Zach LaVine shoots in the Kings matchup vs the Clippers on Sunday night in LA (Photo: Sacramento Kings on X)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
INGLEWOOD CA — The Kings had been moving with a different aura recently. Sacramento was displaying a confidence that I felt had been lacking for much of the season. On Sunday night, the Kings were back in action in Los Angeles against the Clippers, carrying what felt like a sense of belonging in the crowded Western Conference playoff race.
The message of “playing with joy,” which Doug Christie had preached since taking over head coaching duties, seemed to be taking hold. Heading into Sunday’s matchup, the Kings had won five of their last six games and were looking to build on that momentum before heading back home. The Kings and Clippers tipped off at 6:30 PM PST at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The Clippers defeated the Kings 111-110 in overtime.
In the first quarter, neither the Kings nor the Clippers found much offensive rhythm, as both teams played solid defense. However, Zach LaVine started the game hot, scoring nine points in the opening quarter to lead all scorers. The Clippers’ Ivica Zubac established himself early in the paint, leading his team with eight first-quarter points. The Kings outscored the Clippers 23-20 in the opening period, taking a narrow lead.
The second quarter remained highly competitive. The Kings briefly built an eight-point advantage, but the Clippers fought back to erase the deficit before halftime. The Clippers outscored the Kings 31-26 in the quarter, taking a 51-49 lead into the break.
Both teams played disciplined basketball in the first half, with Sacramento committing only four turnovers and Los Angeles just three. Zach LaVine led the Kings with 13 first-half points, while James Harden paced the Clippers with 11.
In the third quarter, the Kings reclaimed a slim lead. They outscored the Clippers 26-21 in the period, heading into the final frame with a 75-72 advantage. Defensive intensity remained high, as neither team was interested in letting up.
The fourth quarter felt like a battle of defensive resilience—whichever team blinked first would likely lose. However, neither side backed down, and the game remained tied at 97, forcing overtime.
In the extra period, the Kings suffered a heartbreaking defeat on a left-handed hook shot by Kawhi Leonard. The ball bounced around the rim before improbably falling through the net, sending Intuit Dome into a frenzy as the Clippers secured the 111-110 victory. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine led the Kings in defeat, scoring 31 and 30 points, respectively. James Harden delivered the Clippers’ best performance with 29 points.
This marked the Kings’ second loss in three games where they had played well throughout but fell short late. They suffered a similar defeat against Denver last week. After the game, head coach Doug Christie praised his team’s effort, saying, “I thought the guys did a good job… all in all, the byproduct of playing hard like this is ultimately going to be winning. Super proud of how the guys continue to build. We want to win every game, so this sucks and it hurts… but defensively, I think it was a fantastic effort out there.”
Keon Ellis shared his thoughts on the team’s progress following the trade deadline, stating, “We know that we are trending in the right direction… just gotta keep at it day by day.”
With the loss, the Kings fell to 33-30 on the season and now sit 1.5 games behind the Clippers for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They currently hold the ninth seed, two games ahead of the Dallas Mavericks.
Up Next: The Kings return home to face the New York Knicks on Monday at 7:30 PM PST at Golden 1 Center. It will mark the second night of a road-home back-to-back.
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