Entering Monday night’s game against Indiana, the Kings were coming off two of their more dispiriting defensive efforts of the season. Toronto dropped 144 points on Sacramento Friday, and the Kings responded by letting Portland cruise to 125 the next night.
It wasn’t so much the point total as it was Sacramento’s lack of resistance defensively, as both the Raptors and Blazers waltzed to the basket and got whatever shots they wanted. On Monday, the Pacers may have scored 122 points, but they met resistance. Much of that came in the form of Richaun Holmes.
Holmes has been the saving grace of the Kings defense thus far this season, leading the rotation players in defensive rating.