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Official Release

Last month, the Kings&nbsp;launched&nbsp;the second contest within the team’s Capitalize platform,&nbsp;Capitalize: Food. Diverse food entrepreneurs from across the region participated in multiple rounds of competition, including a highly competitive Pitch Day. There are now four remaining contestants, one of which will be crowned the Sacramento Kings 2023 Capitalize: Food champion. To move forward in the contest, each food submission must meet the arena’s Food Charter criteria where 90% of the food is sourced from 150 miles from the arena.&nbsp;

On September 6, the remaining contestants composed of restaurants and entrepreneurial ventures, presented their concepts to a distinguished panel of judges during Pitch Day. These judges evaluated the contestants’ pitches, tasted a sample of their entry and selected the four finalists who earned a spot in the cook-off showdown.

Cook-Off and Winner to be Announced at Golden 1 Center&nbsp;

On September 14, the four finalists will show off their culinary skills during a live cook-off set inside Golden 1 Center’s kitchen. Following a deliberation, the judges will announce the winner of the Sacramento Kings Capitalize: Food contest, who will earn&nbsp;an opportunity for their brand to be featured at the Golden 1 Center&nbsp;during the 2023-24 NBA season and at the team’s Media Food Tasting in October.&nbsp;

Get to know the four finalists who will participate in the cook-off event.&nbsp;

To learn more about the Sacramento Kings 2023 Capitalize: Food competition, visit&nbsp;Kings.com/CapitalizeFood.

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Culinary Innovation: Sacramento Kings Announce Four Finalists as Capitalize: Food Contest Heats Up

In early August, the Sacramento Kings launched the inaugural Capitalize: Food contest – the second installment in the franchise’s annual Capitalize competition. Fast forward to August 21, the excitement spiked as the organization unveiled the 16 applicants who would move on to the next round. Now, the contest has intensified, with the pool of applicants cut in half, leaving eight exceptional contestants to vie for their opportunity be crowned the Sacramento Kings 2023 Capitalize: Food champion.

The remaining eight contestants – hailing from diverse backgrounds, including restaurants and entrepreneurial ventures – will receive mentorship and coaching to fine-tune their concepts as they prepare for Pitch Day on September 6. On Pitch Day, a distinguished panel of judges will evaluate the pitches and taste a sample of the contestants’ entry. Finalists selected from this pool will earn a spot in the cook-off showdown.

Culinary Excellence Unleashed: The Cook-Off

On September 15, the finalists' culinary expertise will be put to the test in a live cook-off. Set inside Golden 1 Center’s kitchen, the finalists will bring their concepts to life, aiming to secure placement inside the arena during the 2023-24 NBA Season.

On September 19, the Sacramento Kings Capitalize: Food champion will be announced and receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their food and/or restaurant brand featured at Golden 1 Center during the 2023-24 NBA Season. In addition, the winner’s creation will be showcased during the Kings 2023 Media Food Tasting event this fall.

Get to know the semi-finalists who will participate in Pitch Day, vying for a spot in the finals.

To learn more about the Sacramento Kings 2023 Capitalize: Food competition, visit Kings.com/CapitalizeFood.

culinary-innovation-sacramento-kings-unveil-semi-finalists-for-capitalize-food-contest

Culinary Innovation: Sacramento Kings Unveil Semi-Finalists for Capitalize: Food Contest

On August 1, the Sacramento Kings unveiled the second contest of the annual Capitalize competition – Capitalize: Food. The contest aims to provide exceptionally skilled and creative food entrepreneurs from the region with a unique opportunity to demonstrate their culinary expertise and bolster their brand equity and exposure.

Capitalize: Food applications opened on August 1 and saw a diverse response before the application window closed on August 18.

Today, the Sacramento Kings notified the pool of applicants who will advance to the next stage of the contest. Throughout the coming days, applicants will engage in interviews to share more about their concepts. A select number of these applicants will be chosen to receive mentorship and coaching as they prepare for the contest’s Pitch Day.

On Pitch Day, September 6, a panel of successful executives, investors and industry leaders will evaluate the ideas and pitches of the contestants. Finalists will be selected from the remaining pool of contestants, earning a spot in a cook-off event on September 14. During this culinary showdown, finalists will bring their concepts to life in Golden 1 Center’s kitchen for a chance to win placement inside the arena.

