SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings triumphed over the Washington Wizards with a convincing score of 123-100 on Sunday evening, fueled by Domantas Sabonis’ impressive performance. Sabonis registered 29 points along with 18 rebounds, helping the Kings secure their ninth victory out of their last ten games. DeMar DeRozan contributed with 24 points, while Malik Monk added 23, and Keon Ellis delivered an efficient 18 points, shooting 6-for-8 from beyond the arc. Additionally, De’Aaron Fox played a pivotal role, scoring 12 points and dishing out a season-high 13 assists.
On the opposing side, Jonas Valanciunas led the Wizards with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Unfortunately for Washington, the defeat marked their tenth consecutive loss. The Kings initially fell behind, allowing the Wizards to score the first six points of the game, but after that, they took control and never looked back, creating a significant lead of 24 points in the second half. Sacramento secured a 14-point lead by halftime, with Sabonis notable for his 18 points and 11 rebounds at that point. His scoring surge included back-to-back three-pointers and a steal that he turned into a dunk, allowing the Kings to pull away after the game was tied at 15-15 early on.
For the Wizards, this marks a continuation of a tough period, as they are now facing their second double-digit losing streak of the season after having matched a franchise record with 16 straight losses earlier in the season. In contrast, the Kings are finally two games over .500 for the first time since November. Sabonis was instrumental throughout the match, showcasing his dominance with multiple powerful dunks and an efficient shooting night, finishing 12-for-16.
A critical moment in the game occurred late in the third quarter when Ellis sank three 3-pointers, including a buzzer-beater that extended the Kings’ lead to 90-77 as they headed into the final quarter. This pivotal shot came after Fox won a jump ball against Valanciunas, contributing to Sacramento’s commanding performance.
Defensively, the Kings excelled, limiting the Wizards to just 36% shooting overall and a mere 24% from three-point range.
Looking ahead, the Wizards are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, while the Kings will host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
