Asked if he was limping, the Kings' Emanuel Sharp shrugged off the knocks: "So it ain't nothing new. ... But I'm good." Nor is he fazed by Damian Lillard, Ja Morant or Jrue Holiday: "I'm not looking at these guys intimidated or anything." He credits Doug Christie for that.
Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings
After the game
Before the game
Emanuel Sharp "earned his minutes" and "played really well," Sacramento Kings coach Doug Christie said, with Malik Monk's preseason absence a possible opening. Christie gave no timeline for Monk: "I'm hoping to get him back... but we're going to play who's on the floor."
De'Andre Hunter has played one game as a King and is still working off rust, Doug Christie said, but "DeAndre has been great." Christie likes him with Precious Achiuwa at center, Ben Simmons and Keegan Murray: "it's beautiful because you have the ability to switch."
Keegan Murray says he isn't at 100% yet after his first game action in nine months: "I think I can get there before the regular season." The Kings forward says the ankle that kept him out of practice much of last year is good now, and he'll "slowly ramp up my minutes."