The contest winner will be announced on September 19 and will receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their food and/or restaurant brand featured at Golden 1 Center during the 2023-24 NBA Season. In addition, the winner’s creation will be showcased during the Kings 2023 Media Food Tasting this fall.

Introducing the Capitalize: Food Contestants:

Get acquainted with the talented pool of applicants competing in the 2023 Capitalize: Food contest, each bringing their unique vision to the competition.

culinary-innovation-sacramento-kings-narrow-down-contestants-for-capitalize-food

Culinary Innovation: Sacramento Kings Narrow Down Contestants for Capitalize: Food

Nikki Nicholson

Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox keep stacking accolades.  

De’Aaron Fox always knew everything meant more in Sacramento.&nbsp;

Before No.5 was drafted by the Kings in 2017, he said he embraced the idea of going to the Kings in hopes of restoring the franchise to greatness.&nbsp;

“Imagine being one of the players who's on a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs in over a decade, almost two decades, and then being the first team to actually get to the playoffs,” Fox told J.J. Reddick two years ago on The Old Man and The Three podcast. “Obviously, it's hard as hell, but just being able to be a part of that would be something special.”&nbsp;

Fast forward, and No.5 made sure Sacramento’s 2022-2023 was nothing short of special, combining his personal success, including a first All-Star appearance and Clutch Player of the Year award, with team progress, featuring a Pacific Division Championship and postseason berth.&nbsp;

“I’m extremely proud of this group,” Fox said in his postseason exit interview. “It was a remarkable season for us from where we have been in the past. This is a big step in the right direction.”&nbsp;

With a beamin’ season comes well-earned accolades, as Sacramento’s All-Star duo of Sabonis and Fox was named to the All-NBA Third Team on Wednesday, giving the Kings their first All-NBA tandem in the Sacramento era.   

According to StatMuse, the Kings franchise has&nbsp;had the fifth-most All-NBA selections in league history, while the last teammates to earn All-NBA together were Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas during the 1967-1968 season with the Cincinnati Royals.&nbsp;

After leading the NBA in double-doubles and rebounding, Sabonis proved to be one of the most dominant interior forces in the league, earning his third All-Star selection and first All-NBA nod, as he racked up regular reason averages of 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists.&nbsp;

Alongside him was the team’s starting point guard, who received his first All-NBA selection as well, after averaging 25.0 points and 6.1 assists during the regular season.&nbsp;

Together, the young stars helped Sacramento finish second in field-goal percentage (49.4), third in assists (27.3), fifth in 3-pointers made (1,128), and net the highest offensive rating in NBA history (118.6) with the squad scoring the most points per game by a team in 40 years. 

“Because of the way it ended,” Fox said following the Kings first-round loss to the Golden State Warriors. "You want that sting to last a little bit. You don’t want to feel that again."

“I feel that’ll help you build toward the future.”&nbsp;

 The last time No. 5 had a vision for creating something special in Sacramento, he delivered — and the Kings Pacific Division reign has just begun. 

nba-royalty

NBA Royalty

Like the Beam Team, Keegan Murray is just getting started. 

It’s uncommon for a rookie to enter the NBA and immediately make an impact on a Playoff-contending team, but Keegan Murray isn’t your average first-year player.&nbsp;

After finishing his initial campaign on the 2023 NBA All-Rookie First Team, it’s safe to say the 22-year-old wing delivered on the hopes of the Sacramento Kings front office when they selected Murray with No. 4 pick in 2022.  

“I believe [Keegan] was the most winning impact rookie on the court this year,” Kings General Manager Monte McNair said following Sacramento’s 2023 postseason. “To come in and know what we need, defend multiple positions, hit shots, cut to the basket, play off our veterans, I thought it was a fantastic year for him.”&nbsp;

Given how the rookie closed out his first taste of the playoffs, averaging 14.5 points on 50.5 percent from three in the final four games against the Golden State Warriors, it’s evident the University of Iowa product’s rise has just begun.&nbsp;

"It's probably one of the best starting points I could've had,” Murray said following the season. “I feel incredibly blessed to be picked by them at four. I feel like I’ve been put in the best situation possible.” 

