straight games at Golden 1 Center.
For the third-straight time, Sacramento gave up 50 percent shooting to an opponent as the Warriors shot 55 percent from the floor.

Golden State Warriors

Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson combined for 76 points against the Kings.
The Warriors cleared the glass 51 times to the Kings’ 33.

Draymond Green had one blocked shot in the game that was against Kings rookie De'Aaron Fox. Green told Fox "to get that shit down" when he deflected the shot and Fox had some words for him.

Green said he repeated the words again.

"But he's a good player," Green said of Fox. "He's gonna be good. He's got something you can't teach.

By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist

Twitter: Tony Ray Harvey @PublicityAgents

Email: infopublicityagents@gmail.com

T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.