CHICAGO — The Sacramento Kings achieved a thrilling 124-119 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, marking their seventh consecutive win of the season. Domantas Sabonis made a significant impact on the game, contributing 22 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. De’Aaron Fox, returning from a three-game absence due to a bruised right glute, tallied 26 points and secured nine rebounds, while Malik Monk added 18 points, complemented with nine assists and eight rebounds.
In his return to Chicago, DeMar DeRozan was greeted warmly by the fans and finished the night with 21 points. DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, played three seasons with the Bulls before joining the Kings in a three-team trade during July. Sabonis showcased his skills impressively again, following a previous game where he racked up 23 points and an impressive 28 rebounds against Boston. Under interim coach Doug Christie, the Kings have surged to a strong 7-1 record since his appointment after Mike Brown’s dismissal on December 27.
Zach LaVine was the standout performer for Chicago, leading his team with 36 points. Lonzo Ball made a notable return, starting his first game since January 14, 2022, and finishing with season highs of 15 points and five three-pointers.
Key takeaways from the game included the Kings’ ability to maintain their composure and execute crucial plays in the closing moments to secure the win. Meanwhile, LaVine’s performance has been stellar as he continues his streak with six consecutive games of scoring 30 points or more.
A pivotal moment came when LaVine sank two free throws and a turnaround jumper, narrowing Sacramento’s lead to just one point with 2:28 left on the clock. Fox responded by extending the lead back to three with two free throws 29 seconds later. In a tense final stretch, Bulls center Nikola Vucevic blocked a shot attempted by Monk with just 22 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for Chicago, a five-second violation was called after a timeout, allowing Sabonis to seal the game with two successful free throws, bringing the score to 124-119 with merely 14 seconds left.
One significant statistic of note was Fox’s sharp shooting performance, making four of his eight attempts from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to play again this coming Tuesday: the Kings will travel to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Bulls will host the New Orleans Pelicans.