Through all the learning that comes with being a first-year NBA player, Murray was able to look at fellow forward and Iowan Harrison Barnes.&nbsp;

“[Harrison] has been a big figure not only in Sacramento but in the state of Iowa, a guy I knew I could just look at and try to resemble him as best I can,” Murray said in his exit interview. “Just the day-to-day stuff he does and routines he does, I feel like that just kind of helped me become a better player this year.”&nbsp;

Acclimating to the ebbs and flows customary for an inagural NBA season, Murray not only led all rookies in 3-point percentage (41.1 percent), but finished just one spot outside the Top 20 for 3-point shooters in the league, while showing promise on the defensive end as well, guarding multiple positons and often the best wing on the opposing team.&nbsp;

“It was just a matter of [Keegan] getting comfortable, and he did it,” Kings Head Coach Mike Brown said following the team’s playoff run. “He showed he’s more than capable, and I’m excited. I'm thrilled to see him come back next year because he's got a chance to really take off." 

With a full offseason ahead of him and a year of experience under his belt, the team's young forward is already focused on building upon the strong foundation he’s established in the 916.&nbsp;

“There’s not one specific area I feel like I’m established,” Murray said. “I know I have a lot of areas in the game of basketball I need to get better at and where I can better myself. For me, it’s just looking at statistics, film, and other things like that to break down what I need to work on. I know it will be a big offseason for me.”&nbsp;

Murray not only proved he’s ready for the bright lights of the NBA, he showed he belongs, and with his work ethic, average is the furthest thing from what his future holds.&nbsp;

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‘The Best Situation Possible’ 

Alex Kramers

Team camaraderie and a culture shift culminated in a special season in Sacramento, but Kings players aren’t content with a first-round exit.

Not even 24 hours removed from the end of his first playoff run, De’Aaron Fox, still riding a wave of emotions, pointed to all the positive steps his team took throughout the season and then aspired to resolve unfinished business.

A young group that many pegged to be at least a year away from making any serious postseason noise believed early that they were building something special. Their unity combined with their work over the summer, the grind behind closed doors, when the attention wasn't being paid, is what put them in position to surprise the league and push the defending champions to the limit.

But that taste of the playoffs turned out to be bittersweet, Fox says, making it clear he isn’t satisfied with exiting in the first round and that he’ll use the shortfall as motivation.

“You take that feeling and you build off of that feeling because you don't want to feel that again,” Fox said. “I just feel like that helps you grow as a player, and if you have a lot of like-minded guys in the locker room, that’s what fuels you guys as a team. We’ll just build off of this. We’ll take what we learned throughout the season … You take the hurt that you felt and you become a better team.”

Despite the less-than-happy ending, for Fox, a monumental year had all the elements of a cinematic masterpiece – an underdog story of overcoming the odds, gaining national respect and making history in the process, set to the soundtrack of a rallying call from the crowd and glow of the purple beam illuminating the night sky.

“I think it was almost something out of a movie, just with my life coming together like that,” said Fox, who welcomed his first child, Reign, with his wife Recee. “I definitely think that year 25 for me is probably the best year that I've had in my life. I just want to keep this going. I want to keep this feeling&nbsp; going.”

The All-Star guard isn’t the only one who wasn’t ready for the closing credits on the most memorable Kings season in recent memory to roll. From Kevin Huerter to Malik Monk to Trey Lyles, players up and down the roster found a home in Sacramento, where they clicked on the court and dined together off of it, united by the larger goal of winning and the sense that this is their time.

“Returning is honestly my number one priority,” Lyles said. “The fellowships, the relationships that I’ve been able to create with these guys have been above and beyond anything that I've had in the past.”

Among the highlights for Huerter was the outpouring of fan support inside Golden 1 Center for the climatic first playoff game, when the crowd reached decibels never heard before by anyone in the organization.

“I think a moment I’ll never forget was Game 1, running out onto the court in this building. That was electric, it really was,” Huerter said. “You’re running on and you’re getting chills running down your spine. There was such a build-up for it. You hear about the drought, you hear about how crazy it’s going to be and everybody talks it up, like Sac fans are going to show out. It really was like [that]. We ran out of the tunnel and it was mobbed. We were on the court and there were 18,000 people standing up ready to go.”

That postseason introduction was only the first chapter, a to-be-continued cliffhanger, and as Sacramento prepares for the highly-anticipated sequel, for the first time in a while, it enters the offseason with more answers than questions.

