Zach LaVine drives towards the basket against the Orlando Magic (Photo Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento Kings returned to action on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, welcoming the Orlando Magic for a 7 PM PST matchup. The Kings ultimately fell to the Magic, 130-111.

The Kings came home bruised and battered after a grueling 2-4 road trip that took them across the country. During the stretch, Sacramento secured wins against the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves but suffered defeats against the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets. However, the biggest story of the trip was the seismic shift in the franchise’s roster. The week marked the departure of longtime franchise cornerstone De’Aaron Fox, along with Kevin Huerter. Rumors had circulated for weeks that Fox was likely to be moved before the trade deadline, and the speculation became reality when the Kings sent Fox and Huerter to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Zach LaVine, along with three first-round picks and three second-round picks. It was the end of an era for Sacramento, as Fox had been with the team for the past eight seasons.

The trade sparked mixed emotions throughout Sacramento, but the city was ready to turn the page and embrace the new-look Kings.

The game began with the Kings struggling to find their rhythm. In the first quarter, Sacramento was outscored 37-31, as the offense visibly adjusted to its new personnel. Domantas Sabonis and Franz Wagner led all scorers with nine points each. The second quarter saw a more composed effort from the Kings, who outscored the Magic 29-25 to narrow the gap heading into halftime. Sacramento settled in defensively and dictated the pace more effectively, but offensive cohesion remained a work in progress. Zach LaVine, playing his first game with the team, looked somewhat out of sync within the offensive flow—an understandable adjustment period. By halftime, Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 16 points apiece, while Orlando’s Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combined for 30 first-half points. The Kings entered halftime trailing 62-60.

The second half unraveled quickly for Sacramento. In what was an uncharacteristic collapse, the Kings suffered a disastrous third quarter, being outscored 42-23. The game, competitive in the first half, spiraled into a blowout quickly. Orlando opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run, and Sacramento never regained its footing. Heading into the fourth, the Kings trailed 104-83. The final period offered little improvement, as Sacramento failed to regain control, ultimately falling 130-111.

Turnovers played a significant role in the Kings’ defeat. Sacramento committed 19 turnovers, leading to 28 points for Orlando. While the Kings’ shooting wasn’t abysmal, gifting the opponent additional possessions proved costly. Sabonis led Sacramento with 21 points, while Wagner spearheaded the Magic’s victory with 31 points.

After the game, Doug Christie and Domantas Sabonis addressed the media. Sabonis maintained an optimistic tone, downplaying the loss as part of the growing pains that come with roster changes. “We just need to keep trusting,” he said. “We’re going to watch film and teach Zach some of the new things we’re doing because we all need to mesh together… The first half wasn’t that bad, but the second half got out of hand.”

Doug Christie, on the other hand, was far more blunt in his assessment. “Unacceptable in a lot of different ways, especially on the defensive end,” he stated. “Must, must be better. Must play with a level of energy, intensity, physicality, and aggressiveness that I want to see—and that I believe they have begun to expect from themselves. But that wasn’t it.”

Up Next: The Kings will travel to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers in the second night of a back-to-back. Tip-off is set for 7 PM PST.