Kings’ Terence Davis bounces back from COVID-19; bench shows strength in win over Lakers

Kings guard Terence Davis was down and out for a few days after contracting COVID-19 shortly before training camp, but he was all up in the mix Thursday in Sacramento’s final preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Davis barked at the Lakers’ bench after draining a corner 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, and he would have more to say before it was over. Davis made four 3-pointers in a span of 4:09, helping the Kings beat the Lakers 116-112 to finish the preseason undefeated for the first time since 1998.

“We took preseason as a way to just find our identity to build a culture and I think we kind of did that,” Davis said. “Now, everything is serious. Now, let’s actually put it together.”

Davis said COVID-19 hit him hard for a few days, adding he was only cleared to return to the gym a day before the official start of training camp.

“The first three days were pretty rough on me, chills, lost the sense of smell, the sense of taste,” Davis said. “I still can’t really smell. I’ve got one of the biggest noses in the country and I can’t smell. It’s crazy.”

Davis looked good against the Lakers, spearheading the effort from a bench unit that could prove to be an important part of a team that is trying to end a 15-year playoff drought. The Kings had a 50-29 advantage in points off the bench, fueling bursts that enabled Sacramento to overcome a seven-point deficit in the first quarter, an eight-point deficit in the third and then a two-point deficit in the fourth.

The Kings (4-0) finished unbeaten in the preseason for just the second time since the franchise relocated to Sacramento in 1985. The Lakers (0-6) lost despite playing their biggest stars in what coach Frank Vogel called their “final dress rehearsal” for the regular season.

Davis came off the bench to make six 3-pointers for the Kings (4-0), finishing with 20 points, six rebounds and three assists. Buddy Hield, Tristan Thompson and Davion Mitchell also played key roles off the bench. Hield had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Thompson had nine points and seven rebounds.

“Buddy was a +30 tonight,” Walton said. “I thought he was great out there, especially when we were a little sluggish early. He got the energy going when we went to the bench early in that first quarter.”

Mitchell posted fairly modest numbers with six points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal and one blocked shot. Still, his defensive presence was undeniable against the likes of Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and even Anthony Davis, who is at least eight inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than the rookie guard from Baylor.

Before the game, Walton was asked if Mitchell’s point-of-attack defense reminds him of anyone. Walton pointed to a former Kings player who was a four-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection and the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year.

“From when I played, it does remind me a little bit of when I used to have to play against Ron Artest/Meta World Peace, where you were dribbling and sometimes it just felt easier to give the ball to someone else,” Walton said.

Walton said his bench could be a critical component to this year’s team after general manager Monte McNair made moves to improve Sacramento’s depth.

“That’s part of the stuff I’m always talking about,” Walton said. “All of the questions are always, ‘Who’s starting?’ To me, it doesn’t matter. It’s like, we’re trying to build out our best team and that (bench) group has been playing a lot together in practice. I was not surprised to see them have a couple of good runs tonight. They’ve really been jelling in the scrimmages and in the drills we’ve been doing. I think they were good. I think they could be something that, every night, we can count on, really getting a big punch from our bench.”