“I think we put everybody [around the league] on notice,” Monk said. “But for us, I think it just may make us lock in even more because we know what we can accomplish and we know what the playoffs feel like.”

Winning Formula: With its speedy point guard at the controls, the Kings record-setting offense hummed like a well-oiled machine, and with dribble-handoff facilitator in Domantas Sabonis surrounded some of the best outside shooters in the league, there's far less talk about what the Kings could become than about what they already are.

That shift began with Mike Brown, the first unanimous Coach of the Year recipient in league history, who was instrumental in building a winning culture and provided invaluable influence by encouraging players to be themselves.

“As soon as he came here, he said he wants to change the culture,” Monk said. “When me, him and Kev met, he said the same thing to us, and we wanted the same thing. His voice was just so big for us this year and his experience, because he'd been through so many different things in so many different time frames, just helped us a lot.”

Under Brown, players embraced them and put the team’s needs ahead of their own. With a rotation of core players who couldn't be more dependable, Sacramento possesses balance and high-level chemistry honed over months of team workouts and 89 games together.&nbsp;

“I feel like as the year went on, we got better and we learned each other's tendencies more; what players like and whatnot,” Sabonis said. “To start the year with knowing all that already and adding things in summer is going to be very helpful. And the coaching staff knowing your tendencies, [us] knowing them, it's going to definitely help, especially with summer coming up.”

Rookie Duties: Keegan Murray, the No. 4 pick in the Draft, not only set a league record for most three-pointers made by a rookie in the regular season (206), but was the only first-year player across the league earning significant minutes in the playoffs.&nbsp;

The level of maturity, poise and confidence he showed in year one impressed many around the league, and in a sign of what’s to come, the Iowa product racked up points from not just behind the arc, but by finishing off cuts, in transition and on drives in the playoffs.

“He's been amazing,” Sabonis said. “Even as the series went on, he got his confidence back and wasn't only shooting threes. He was dribbling and getting into traffic, shooting floaters, mid-range shots, all these tough shots that he hasn't really been doing all year. So that's something you can see and expect for next year, for him to be more active with the ball. That's going to open a lot of things for us.”

Still, Murray wasn’t immune to the required rookie duties bestowed by the veterans, and fulfilled each task without complaint.

“I picked up Chick-Fil-A every away game, so I [spent] $300 every single road trip,” Murray said with a rare smile. “So that I kind of hurt. But they're cool with everything that I did; a bunch of little stuff I had to do. They're good people.”

Next Steps: A glistening 48-34 record, powered by its ability to put points on the board, is more likely Sacramento’s floor rather than its ceiling, but what the regular season indicated and the playoffs amplified is that defense needs to take precedence.

“Everybody has their nights where they're not going to shoot well, but just as a team defense, we need to show more consistency on that end,” Fox said. “You don't want to be one of the bottom five teams in defense throughout a season and then just expect it to turn around in the playoffs … We just need to show defensively that we can be a much better team.”

Both Fox and Sabonis have more defined individual offseason goals, as well, recognizing their own shooting limitations and inconsistencies which contributed to Sacramento’s playoff outster.

“Obviously,&nbsp; my shooting; I have to have confidence going out and shooting that [mid-range] shot,” Sabonis said. “If [the Warriors] respected my shot more, we probably would have been [playing the way] we did all season instead of the big playing back off me. So that would’ve helped us a lot.”

To withstand the grind of a lengthy season that stretches from October to late April and beyond, and the demands of their turn-on-the-jets offense, conditioning and endurance will be among other areas of priority.&nbsp;

“To continue to get better in my role, I think that’s going to be a big focus for me this summer: to be in really good shape,” Huerter said. “I think going into next year, my movement within our offense, you have to really be in good shape and this series showed it.”

Coming Soon: Fox and Sabonis played through far more than standard wear and tear over the course of the season, but remarkably missed only 12 regular-season games between them (none in the playoffs).

No. 5 won’t need an operation on his broken index finger and expects the digit will be fully healed within two to three weeks. Sabonis will visit a hand specialist to determine if the avulsion fracture in his right thumb will require rest or surgery, but regardless of the course of action, the big man is already itching to return to the hardwood and to help push his team deeper into the postseason.

“It's never a relaxing summer,” No. 10 said. “I always can’t wait to get back in the gym and start working and preparing.”

