The Kings had their moments to step on the Blazers throats. New shooting guard Kevin Huerter had a sequence in which he nailed a 26-foot 3-pointer, then stole the ball midcourt and went the other way for a layup. And with 5:37 to go, Domantas Sabonis got a bucket before dishing an assist to De’Aaron Fox for a corner 3 on the next possession.
That made it a 104-99 Kings lead inside of five minutes left. Fox had 33 points and looked like the star of the game. Throughout the Kings’ season opener it appeared Fox was having an early-season signature performance. A tone-setter for a potential All-Star season — one the Kings will need from him if they’re going to snap their 16-year playoff drought.
But that 3 was also Fox’s final basket in a dejecting 113-108 loss. He missed a 15-footer, had a turnover out of bounds, charged over a Portland defender while driving to the basket, and missed an open 3 from the corner on a step-back that would have been his best move of the night, had he sunk the shot.
