Kings G Chris Duarte Receives Praise for Impressive First Start

Duarte made the most of playing with the starters despite an early injury.

The Sacramento Kings made a major adjustment before Sunday's preseason matchup against the Golden State Warriors, as HC Mike Brown decided to start G Chris Duarte. Despite their third straight preseason loss, the Kings have positive takeaways from the game.

While the Kings started the game strong, outscoring the Warriors 38 to 25 in the first quarter, Duarte exited early with a left knee injury. Brown reports that the injury is a minor bone bruise, but his status for the final two preseason games is unknown.

Duarte replaced G Kevin Huerter in the starting lineup, who started all 75 games he appeared in last season. While it will be difficult for Brown to make Duarte the full-time starter, his impressive play might be convincing enough.

Kings All-Star G De'Aaron Fox had praise for the 26-year-old guard as he started alongside him in the backcourt on Sunday (via @SeanCunningham / X):

"I think it was good [with Duarte starting]. I think both offensively and defensively, especially in the first quarter, I think we were really good. Getting to the paint, being able to spread the ball out, and just getting open looks... I think what [Duarte] does for us is good. He shoots the ball so well, he can really score the ball. And defensively, he's getting after it, being physical, trying to keep the ball in front of him, he's communicating, he's doing everything that we need. I think he's been really good out there with us."

Duarte was the ideal balance of offense and defense needed at the two-guard spot for the Kings in the first quarter of Sunday's loss. While Huerter is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA, Duarte's effort on both sides of the ball is why he is competing for the starting spot.

Brown also praised Duarte for his play and how he fit into the starting lineup (via @SeanCunningham / X):

"I thought [Duarte] was really good with that starting group in that first quarter. I thought defensively he was really good and I thought offensively he played the right way... I thought our ball movement and our pace was good, I thought our spacing was good... Defensively, you're not stopping a guy like Klay Thompson, but I thought his physicality was done the right way. He made Klay try to work for his shots the best he could... He did a good job for a young guy who hasn't played a ton of minutes."

The starting lineup of Fox, Duarte, Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes, and Domantas Sabonis on the floor together was the best the Kings have looked at any point of the preseason and could very likely be the starting group that Brown rolls with to start the regular season.

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