Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie lauded his stars following a 123-115 road win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.
Christie highlighted Precious Achiuwa’s dominance, saying, “Precious played grown man basketball tonight. I mean, he’s been spectacular for us all around. He guards everybody. He rebounds the basketball. He does all the dirty work. But tonight, I mean, he was rebounding everything.”
Achiuwa finished with 28 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, including eight offensive boards, which Christie called “huge and we needed every one of them.” Christie also noted Achiuwa’s efficiency, adding, “The putbacks, what was he? Three for four at the free throw line. Love to see that.”
DeMar DeRozan overcame an early foul trouble to score 28 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. Christie praised his composure: “For DeMar, like early on, I thought he was fine. He got into foul trouble. But he’s such a pro. The moment doesn’t ever get too big. You don’t speed him up. Knew he would find his game like he normally does.”
Christie singled out a critical shot by DeRozan late in the game: “For him to come back here and hit that big shot in the corner was really, really huge. We needed it. Both of those guys were one dominant, and the other came through at the end. DeMar was huge.”
DeRozan passed Dominique Wilkins for 17th on the NBA all-time scoring list with 26,688 career points. Christie acknowledged the milestone, saying, “Woody looks at me and goes, ‘Man, he just passed Dominique Wilkins.’ I said, ‘Well, if you pass Dominique Wilkins on the freeway or in the line at the grocery store, you’re doing something.’ Super proud of him. It couldn’t happen to a better person and a better pro.”
Malik Monk added 18 points, Devin Carter scored 13, and Daeqwon Plowden contributed 11 as the Kings snapped a four-game losing streak and ended a five-game road trip with a victory. Sacramento shot 93% from the line, going 27 for 29, while the Raptors managed 22 for 32.
Toronto’s RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles each scored 20 points, with Murray-Boyles reaching the mark for the first time in his career. Scottie Barnes finished with 14 points and 10 assists, while Jakob Poeltl had 18 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili added 17. Brandon Ingram sat out with a sore right heel, marking his third absence in six games.
The Kings will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, while the Raptors travel to Memphis for a matchup against the Grizzlies. Sacramento improved to 7-32 on the road, while Toronto’s five-game home winning streak ended, leaving them tied with Philadelphia for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
