Kings 128, Wizards 115
Q. Brian, I am going to ask you about the response on the second quarter in a second, but what did they do, the Kings to pull away in the fourth?
BRIAN KEEFE: Yeah, really the story wasn't really the first quarter. Obviously they jumped out to a 20-point lead.
Great credit for our guys who came off the bench to start the second quarter. Started to turning them over. We got back in the game. We made a big run. Then it was pretty much even the rest of the game.
When you had to overcome a 20-point -- that's a big hill to climb. Give them credit. I loved our resiliency, our fight, and I loved our response after that.
Q. What did you see in the fourth where you guys got into the fourth close and then they managed to...
BRIAN KEEFE: Give them some credit. They made some threes. Some of those were contested. Got to give them, the other team credit. Were in the right spots, we couldn't close out some of their shooters, they made some of their shots, so give them some credit on that.
Q. Who was the person who inspired the defensive intensity there in the second quarter?
BRIAN KEEFE: Malaki and Jamir, Marvin, that group, those guys really gave us some great energy getting into the passing lanes, getting steals. I thought that gave us a great boost off the bench today.
Q. I asked (indiscernible) about the run you guys went know on, and he said it was mainly the energy and the effort that shifted the biggest in that second quarter. Would you conquer? And also, would that second unit group of guys that you just mentioned, how is it that they're able to see it and turn it on when it's necessary?
BRIAN KEEFE: They just took the challenge. They said we they weren't happy with what we did in the first, and credit to those guys out there during that stretch. They really turned up the pressure and that got us back in the game, so credit to them.
Q. What did you like of the minutes that you got from Malaki tonight? He was quite efficient for you not just defensively but as well gave a nice spark offensively.
BRIAN KEEFE: Yeah, I think his defense really got him going, and then he was obviously able to get downhill, get into the paint. He had a really nice game for us. Big boost of the bench.
Q. You showed a lot of trust in Kyshawn in the third quarter when he picked up that fourth foul. Ben got into a tête-à-tête with DeMar DeRozan. What is it that he's able to now play through the physicality, the fouling, and just keep his composure to be able to have that trust from you?
BRIAN KEEFE: There is great lessons be learned in all these type of games. You're going to unfortunately get in some games where you'll have some trouble. Can you play smart, play through it, be efficient, and still defend.
Those are great lessons for him. I trust him with that stuff. I thought he was good out there when he got that fourth. Continued to play the right way, continued to defend. Those are things that you can learn, and that was a good lesson for him tonight.
Q. Coach, forgot to ask you before the game, your first round pick out of Illinois, Will Riley. Just played his 32nd game, so you guys are definitely committed to his development there. Just wanted to get some thoughts from you on how he's been doing thus far.
BRIAN KEEFE: He's been great. He's got a great feel for the game. As you can see, playmaker. Willing to crush offensive boards, make some passes. Obviously you can see the scoring ability he has form all levels.
He was a part of that group that got a couple threes during that stretch tonight. But we've been really pleased with his development. He's had a nice start to the year.
Q. You consider him or 3-4, or a 4-3?
BRIAN KEEFE: This is a game (indiscernible) can handle, make the plays, kind of a playmaker for us, great processor, great decision maker.
Q. What's some of the things you'd like him to work on going forward?
BRIAN KEEFE: I think it's for all young guys trying to establish themselves in the NBA, they're learning all the stuff through fire of play. Our coverages, our schemes defensively, I think he's growing with those things, learning how to pick his spots, where to read stuff offensively.
These are just great experiences. He's been really positive for us and he'll continue to grow with us.
Q. I know you mentioned limit the turnover in the second quarter. I also asked about how you guys adjusted to when they went zone. Seemed like it caught the guys off guard at first and then started to see the movement and the cutting. Was that also just part of not turning the ball over for yourself?
BRIAN KEEFE: The best way to beat any zone is to get stops. We were struggling with movement a little bit in the first quarter, but we were taking the ball out of the net.
When you get stops you can turn people over, get easy baskets, and then our guys found a rhythm. They learned how to attack it. They saw the angles, and we were able to get good shots.
Q. What did you see on the double technical play with Kyshawn?
BRIAN KEEFE: I actually didn't see it. I didn't see what happened underneath the rim. Take a look after the game.
Q. You ever seen a celebration after a made basket like Dylan Cardwell had tonight?
BRIAN KEEFE: Didn't see it either. I move onto the next possession.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports