Category: Sacramento Kings

LaVine and Sabonis Lead the Charge in Kings’ Dominant Win Over Blazers 128-107

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Zach LaVine taking a quick rest during the game on Thursday night (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Thursday night in Sacramento. The Kings, on the heels of a four-game losing streak, reeling from losing and an illness making its way through the locker room, welcomed in the Portland Trail Blazers. The game tipped off at 7 PM PST as the Kings defeated the Trail Blazers 128-107.

In the first quarter, the Kings played a very impressive and fluid first quarter. The Kings outscored the Trail Blazers 36-27 to take the early lead in the game. Keegan Murray got going early with nine points and three rebounds to lead the Kings in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Kings continued to put pressure on the Trail Blazers as they again outscored them. The Kings managed 32 points in the second compared to the Blazers’ 23 points. The Kings went into halftime leading 68-50 and in complete control of the game. The Kings shot 35% from three and 64% from the field in the first half compared to 24% and 36%, respectively, for the Trail Blazers. Zach LaVine led the Kings with 20 first-half points as Deni Avdija paced the Trail Blazers with 17 points.

In the third quarter, the Trail Blazers made their first real push on the Kings as both teams scored 32 points in the quarter. For the moment, the Trail Blazers stopped the bleeding and hoped for a miracle comeback in the fourth quarter. The Kings led 100-82 as the game headed into the final frame of the game. Domantas Sabonis had a monster third in which he scored 14 points to bring his game total to 22 points after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings sealed the deal and handed the Trail Blazers a 128-107 loss. The Kings outscored the Blazers 28-25 in the fourth as the Blazers struggled to mount any offense late. The Kings were led in victory by Zach LaVine, who scored 29 points in the win. Deni Avdija paced the Blazers in defeat with 24 points.

With the win, the Kings remain in the ninth seed and are .5 games ahead of the Dallas Mavericks in 10th. The Phoenix Suns are one game behind the Kings for the ninth spot.

Up Next: The Kings go on the road to take on the Orlando Magic on Saturday at 2 PM PST.

NBA podcast with Michael Roberson: Warriors Payton out indefinitely with torn thumb ligament; LeBron pleasantly surprised on making buzzer beater; plus more news

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Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 13, 2025, in San Francisco. Payton is out with a torn ligament on his left thumb. Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press

NBA podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 Golden State Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II suffered a torn ligament on his left thumb and the Warriors say Payton is expected to be out indefinitely. Payton injured the thumb on Tuesday night against the Miami Heat in Miami. Payton had been averaging 10.4 points per game.

#2 LeBron James said he was trying to check to see if his buzzer beater made it into the basket as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers 120-119 on Wednesday night. LeBron said he didn’t have too much emotion because see if it went in real time but later got a look at it on the replay. He couldn’t see the shot because he was getting mobbed on the floor by his teammates.

#3 Dallas Mavericks All Star Kyrie Irving had successful ACL surgery for his left ACL on Wednesday. Irving has the surgery at a New York City hospital performed by specialists in ACL surgery. Dr. Riley Williams who is chief of sports medicine did the surgery repairing the tear in the left knee and there was no other damage to the ligament, meniscus. Irving hurt the knee on Mar 3 in Sacramento.

#4  Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said he had confidence that the Bucks will remain competitive with their star player Damian Lillard. Rivers said that it will take multiple players to cover from the loss of Lilliard. Lillard who is a seven time All Star and is suffering from vein thrombosis in his right calf and is taking medication for blood thinning.

#5 Warrior guard Stephen Curry who suffered a pelvic contusion is expected back soon. The Warriors have lost two games without him is his absence a reflection of those loses and a demonstration of how his absence impacts the Warriors?

Join Michael Roberson for the NBA podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Falter Early, Late Surge Fizzles in 121-105 Loss to Thunder

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Zach LaVine shoots during the Kings vs Thunder Tuesday night inside Golden 1 Center. (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — On Tuesday, the Kings were reeling after losing their third in a row to the Boston Celtics the night before. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Kings welcomed in the NBA’s best team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder came into Sacramento just a win shy of 60 wins on the season.

