Following the Kings’ defeat at Golden 1 Center on February 26, 2024, guard De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings discusses Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. Jaquez talks about playing in Sacramento from the locker room. AUTHOR HECTOR AMEZCUA The Kings’ frustrating propensity to play below par against opponents with less talent has cost them several games this season. Against the Miami Heat on Monday night, they repeated the action. In front of a stunned audience of 17,832 at Golden 1 Center, Bam Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kevin Love gave the Kings a lesson in Heat Culture by guiding a diminished team to an incredible 121-110 victory. With 3:41 left, the Kings came roaring back from a 20-point fourth-quarter hole to within two
Despite the fact that Josh Richardson (shoulder), Orlando Robinson (back), Dru Smith (knee), Tyler Herro (knee), coach Erik Spoelstra (team president), and Jimmy Butler, Thomas Bryant, and Nikola Jovic were serving suspensions for their roles in the melee that took place during last week’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Miami managed to execute a winning brand of basketball regardless of who was on the court.De’Aaron Fox, the point guard for the Kings, described it as a “running joke.” “No matter who Miami starts, it appears like that group has a history of playing together or in the Finals. Regardless of how long they have been on the club, they have guys who come out and play hard. They also have guys who execute their jobs well. That’s just their consistency, then. They play ferociously. They know what has to be done. They probably spent 80% of the game in zone defense, which speaks to their consistency and ability to interrupt plays and gain possession of the ball. The Heat advanced to the NBA Finals last season with a number of undrafted players, including Max Strus, Duncan Robinson, and
