and lost to the Pistons<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe Kings are nowhere near as good as Detroit, but they were more adept at shooting the basketball, which is why the visitors led after the first period.<\/p>\n
Toronto was without two starters in Brandon Ingram (heel) and Immanuel Quickley (foot).<\/p>\n
Their absence can\u2019t help explain why Toronto began the game so poorly, playing with virtually little energy and even less urgency.<\/p>\n
The status of Scottie Barnes was a game-time decision (shoulder).\u00a0He played, but sported medical tape on his left shoulder.<\/p>\n
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2. King For A Day<\/p>\n
Once DeRozan made his way out of the tunnel area that leads to the floor, he greeted many familiar faces and shared moments.<\/p>\n
DeRozan was a class act during his days in Toronto, and not much has changed.<\/p>\n
When he was introduced pre-game, the crowd accorded DeRozan with warm applause.<\/p>\n
It should have been louder, but it was nice to see how the fans haven\u2019t forgotten how often DeRozan laid it all on the line when he suited up for the Raptors.<\/p>\n
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There was very little acknowledgment for another former Raptor, Precious Achiuwa, whose athleticism was tough to match as he easily reached double figures in scoring, mainly on dunks.<\/p>\n
In the first half Wednesday, DeRozan went 0-for-8 from the field.<\/p>\n
He made amends by pouring in 12 points in the opening five minutes of the third quarter.<\/p>\n
Achiuwa recorded a double-double (18 points, 15 rebounds) in 19 minutes as the visitors led 61-56.<\/p>\n
For the full contest, Achiuwa and DeRozan each netted 28 points.<\/p>\n
Doug Christie serves as head coach of the Kings, while Leandro Barbosa is an assistant.<\/p>\n
Both played for the Raptors, but it was Christie who had a longer tenure in Toronto.<\/p>\n
He was a member of the Raptors\u2019 first playoff team, which lost its playoff series to the New York Knicks.<\/p>\n
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Christie doesn\u2019t have much to work with in Sacramento, a roster that once featured Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis.<\/p>\n
The Kings haven\u2019t been relevant in what seems like forever.<\/p>\n
De\u2019Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton were once teammates, forming a young backcourt tandem that was broken up when Haliburton was traded to Indiana for Sabonis<\/p>\n
3. Bench Stench?<\/p>\n
A bit too harsh, but some kind of rotation needs to be established.<\/p>\n
Clearly, four second-unit players have earned playing time \u2014 Jamal Shead, Ja\u2019Kobe Walter, Sandro Mamukelashvili and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles.<\/p>\n
All four have started at times this season to fill in for an injured incumbent, including on Wednesday, when Shead and Walter were inserted into the starting group.<\/p>\n
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At the start of the second half Wednesday, CMB started at centre for Jakob Poeltl, who hadn\u2019t started on back-to-nights since the third and fourth games of the season when the Raptors were in Dallas and San Antonio, respectively.<\/p>\n
He did re-enter the game in the third quarter.<\/p>\n
Come playoff time or even if the Raptors drop into the play-in tournament, tight rotations become the norm as starters are asked to play extended minutes.<\/p>\n
Gradey Dick continues to fall in the pecking order.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, it was Alijah Martin, and not Markelle Fultz, who got backup minutes at point guard.<\/p>\n
Fultz\u2019s 10-day deal was set to expire following the completion of the game.<\/p>\n
What the Raptors need is for Quickley, who missed his sixth game in a row, to be back.<\/p>\n
Up Next<\/p>\n
The Raptors hit the road for a two-game trip that tips off Friday in Memphis before heading to Boston to play the host Celtics on Sunday; the Grizzlies are very beatable, while the Celtics have been unbeatable when matched up against the Raptors, whose season road finale is in New York against the Knicks on April 10.<\/p>\n
fzicarelli@postmedia.com<\/p>\n
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![\"Raptors](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0402poeltlsmall-e1775099413848.jpg\")
Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl (19) protects the ball from Devin Carter (22), Dylan Cardwell (32) and Precious Achiuwa (9) of the Sacramento Kings during an NBA game in Toronto on April 1, 2026. Photo by Frank Gunn \/The Canadian PressArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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