Zach LaVine #8 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 9, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO — The Kings welcomed the Minnesota Timberwolves to Sacramento on Sunday night. The Kings, mired in a slow start to the season, failed to bounce back as they fell to the Wolves 144-117 in embarrassing fashion in front of a booing Golden 1 Center crowd. 

In the first quarter, the Kings shot well from the perimeter, but that was about it. The Kings shot at a 54% clip from beyond the arc but only 37% overall from the field. The Kings struggled to get downhill and finish at the rim, which led to a 31-25 Wolves lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Timberwolves shot the inverse of the Kings, as they had a 36% clip from beyond the arc and shot 57% overall from the field. Zach LaVine and Rudy Gobert got started early, scoring nine and eight points respectively to start the game.

In the second quarter, the Kings battled but couldn’t contain the Wolves. The Wolves outscored the Kings 40-29 to take a 71-54 halftime lead. The Kings’ defense failed on all fronts to stop the Wolves as they were getting contributions up and down the bench. Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards, and Julius Randle combined for 41 points in the first half.

Zach LaVine led all scorers as he dropped 17 first half points for the Kings. The Kings’ swiss cheese defense was letting them down again as they tried to battle against the Wolves and keep the game close going into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Wolves continued to pressure the Kings and didn’t let up. The Kings were blown off the court again in the third as they were outscored 40-30 to take a 111-84 deficit into the final 12 minutes of action. Kings fans had seen enough in the third as boos and “We want Keon” chants filled the arena.

In the fourth quarter, for the second game in a row, Keon Ellis checked in for the first time in the game to start the final quarter. However, the outcome of the game was all but decided as the Kings trailed by 27 points heading into the final frame. The Kings didn’t have much life to show in the fourth as both teams scored 33 points as the Kings lost 144-117.

The Timberwolves’ leading scorers in the game were Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, who had 26 and 21 points respectively. For the Kings, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan led the way with 26 and 22 points respectively.

After the game, Kings HC Doug Christie spoke with the media. Doug was clear about his level of frustration with this group and their lack of defensive dedication night in and night out.

“First and foremost, you got to stop somebody,” Doug said after the game. “You got to take pride in that together. This is not golf. This ain’t no individual sport. This is a team sport, a collective sport. That’s why I say collective spirit.”

Doug continued to stress that the Kings will have a defensive identity. Whether he has the players for it or not, he stressed the Kings will hang their hat on the defensive end of the game.

“The Sacramento Kings are going to have a damn standard, period. As long as I’m here, there’s going to be a standard.”

Mike Brown and now Doug Christie have both found it impossible so far to convince this Kings group, led by Domantas Sabonis, to buy into a defensive identity. The Kings require a full roster overhaul before they will truly find a defensive identity.

Up Next: The Sacramento Kings will stay home to take on the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday at Golden 1 Center. The Kings and Nuggets will play in what will be the first night of a back-to-back for the Kings at 8 p.m. PST. The Kings will then take on the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PST.