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Precious Achiuwa’s ‘infectious’ energy makes the Kings win for the third time in a row appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area.<\/em><\/p>\n The first story that came in on Wednesday night was New York Knicks coach Mike Brown returning to the Golden 1 Center for the first time since he was fired by the Kings a year ago.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n But Sacramento forward Precious Achiuwa finally caught the spotlight in the “revenge game” – his first game against his former Manhattan team since moving across the country as an NBA free agent this past season.<\/p>\n Knick recorded a season high with 20 points and 14 rebounds en route to leading the Kings to a 112-101 win, although Achiuwa maintained the game was not extremely important to him.<\/p>\n “I don’t think it was more motivation,” Achiuwa told reporters after the game. “I think it was just continuing to build on the success we’ve had in the last few games, you know, continuing to carry that. Just go out there and play hard, play the right way, that’s the result.”<\/p>\n Achiuwa was a bright spark on the offensive end and made sure to celebrate in front of former teammate OG Anunoby after hitting a three-pointer in the third quarter.<\/p>\n But that goal-scoring success appeared to be a product of his defensive toughness, at least in the eyes of his coach Doug Christie.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n “He was locked in the defensive position, because he was accepting the assignment [Knicks guard Jalen Brunson] that’s huge,” Christie explained of Achiuwa, a 6-foot-8 forward who might not be expected to defend a point guard. “I mean, he’s an MVP candidate \u2014 all the different things that come with Jalen Brunson. The ability for him to be willing and ready to go into that, I think that just locked him in.”<\/p>\n And to be able to successfully defend a player of Brunson’s caliber, it’s almost necessary to have a certain level of confidence and faith – which Achiuwa doesn’t seem to lack defensively.<\/p>\n “Defense is something I can hang my hat on, any time, any day, any night,” asserted Achiuwa. “A lot of guys in the league talk about defense – I put myself up there with the best, I can guard point guards at every position. If you look at the last 10 games or so, I’ve guarded a lot … every position from point guard to positions.”<\/p>\n Achiuwa’s main defensive role did not last long; Brunson rolled his right ankle within the first five minutes and never returned. But that didn’t deter Achiuwa either way, as the 26-year-old out of Queens added two assists, two steals and two blocks to his stat line.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n “He was aggressive going downhill, driving, making sure he got to the basket,” added Christie. “There’s not a bone that thinks about himself, so he’s a passer but the biggest one. [the box score] 14 rebounds, six of which were offensive, and just senior basketball all around.\u201d<\/p>\n Achiuwa has played 39, 30 and 30 minutes in the Kings’ last three games – that’s three of his four most minutes this season, except for 34 minutes in an overtime game in November. In what may not be a coincidence, Wednesday’s win gave Sacramento (11-30) its first three-game winning streak of the 2025-26 NBA season.<\/p>\n And Achiuwa’s tenacity was not seen by his teammates.<\/p>\n “Precious, I can’t believe he was a free agent when we signed him,” Zach Lavine told NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan and Deuce Mason on “Kings Postgame Live” while Achiuwa lit the beam. “I’ve been playing with him for the last five, six years, and I’ve been able to bring him in and bring energy. He’s a defensive guy, but he can play 1 through 5. He knocks down another three, which I’ve never seen, but you know, we’ll take it. His pressure, his energy, the way he comes into the center every day, he brings excitement.”<\/p>\n To be fair, Maxime Raynaud’s parents were also there for all three of the Kings’ consecutive wins, so perhaps the reasons for this heat are twofold. But Raynaud appreciated Achiuwa’s effort, too.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n “I thought he started off with a lot of aggressiveness, first of all scoring, but also getting stops and getting big balls, so his energy is contagious,” Raynaud told Ragan and Mason after the game. “He started it, and then everybody just picked up from there. He was our team leader tonight.”<\/p>\n Now a perfect 3-0 to start its seven-game homestand, Sacramento hosts the Washington Wizards on Friday night as the team looks to continue playing its best football of the season.<\/p>\n Download and follow the Deuce & Mo Podcast<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Precious Achiuwa’s ‘infectious’ energy makes the Kings win for the third time in a row appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area. 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