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Rising Kings Eager to Take Next Steps

Despite falling to the Warriors in the deciding contest, Kings players held their heads high and looked to build on what they accomplished during the postseason.

The familiar, sing-song chants of “Sac-ra-mento!” rang out inside Golden 1 Center in the closing minutes of an already-decided Game 7, as one final ode to a special Kings team that brought fans so many smiles with an offensive punch and hustling pace that overwhelmed even high-quality defenses.

The sharp and experienced Warriors ultimately provided too harsh of a test, but despite the outcome, Kings players and coaches held their heads high at pushing the defending champs to the brink of elimination. There was some deflation and heartbreak in their voices, but there was much more pride and a collective focus on how they’ll return stronger next season after their introductory learning experience in the playoffs.

“Being at the age that we are, you have a lot of basketball left to be played,” said De’Aaron Fox, who averaged 27.4 points and 7.7 assists in his first postseason. “You’re entering your prime, you want to have the best years of your basketball career coming up. Losing to this team, you just learn from it. You take everything that they did to us, that they taught us, you try to be better at those things and just continue to work at it.”

The Kings made the defending champions work early, racing to a five-point lead in the first quarter and holding a two-point edge at the half. But Stephen Curry carried himself with his trademark swagger to begin the third, penetrating the heart of the defense and unleashing an onslaught of deep perimeter bombs that have long been his forte, while Kevon Looney seemed to have his hands on every ball that bounced off the iron.

For Sacramento, it was a rare night when Fox couldn’t reciprocate Curry with a fourth-quarter barrage of his own, when Malik Monk’s shots weren’t falling cleanly through the net, and when Domantas Sabonis wasn’t the game’s biggest force in the paint or on the glass.

“It’s going to sting for a long time, but you have to come back ready from the get-go, from training camp,” Monk said. “I definitely want to be playing again at this time next year [...] You can’t dream of anything like this unless you’re doing it.”

Mutual Respect: After being faced with the unenviable task of finding ways to slow down Fox from driving the lanes, whipping passes all over the court, and at times, single-handedly controlling the series, Draymond Green and the Warriors left the hard-fought battle with a deeper appreciation for the Kings All-Star.

“I wanted to pay my respects,” Green said regarding his post-game words with No. 5. “We’ve been in a lot of playoff series against a lot of guys, and if I’m honest, you leave with less respect for a lot of guys … There are some you gain respect for. Fox is one of those guys.”

Best for Last: Sabonis was at his All-NBA best in the series finale, backing and muscling his way in the paint, running the floor and finishing in transition, and exhibiting the tremendous dribble-handoff chemistry he perfected with Monk and Keegan Murray throughout the regular season. When the Warriors dared, practically begged Sabonis to beat them from mid-range, Sacramento’s center did just that, too, drilling a pair of 19-footers. Sabonis led the team in points (22, on 10-of-16 from the field) and assists (seven), while snagging eight rebounds and blocking a pair of shots.

Key Stats: The Warriors racked up 13 offensive rebounds, seven by Looney, in the third quarter, keeping multiple possessions alive and preventing Sacramento from ramping up the pace. With Golden State content to burn the clock with a methodical, walk-the-ball-up game in the second half, the Kings finished the game with only two fastbreak points.

Turning Point: In the words of Monk, “Steph being Steph; that’s it. Kudos to Steph.”

Even though head coach Mike Brown pulled out all the stops once again, implementing new lineups and scheming defenses to try to slow down the red-hot Curry, Golden State showed precisely why it won last year’s title. That first-hand look at how championship teams respond to adversity, Brown says, will benefit Sacramento in the long run.

“Obviously, we wish we were still playing, but this is part of the sport,” Brown said. “We’ll be better from this experience going forward. Our guys are definitely hurting right now, which obviously they should be. But I have a lot of gratitude for every man in that locker room.”

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De’Aaron Fox, Kings Use Game 7 Loss as Learning Experience

With their backs against the wall, the Kings stunned the defending champions on the strength of De’Aaron Fox’s playmaking, Malik Monk’s firepower and a small-ball lineup.

Win or go home, backs against the wall, no tomorrow were amongst the descriptions of Sacramento’s plight by its coaches and players after dropping three in a row to the Warriors. But while many teams talk the talk but wilt in pressure situations on the floor, the Kings were unfazed by an elimination game on the road, against an opponent with all the experience, all the history, all the momentum on its side.