Pregame, Doug Christie addressed what Zach LaVine had described as “bad vibes” after the loss to the Celtics. “He was incorrect,” Doug said of the bad vibes. “I think when you ask a question like that, after going through a bit of a losing streak, it’s more about not being happy that you lost,” Doug continued. Regardless of where the locker room was, Doug wasn’t going to let any rumors continue about the so-called “bad vibes.”

In what has been a historic season for the Thunder so far, they came into Sacramento to face the Kings at 7 PM PST. The Thunder took care of the Kings with ease, 121-105.

In the first quarter, the Kings were getting it handed to them by the Thunder. The Thunder outscored the Kings 31-21 in the first to get off to a hot start. The Kings’ energy and effort were not matching what OKC was giving them early.

In the second quarter, it was more of the same for the Kings. The lack of physicality and effort cost the Kings as the Thunder outscored them 33-21 in the second quarter. The Thunder took a 64-42 lead into halftime, with hopes of winning their 60th game of the season. In the first half, the Kings shot 36% from three and 37% from the field as the Thunder pulled away. On the other hand, the Thunder shot 57% from three, 59% from the field, and 100% from the line on six attempts in the first half. Domantas Sabonis was the Kings’ leading scorer at halftime with 10 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 18 first-half points.

In the third, the Kings flipped the script on the Thunder. The Kings’ offense caught fire in the third as they ran the Thunder out of the gym, outscoring them 39-25 in the quarter. The Kings, led by Keegan Murray, Keon Ellis, and Jake LaRavia, showed some signs of life. The Kings went into the final frame down 89-81.

Unfortunately, the Kings couldn’t keep up the energy in the fourth. The Thunder took back over the game in the fourth and outscored the Kings 32-24 to seal the victory, 121-105. It was another disappointing loss for the Kings. However, it was not surprising on the second night of a back-to-back. The Kings were led in scoring by Keegan Murray, who had 28 points in the game. The leading scorer for the Thunder was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led all scorers with 32 points.

After the game, a game in which the Kings failed to have the needed effort early to keep the game close—a common occurrence for the team this year—I asked Doug Christie if he has seen any improvements in the team’s process in approaching games.

“The ability to manifest is one… we talked last game about shooting 24 threes, unacceptable… so we had a conversation, some film, and they go out and shoot 48 threes, they get 32 assists. You demonstrate that is who you are and that’s what you can do… But again, the consistency at what you do is gonna say how high you go. For that group [Kings], sky’s the limit.”

Doug isn’t normally a moral victory guy. However, on Tuesday night, it seemed he was trying to highlight the fight he saw in his team in the third quarter.

With the loss, the Kings fell to 35-37 and are a game under .500 at home with a record of 18-19.

Key Performers:
Keegan Murray made 9-13 threes to score 28 points in the game.
Zach LaVine scored 19 points on 7-16 from the floor.

Playoff Picture: With the loss, the Kings are 35-37 on the season, which is good enough for a tie for 9th/10th with Phoenix in the Western Conference. The Kings are .5 games up on the Dallas Mavericks for the 11th seed.

Up Next: The Kings will stay home for an off day on Wednesday prior to Thursday when they welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to Golden 1 Center. Tip-off is set for 7 PM PST.

Sacramento Kings podcast Tony Renteria Tue Mar 25, 2025: Kings face Western Conference best Thunder; plus more news

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives on the Sacramento Kings Keegan Murray (13) in the first half at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Mon Mar 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum scored 25 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and later took a hard foul that forced him to leave the game in the Celtics 113-95 victory against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night at Golden 1.

#2 Tatum got hurt in the latter part of the third quarter after hitting his fifth 3 pointer. Domantas Sobonis was hit for a Flagrant 1 foul. Tatum was laid out on the floor for a few minutes and later got up to shoot one of two free throws before having to leave the game.

