Kings can’t rebound from slow start in blowout loss to 76ers

After building some momentum with back-to-back wins, the Sacramento Kings came out flat in a 129-105 blowout loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers.

Buddy Hield shot the ball well and led the Kings with 25 points. Tobias Harris had 29, while Shake Milton chipped in with 28 to lead the Sixers.

Sacramento never led in this one and wasn’t within single digits for the final 42 minutes of the game.

It was a terrible start for the Kings, who trailed 11-2 less than three minutes into the game. The Sixers continued to pour it on by being red-hot from beyond the arc. Veteran Danny Green connected on all three of his 3-point attempts, and Philly made five of its first six shots from 3 and held a 42-21 lead after the first quarter.

Sacramento’s offense wasn’t much better during the first 12 minutes. The Kings shot just 40.9 percent from the field and turned the ball over four times.

Buddy Hield did his best to get his team back into the game in the second quarter. He hit six-of-nine attempts from the 3-point line in the first half, but Sacramento couldn’t make up any ground from the slow start.

The Kings’ defense was sloppy in the opening half, allowing the 76ers to shoot 60 percent and take a 73-52 lead into the break.

The slim hopes of a Sacramento comeback were dashed early in the third quarter. Led by Milton, Philadelphia outscored the Kings 24-11 over the opening seven minutes, pushing the lead up to 34.

Sacramento made up some ground over the final six minutes of the third and trailed 106-80 going into the final quarter.

The Kings allowed the 76ers to shoot 55.8 percent from the field and were outrebounded 51-33.

It was a disappointing effort from Sacramento, who fell to 2-3 on their six-game road trip. The Kings play in Cleveland on Monday before returning home to take on the streaking Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.