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.