Sabonis’ strong opening goal was spoiled by a late mistake in the Kings’ loss to the Wolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – The lasting image most people will have of Domantas Sabonis in the Kings’ season-opening 117-115 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves are the two critical fouls he picked up in the final minute of the game.

By that point, however, Sabonis had put together the type of game Kings fans have come to expect from the veteran center – 24 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a stunning defensive performance against Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert in a battle of big men at Golden 1 Center on Thursday.

Gobert, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, isn’t one of the Wolves’ top three scorers, but at 6-foot-10, he can be a very effective scorer if given the chance.

Sabonis didn’t give him much of a chance.

Gobert scored just three points, his fewest in a regular season game since April 9, 2023, and made just two shots. To put that in perspective, Gobert didn’t take fewer than three shots in any of his games last season.

It was basically about Sabonis giving Gobert — a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year — a little taste of his own medicine.

“Overall, Domas played a really, really good game,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “We had him in a lot of different coverages and he did a great job in pick-and-roll coverage. He also did a good job of trying to rebound and outbox guys.”

On a night where Sacramento celebrated the arrival of DeMar DeRozan and got back some key players who missed most of the preseason (Kevin Huerter, Trey Lyles), Sabonis clearly stood out, especially with his defense against Gobert.

At various times throughout the evening, Sabonis lingered at the free throw line, drawing Gobert and clearing the baseline for the Kings’ other players to attack from deep.

Sabonis was good as he went straight toward Minnesota’s towering center.

At some point early in the third quarter, Sabonis drove into Gobert – who was standing in the key – then turned 360 degrees and scored.

However, all of that was undone when Sabonis fouled Gobert and Anthony Edwards in the final 40 seconds of the fourth quarter. Gobert made one of two free throws, then Edwards sank both with two seconds left.

Brown said a lapse in Sabonis’ defensive technique was to blame.

“The foul he got on Rudy, he led with his hands,” Brown said. “And a guy like Rudy just stonewalls us. There is no reason to lead with your hands, especially when Rudy is off balance. Then I thought Domas did a great job going vertical and Ant should have hit hard but (Sabonis) came across his body.

“We always talk to our guys about ‘Lead with your chest.’ If they make it, we can just live with it. He’ll get better.”

Sabonis took responsibility for the fouls, but he liked the overall picture he saw of the Kings.

“We did a lot of good things the first time we played together,” Sabonis said. “It’s annoying. We were up by 11… and now we’re back in first place.”

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