Bogdan Bogdanovic made critical plays and shots for the Sacramento Kings in their wild game against the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday. The game was a nail biter towards the end of regulation.
Sacramento started the game strong with a quick seven-point lead in the first quarter. The Lakers had the lead for most of the game. At one point in the fourth quarter, LA went up by fifteen points and it seemed that the Lakers had the game in their hands. Then just as the ten-minute mark in the fourth quarter passed, they seemed to fall apart. There were plenty of wild scramble sequences in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter but the Kings would pull ahead at the buzzer.
Bogdan Bogdanovic Sinks Game-Winner For Kings.
Bogdanovic was the player of the game for the Sacramento Kings. First, he hit the game-winner at the end of regulation. Secondly, in the fourth quarter, he made critical defensive plays. Thirdly, he made critical jump shots beyond the arc and outside of the key. Bogdanovic went nine-for-sixteen from the field, three-of-seven from downtown, and finished with 23 points.
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He led all Kings players in scoring while coming off the bench. Performances like this make it just a matter of time before the rookie becomes a starter. His ability to knockdown jump shots from any distance helps create spacing for the Kings. Additionally, he has quick hands which makes it difficult for his opponents to handle the basketball against him.
Bogdanovic Creates Spacing For Sacramento Kings.
Bogdanovic being able to knock down jumpers from anywhere creates spacing for his team. By creating spacing on the floor it allows for his teammates to be able to make plays for each other. For example, it draws defenders to the three-point line which then opens one or multiple lanes to the rim. Furthermore, he is not afraid to keep shooting the ball, even if he is having a rough game.
If defenders play a zone defence on him, he will just shoot the jump shot. However, if the defenders are playing man defence he will run without the ball and move to the area where he can quickly catch and shoot the ball. Whether he has the ball or not he will wait for a pick to roll or drive to the basket using is his strength or his step back to create space.
Bogdanovic Helping Other Kings Reach Double Figures
There were multiple Kings in double figures including Bogdanovic. He has become one of the biggest reasons why his teammates are able to total these numbers. His teammates that were open, thanks to his spacing, were able to knock down shots as well as knock down critical shots. According to espn.com, there was six Kings player with double digits.
De’Aaron Fox posted a double-double against his counterpart Lonzo Ball as well. Ball almost had a triple-double. Fox went for 15 points and 12 assists. Nemanja Bjelica, Willie Cauley-Stein, Iman Schumpert, Justin Jackson, Fox and Bogdanovic were the double-figure scorers. As a team, the Kings attempted 101 field goals, thirteen more than the Lakers, and only made 45. From beyond the arc they made ten, including the game-winner at the buzzer. They also made 17 free throws.
This game was close in the end as it is in the box score. The Kings defence stepped up in the fourth quarter, never letting their foot off the gas pedal. Sacramento was up at the start of the game then gave up a big lead. At the end of the game they were not afraid to keep shooting the ball even though not every shot was falling. It ended being the right call as they won the game on Bogdanovic’s game-winning three at the buzzer.
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