Keegan Murray dunks on Alex Sarr on a pass from Malik Monk (Photo Sacramento Kings on Instagram)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO, California. – The Sacramento Kings returned to action on Sunday night at the Golden 1 Center. The Kings hosted the Washington Wizards, the NBA’s worst-performing team this season. Sacramento last played on Thursday, defeating the Houston Rockets in a high-scoring game, 132-127. Meanwhile, the Wizards were on the second night of a back-to-back, having lost to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, 122-114. Historically, this type of matchup has been a trap game for the Kings, who have shown a tendency in recent years to play down to their opponents’ level. However, this time, the Kings handled business decisively, defeating the Wizards 123-100.

First Half

The Kings had a slow start as the Wizards opened the game with six unanswered points. However, Sacramento quickly responded with a 10-4 run to even the score at 10. From that point onward, the Kings dominated the first half. Sacramento outscored Washington 32-26 in the first quarter to take an early lead. The second quarter was more of the same, with the Kings outscoring the Wizards 30-22, entering halftime with a comfortable 62-48 lead. Sacramento seemed firmly in control of the game. In the first half, Domantas Sabonis had already recorded a double-double, tallying 18 points and 14 rebounds. Jonas Valančiūnas led the Wizards with 12 points in the first half.

Second Half
The Kings pulled away in the second half. While the Wizards showed some signs of life in the third quarter, narrowly outscoring the Kings 29-28, it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback. Sacramento sealed the game in the fourth quarter, dominating 33-23 to secure the 123-100 victory. It was a solid performance by the Kings, who did exactly what was expected against a struggling Wizards squad.

Kings’ Key Performances
The standout player for Sacramento was Domantas Sabonis, who finished with an elite 29 points and 18 rebounds. Notable contributions also came from DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk, who combined for 47 points.

Wizards’ Key Performances
Jonas Valančiūnas led the Wizards with 23 points and 12 rebounds, putting in a strong effort despite the team’s struggles.

Postgame Insights
Pregame, Head Coach Doug Christie emphasized the importance of consistency, regardless of the opponent, saying that the Kings aim to approach every matchup with the same intensity. Domantas Sabonis echoed this sentiment after the game, saying: “Tonight was a test for us. Previously, we had lost to teams with not the best records, but tonight we came in and took care of business.”

When asked about his energy and its impact on the team, Keon Ellis replied with a lighthearted: “I just be chillin for real.” Indeed, the Kings seem to be riding high on their recent performances. With this win, Sacramento improved to 12-12 at home and 22-20 overall, defeating the Wizards convincingly, 123-100. The Kings really do just be chillin for real. 

Up Next
The Kings will have two days off before hosting the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday at 7 PM PST at the Golden 1 Center.