#3 Kristaps Porzingis scored 16 points grabbing seven rebounds, Payton Pritchard had 20 points and Derrick White scored 12 points and had eight assists to help the Celtics cause.

#4 Sabonis scored 16 points and 17 rebounds Sabonis had been sitting out with an ankle injury from a previous game and DeMar DeRozan had 20 points and ten assists.

#5 Tonight Tuesday it’s the Oklahoma City Thunder who come calling. The Thunder are tops in the Western Conference at 59-12, they have an amazing road record at 28-7, and have won six in a row. Do you see a struggle for the Kings tonight against a very potent Thunder club?

Tony Renteria does the Kings podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Struggle to Contain Celtics, Playoff Pressure Mounts after 113-95 Loss

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Domantas Sabonis goes to the basket defended by Kristaps Porziņģis in the Sacramento Kings battle with the Boston Celtics on Monday night. (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — Golden 1 Center was full of green for the game on Monday night. If you were in the building, you may have wondered if the A’s were holding a fanfest.

No, the Boston Celtics came to town, and the reigning NBA champs were heavily supported by traveling fans and local Celtics fans. The Kings were coming off a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, while the Celtics were on the second night of a back-to-back after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in Portland.

The last time these two teams played was in Boston on January 10th, when the Kings beat the Celtics 114-97. I asked Doug Christie pregame if he thought the Celtics would have a little extra after the Kings blew them out in Boston. “I would say the only thing in our league is that you can use some things as motivation, especially when you are champions. The one that you do know is that they will not look past you. I think that is the biggest thing.”

On Monday, the game tipped off at 7 PM PST at Golden 1 Center as the Celtics handed the Kings a 113-95 defeat.

In the first quarter, the Kings hit first with good physicality and active hands leading to offensive opportunities. Five minutes and forty-four seconds into the game, the Kings led by nine and had control of the game. Soon after, the Celtics made a run of their own to close the quarter. The Celtics would end up outscoring the Kings 30-29 in the first quarter thanks to a buzzer-beater three from Payton Pritchard.

In the second, the Kings battled. However, the Boston offensive attack was good enough for them to pick up a five-point, 56-51 lead going into the halftime break. The Kings were playing the Celtics well on the defensive end of the floor, but there’s only so much you can do to contain them. Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard led the Celtics in scoring in the first half with 17 and 14, respectively. Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray led the Kings in the first half, each scoring 10 points.

The Kings needed to match the defensive intensity from the first half to defeat the Celtics.

In the second half, the Kings were plainly outmatched. The Celtics outscored the Kings 32-27 in the third and 25-17 in the fourth. In the third, Jayson Tatum would go down as he rolled his ankle on a Domantas Sabonis closeout on a three-pointer. Tatum made 1 of 2 of his free throws, left the game, and would not return. The Celtics remained unbothered by his absence as they defeated the Kings 113-95. There’s not much more to the story than that. The Kings fought, but ultimately, the offense became ISO-focused, and the ball stopped moving. The Kings desperately need to figure out how to close games as a team or they will soon find themselves outside of the play-in picture.

After the game, Doug summarized the night saying, “Disappointing. The areas we really need to be good in is creating extra possessions, offensive rebounds, turning them over. We weren’t able to do that and we need to shoot threes at a higher clip… points of emphasis.” I asked Doug how they get more three-pointers up, and he said, “It has got to be one, two dribbles at the most and kick it out… just the ability to move the basketball, and we can’t hold onto it too long.”

With the loss, the Kings fell to 35-36. The Kings need to right the ship in a hurry if they want to hold onto a play-in game spot at season’s end.

Key Performers:
DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 20 points on an inefficient 9-24 shooting.

Playoff Picture:
The Kings fell to 35-36 on the season and are only 0.5 games in front of the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks for the 11th seed in the Western Conference.

Up Next: The Kings stay home to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at 7 PM PST inside Golden 1 Center.

Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason: Kings try to turn it around against Celtics tonight

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On the Sacramento Kings podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 The Milwaukee Bucks started out slow against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday but were able shake off the cob webs and make a come back to defeat the Kings at Golden 1 in Sacramento 114-108.

#2 Giannis Antetokounmpo scored with 32 points, 17 rebounds, teammate Kyle Kuzma scored 14 points with 14 rebounds. the Bucks were down 25-17 in the one quarter were also behind 14 points in the early portion of the third quater.

#3 The three Bucks who got after it were Brook Lopez scored 21 points, Kevin Porter Jr scored 18 points, and Taurean Prince had 11 points.

#4 Great effort by the Kings DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points, Keon Ellis 20 points, Jonas Valanciunas 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists but the Kings fell six points short.

#5 Barbara this was a tough loss for Sacramento and they were coming off a tough loss to the Chicago Bulls two nights before and the Bucks were also another tough customer. The Kings are back to the drawing board on Monday night they host they Boston Celtics. The Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference 51-19 and one of the most powerful teams in the NBA. Can the Kings regroup and upset Boston on Monday night on their home floor.

Barbara Mason does the Kings podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bucks Surge Late to Hand Kings 114-108 Defeat

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Jonas Valanciunas warms up prior to the Bucks game on Saturday night. Jonas had 18 points and seven rebounds in the game. (Photo: Jeremiah Salmonson)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings returned to action Saturday night, hosting the Milwaukee Bucks at Golden 1 Center. The Kings entered the matchup amidst a tough homestand, coming off recent victories against the Grizzlies and Cavaliers and a loss to the Bulls on Thursday. Both teams were short-handed, with Damian Lillard unavailable for Milwaukee, and Sacramento missing Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk. Despite a strong start from Sacramento, the Bucks rallied late to secure a 114-108 victory.

The Kings opened the game playing stout defense, limiting the Bucks to just 17 points in the first quarter while scoring 25 points themselves. Sacramento struggled significantly from beyond the arc, shooting 1-10 from three, yet managed a respectable 42% from the field. The Bucks endured a dismal shooting quarter, converting only 29% of their shots and going scoreless from three-point range. Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with nine first-quarter points.

The Kings maintained their intensity into the second quarter, despite a Bucks surge that narrowed the margin to 43-42 with 4:41 remaining. Sacramento responded effectively, finishing the half strong and entering halftime with a 61-49 lead. The Kings outscored Milwaukee 36-32 in the quarter, led by Keon Ellis, who tallied 18 first-half points. For the Bucks, Brook Lopez matched Ellis’s first-half output with 18 points of his own.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the third quarter as Milwaukee surged back into contention. With a little over three minutes left in the quarter, the Bucks tied the game at 80. When the third-quarter dust settled, Milwaukee had outscored Sacramento 37-28, trimming the Kings’ lead to 89-86 heading into the fourth. Antetokounmpo was dominant, scoring 22 points in the quarter alone and shifting the momentum toward Milwaukee.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings faltered, unable to maintain their earlier success. Milwaukee outscored Sacramento 28-19, securing a 114-108 win. The Kings’ offense stagnated late, reverting to isolation basketball, a recurring issue. Sacramento struggled to make critical shots down the stretch, while Antetokounmpo finished with 32 points on 12-20 shooting, guiding the Bucks to victory.

After the game, Doug Christie addressed why Sacramento’s offense often becomes stagnant late. “I think many, many times, the defense blows the play up, and as the shot clock is going down, then you take your time,” Christie explained. “I think we have to explore early in the shot clock, and sometimes we’re not playing as fast as we need to, and then that allows them to press up. All of a sudden, it gets later in the shot clock, and now you become that [stagnant] without even knowing why it happened.” This recurring offensive inconsistency has plagued the Kings in late-game situations.

Keon Ellis echoed Christie’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for more ball movement. “Maybe it’s a thing of trying to get it to them [Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan] too much, too early,” Ellis said. “And I think probably we could move the ball a little bit more before we try to, you know, I would say, just go ISO ball.”

