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The start of the Summer League season did not get off on the right foot for the Sacramento Kings, who were on the losing end of one of the worst shooting performances in recent memory. Toronto came to play, holding the Kings to an abysmal 28.3 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from deep, and every player to under ten points. From tip off to final buzzer, the Raptors dominated this matchup.
Toronto was able to win thanks to an incredible second and third quarter, where they held the Kings to seven and six points, respectively. Rookie Jakob Poeltl looked like a decent rim protector, the bigs did a great job rebounding, and the guards and wings did a great job forcing turnovers and running in transition. Toronto ran up and down the court at will, turning good defense into good offense, where as the Kings looked lost on defense and could not get anything started on offense.
Raptors 905 alums Norman Powell and Bruno Caboclo led the way for Toronto. Powell looked like the best player on the floor at all times, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals to go along with Caboclo's 11 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Poeltl also made his NBA debut, doing exactly what he does best, taking good shots at the rim and rebounding. He finished with six points on three of three shooting, which also grabbing nine rebounds, and blocking three shots in only 21 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, the Kings looked lost against the Raptors. Rookie Malachi Richardson led the way with seven points on two of six shooting. Second year center Willie Cauley Stein had a rough night, as he posted seven points on two of ten shooting to go with his five rebounds and three assists. One of the top D-League prospects, Ricky Ledo, saw 17 minutes of action and was only able to score two points and pick up five fouls.
If this was in any setting other than Summer League, the Kings should be worried. But this is Summer League, the time to make mistakes, shoot 30 percent, and lose by 40. Does it bode well going forward? Not exactly. Hopefully this isn't a view into what the season will be like. Because much like most Sacramento Kings teams, things looked disheveled from the beginning.