Davion Mitchell predicted his team would “punch them in the mouth first,” and the Kings did just that, bullying and battling their way to an 8-0 start with elite balance on both sides of the ball, ducking every Golden State counter, sending blow after blow, and finally, delivering a knockout late in the fourth quarter.

At the center of the ring were, as they’ve been all series, De’Aaron Fox, unhampered by his broken finger, and Malik Monk, the dynamo sixth man, pinning the Warriors on the ropes. Each proved yet again that he’s all-but unguardable, knifing into the paint for floaters, taking advantage of switches and cross-matches to get open from mid- and long-range, and drawing whistles on the way to the cup.

The devastating duo combined for 54 points, 15 assists and four steals, vibrating with energy against a lethargic Warriors team that couldn’t flip the switch they’ve become so accustomed to flipping.&nbsp;

“We wanted to hit first, hit second, hit third, hit last, and I think we did a good job of that tonight,” said Fox, who was a plus-20 in his 37 minutes. “Especially with our pace, I feel like we were in control basically the entire game tonight. From start to finish, I feel that this is probably the best game that we’ve played this year.”

With the series shifting back to Golden 1 Center for a winner-take-all Game 7, there’s no shortage of confidence in Sacramento’s corner and no shying away from the brightest of spotlights.

“It’s a big opportunity,” Fox said. “Everybody doesn’t get to experience a Game 7, and not a lot of people get to experience a Game 7 in Sacramento […] It’s going to be rocking.”

“I just know I’m going to go out there and [give] 110 percent, give it my all and continue to do what I’ve been doing; that’s attacking the rim and making plays for my teammates,” Monk added. “I’ll be ready.”

X-Factors: So often, the outcomes of critical playoff games are swayed by role players who deliver their biggest performances, who maximize every opportunity when their team needs them most. With Domantas Sabonis in foul trouble for much of the night, the Kings relied on depth and a small-ball lineup that outpaced and confounded the Warriors.

Inserted to space the floor, Trey Lyles thrived as the backup center with 12 points on 10 shots, nine rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes, during which Sacramento outscored the Warriors by nine.

“We felt going small with the guards we have, they can get downhill, and we can play-make,” said head coach Mike Brown. “Trey gave us that flexibility. For us, we do want to play as quickly as we can, we want to keep pushing the ball. That’s how we played all year. In order to beat teams in the playoffs, we need to play faster.”

Although he was the least experienced player on the floor, Keegan Murray was no less confident in his ability to impact the game, firing away from deep on his way to 15 points, collecting 12 rebounds, and perhaps just as importantly, drawing a pair of charges in a team-high 45 minutes.

And in a system in which any player can be the X-factor on any given night, Kevin Huerter rediscovered his touch from long range, connecting on three triples after making four in the previous five games combined.

“He’s just got to keep shooting the ball,” Brown said. “Making shots, you feel good about that. He’s continued to take them like he did tonight. Give him credit, because there’s a confidence level you have to have to be where he is, and he had it tonight.”

Turning Point: Sacramento led from the opening minute of the second quarter until the final horn, but Golden State trimmed the lead to five with under four minutes to go in the third. In a game-, and perhaps series-defining 40-second sequence, Monk found Fox for a corner three-pointer, blocked Jordan Poole at the rim and then sprinted down the floor to knock down a triple of his own to effectively shut the door on a Warriors comeback attempt.

“They’ve been doubting us all year; they said we weren’t going to be here,” Monk said. “We’re just here to prove everybody wrong.”

Key Stat: In stringing together its most dominant postseason outing, the Kings – the best road team in the West during the regular season – held the decisive edge in nearly every major category, from paint points (44-36) to offensive rebounds (18-11) to fastbreak points (18-9). The team’s 52 bench points more than doubled Golden State’s output (21), with Monk on his own (28) outscoring all Warriors reserves combined.

But the defensive end is where Sacramento dazzled most, holding the run-and-gun Warriors to only 99 points, 37.2 percent from the field and 10-of-32 from long range.

“We never came in just thinking our season would be over tonight,” Fox said. “Everybody believes in each other … We know that we can score with anybody and I think in the postseason, our defense has been better.”