New York Knicks Jalen Brunson (11) drives past the Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis (11) in the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tue Jan 27, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
The losses continue to mount for the Sacramento Kings (12-36) after losing to the New York Knicks (28-18) 103-87. They have now lost six games in a row with no end in sight. DeMar DeRozan had a great game finishing with 34 points but that was about it for the team. No one else did anything of merit although Domantas Sabonis did have a double double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Game recap: The Knicks got off to a fast start taking a ten-point lead over Sacramento after the first 12 minutes of play 36-26. As the second quarter got underway the tide began to turn around as the Kings outscored the Knicks 25-16 in the quarter. Despite getting outscored by Sacramento in the second quarter the Knicks retained the lead by a single point 52-51. It had been a very competitive first half for the Kings with DeMar DeRozan having a solid game but getting no support from fellow starters.
The third was another close quarter with the Kings coming out on top 21-20 and going into the fourth quarter this game was all tied up at 72. Sacramento was now faced with another fourth quarter opportunity to win the game and put an end to their losing streak.
Fourth quarters of games have been the Kings undoing more often than not this season. Sacramento needed some support for their hot man in the game DeRozan. Through three quarters DeRozan was getting little help from his starters nor the bench.
As the fourth quarter got underway you could sense another meltdown from Sacramento. It had looked so promising going into the final quarter but it all began to slip away. It was a one-point game after the first three minutes of play but mid-way through the quarter the Knicks continued to extend their lead. Around the three minute mark New York took a ten-point lead 95-85 and the Knicks never looked back finishing off Sacramento 103-87 handing the Kings their sixth loss in a row.
DeRozan never got the support he so desperately needed. He had an amazing game finishing with 34 points and five rebounds. Russell Westbrook and Domantas Sabonis finally got double digit numbers in the fourth quarter, Westbrook with 14 points and Sabonis had a double double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The Kings bench was quiet in this game. Dylan Cardwell only had four points but he did have ten rebounds. The Knicks outshot Sacramento in the field and from beyond the arc, and the Kings had 17 turnovers. In all fairness the Knicks had more turnovers than the Kings with 21. The turning point in the game was the New York offense who at one time in the game had an 18-point lead.
The high for the Knicks was Jalen Brunson with 28 points and some great support from Mikal Bridges (18 points), Karl-Anthony Towns (17 points) and OG Anunoby (15). The Knicks didn’t get a whole lot of support from their bench either.
Game notes: After getting beaten pretty soundly Sunday by the Detroit Pistons 139-116 the Kings lost a tough one at Madison Square Gardens in their matchup with the Knicks. Sacramento had beaten the Knicks back on January 14th 112-101. Tuesday night the Kings were be without Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Malik Monk. LaVine is out with a back issue and both Monk and Murray have ankle injuries.
Both Monk and LaVine will in all probability return for their next game on Thursday against the Sixers. The Kings now have an estimated return date for Murray which looks like February 4th. The Kings are now riding on an ugly six game losing streak right now and hope to put an end to that against the Sixers.
The Kings continue their road trip taking on the Philadelphia Sixers Thursday night with tipoff scheduled for 4:00 PM.
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