Playoff Picture: With the loss, the Kings fell to 35-35, remaining the ninth seed. They hold a slim 1.5-game advantage over the tenth-place Phoenix Suns and sit just 1.5 games ahead of the 11th-place Dallas Mavericks, dangerously close to dropping out of play-in contention entirely.

Key Performers: DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 22 points on 8-18 shooting. Keon Ellis contributed 20 points and six assists on efficient 6-10 shooting.

Up Next: The Kings remain at home and will face the Boston Celtics on Monday at Golden 1 Center, with tip-off set for 7 PM PST.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings face Giannis and Bucks Saturday at Golden 1

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Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) is under guard by Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (left) and Dalen Terry (right) during second half at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Mar 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Coby White of the Chicago Bulls (30-40) was an offensive force leading with 35 points that help keep the Bulls in the game during the first half against the Sacramento Kings (35-34).

#2 Jeremiah Kevin Hueter finished second in scoring for the Bulls with 25 points was there any advantage for Hueter to face his former team the Kings and to come off with a successful game against them.

#3 The Kings keyed in on Bulls Tre Jones whose has been an offensive weapon who scored 15 points but that didn’t stop the Bulls from getting some good offense and a 12 points win 128-116.

#4 DeMar DeRozan who formerly played for the Bulls was second in scoring for the Kings with 22 points was there no doubt that DeRozan has something to prove facing his former team on Thursday night?

#5 The Kings tip off against the Milwaukee Bucks this Saturday night at 7:00pm at Golden 1 in Sacramento. The Bucks are coming off a win against the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night 118-89. The Bucks are fifth in the NBA Eastern Conference at 38-30. How do you see this match up?

Jeremiah Salmonson does the Sacramento Kings podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Coby White, Huerter Power Bulls Past Kings in Sacramento

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Malik Monk scored 34 during the matchup against the Bulls on Thursday (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings were back in action Thursday night, playing the second night of a back-to-back. They welcomed the Chicago Bulls to Golden 1 Center for a 7 PM PST tip-off, marking Kevin Huerter’s return to Sacramento.

Huerter’s return felt bittersweet for Kings fans. He was a key part of the original Beam Team that pushed the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the playoffs just a couple of years ago. However, both the team and Huerter fell short of expectations in his final two seasons in Sacramento. On Thursday, it was all smiles and hugs for Huerter as he greeted media members, coaches, fans, and Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé.

The Bulls entered the game ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 29-40 record, while the Kings held the same position in the West at 35-33. Chicago came away with the win, defeating Sacramento 128-116.

The Kings started strong in the first quarter, catching fire from beyond the arc. Malik Monk hit five threes and Trey Lyles added four as Sacramento outscored Chicago 39-28 while shooting 65% from deep. Monk led the way with 15 points in the quarter, and Lyles added 12. The Bulls struggled to contain Sacramento’s attack, with Tre Jones leading Chicago with six points early.

In the second quarter, the Kings maintained the pressure but couldn’t stretch their lead. Chicago edged Sacramento 27-25 in the period, cutting the deficit slightly. The Kings led 64-55 at the break, playing solid basketball through the first half. Monk paced Sacramento with 19 points at halftime, while Nikola Vučević led the Bulls with 11.

The third quarter saw a shift in momentum. Chicago came out energized and outscored Sacramento 37-25, seizing control of the game. The Kings lost their edge, and the Bulls began to believe they could steal a road win.

In the fourth, the Bulls kept their foot on the gas. They outscored the Kings 36-27 in the final frame, closing out the win behind big performances from Coby White and Kevin Huerter. White finished with 35 points, and Huerter added 25 in his Sacramento return.

After the game, Doug Christie echoed a message he’s repeated during the team’s recent struggles. “Unacceptable,” Christie said at the postgame press conference. “There’s a lot there that’s unacceptable, but you can’t let people come into your house and just do what they want. The energy necessary to do what we need to do was not there tonight.”

Key Performers:
Malik Monk led the Kings with 34 points.

