The Kings welcomed back Richaun Holmes and Harrison Barnes, and Nemanja Bjelica drilled a 27-footer with 26.4 seconds left to give the Kings the lead for good.
Little by little, the Kings are getting healthy and starting to look like themselves.
After falling behind big early to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Kings were the aggressors in the second half and found a way to pull out a win.
With 26.4 seconds remaining, Nemanja Bjelica drilled a 27-footer to give the Kings a 102-100 lead. Sacramento picked up a stop on the other end and then hit their free throws down the stretch.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Here are three takeaways as the Kings improve to 1-2 during their scrimmage schedule in the Orlando bubble, knocking off the Clippers by a final of 106-102.
[PURPLE TALK PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]
Welcome back
The Kings desperately missed Richaun Holmes and Harrison Barnes in their first two scrimmage games. Holmes is back after being quarantined to his room for 10 days and Barnes flew out to Orlando on Friday after clearing coronavirus protocol.
NBA
Holmes started at center and instantly brought energy to the court. He was active on the glass and finished with six points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
Barnes came off the bench and played more minutes than expected for coach Luke Walton. He looked like he was moving well, but he’ll need to shake the rust off before Friday’s opener. Barnes finished with 12 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes.
Better Bogi
Bogdan Bogdanovic wasn’t very aggressive in the Kings’ first two games, but he looked more like himself against the Clippers.
The third-year guard scored 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the floor and 4-for-10 from long range.
Bogdanovic is asked to do a lot when he’s on the floor for Sacramento. This was the first time he really looked comfortable.
[RELATED: 2020 NBA mock draft 12.0: Projecting Warriors, Kings' first-round picks]
Buddy Heats Up
The Kings need Buddy Hield to carry their second unit scoring. He’s had a solid start during the scrimmage games, but he found his stroke in the second half against the Clippers.
Hield knocked down 3-for-10 from long range for the game on his way to 17 points. In addition to scoring, Hield made a couple of really nice passes to set up Harry Giles for easy buckets in the post and he ripped down eight rebounds in the win.
When Hield gets going, the Kings are dangerous. They’ll need him to be aggressive in the restart if they hope to contend for the final playoff spot.