Trey Lyles added 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points for the Bulls, becoming the 27th player in NBA history to surpass 25,000 career points.

Up Next:

The Sacramento Kings stay home to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday at 7 PM PST at Golden 1 Center.

Short-Handed Kings Rally to Upset East-Leading Cavaliers 123-119

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Malik Monk during the Kings vs Cavs game on Wednesday night (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings came into Wednesday night’s game against the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers short-handed, missing key players due to injuries and absences. The Kings were without Domantas Sabonis (ankle sprain), Jake LaRavia (illness), and Zach LaVine (personal reasons).

Before the game, Doug Christie emphasized the importance of trust as the Kings prepared to rely on a depleted rotation. “I think even with our guys prior to the other night, that was one of the things we were trying to establish,” Christie said. “For players that haven’t played, the message to them is to play the right way. It doesn’t matter the name on the back of the jersey, it’s about the name on the front.”

Togetherness and consistency, regardless of the opponent, have been key messages from Christie all season. On Wednesday, the Kings needed to embrace that fully to take down Cleveland—and they did just that, earning a hard-fought 123-119 victory.

The first quarter was brutal for the Kings offensively. They shot an abysmal 4-of-23 from the field and were outscored 22-15. Watching the game, it felt like a twilight zone moment, the shooting struggles were so bad that it was remarkable Sacramento trailed by only seven at the end of the period. On the other side, Cleveland wasn’t exactly in rhythm either, shooting 9-of-20 from the floor.

The Kings’ shooting improved in the second quarter, but it wasn’t enough to cut into the Cavs’ lead. Cleveland outscored Sacramento 34-32 in the period, extending its advantage to nine points at the half. The Kings had plenty to build on heading into the third, especially with the Cavaliers playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Despite their shooting struggles, Sacramento was down only single digits. Malik Monk led the Kings with 14 first-half points, while Ty Jerome paced Cleveland with 12. The Kings shot 34% from the field in the half compared to the Cavs’ 56%.

Sacramento completely flipped the script in the third quarter. Fueled by strong play on both ends from Devin Carter, the Kings surged ahead by as many as 11 points. However, Cleveland responded in what became a game of runs, clawing back to keep it close. The Kings outscored the Cavs 43-32 in the period to take a 90-88 lead into the fourth. The Golden 1 Center crowd erupted as Sacramento found its rhythm, putting Cleveland on its heels. With momentum on their side, the Kings needed to execute down the stretch to finish the job.

The final quarter was a battle, with both teams trading blows on both ends of the floor. In the end, the Kings did just enough plays to secure the 123-119 win, outscoring Cleveland 33-31 in the quarter. It was a complete team effort—every Kings player who logged more than seven minutes finished in double figures. Devin Carter and Trey Lyles combined for 29 points, with Carter providing a crucial spark off the bench. Evan Mobley led all scorers with 31 points in a losing effort for the Cavs. With the win, the Kings improved to 35-33, while Cleveland dropped to 56-13.

Doug Christie was clearly pleased with his team’s effort after the game. “Fantastic fight… that’s what Sacramento Kings basketball is all about. You bring that every single time.”

When asked how he got such an impressive performance from his team, Christie said, “That’s the performance I expect. The result may vary from time to time… but a high level of intensity and physicality, when you put on our jersey, that’s what is expected, and hats off to our guys.”

Keegan Murray echoed those sentiments. “It was a good win, especially after the week we had last week and with guys out tonight. It was a good team win against a very good team.”

After a rough stretch that saw them lose four straight, the Kings regained some confidence as they began a long homestand.

Key Performances

  • DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 27 points.
  • Malik Monk scored 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting.
  • Devin Carter added 16 points, five rebounds, and three steals.

Playoff Picture

The Kings remain in ninth place in the Western Conference, sitting 3.5 games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves and LA Clippers for the seventh and eighth spots. They hold a three-game lead over the Phoenix Suns, who occupy the 10th seed.

Up Next

The Kings stay home to face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday at 7 PM PST in the second night of a back-to-back.