MINNEAPOLIS — In an exciting matchup, DeMar DeRozan shone brightly for the Sacramento Kings, scoring 33 points as they narrowly defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-114 on Monday night. This victory came right after the Kings secured a trade deal for Zach LaVine, which is expected to bolster their lineup.
Malik Monk also had an impressive performance, contributing 26 points to the Kings’ total. Keegan Murray further supported the team with an additional 19 points. This game marked the end of a challenging 2-6 road trip for Sacramento, demonstrating resilience as they adjusted to the recent lineup changes. The Kings sent De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a multi-team trade, bringing LaVine into the fold. Fans can anticipate LaVine’s debut with the Kings on Wednesday.
On the other side, Naz Reid led the Timberwolves with a season-high of 30 points, impressively scoring 16 of them in the first quarter. His teammates Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards chipped in with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Notably, Minnesota played without forward Julius Randle, who missed his second consecutive game due to a groin injury.
The game was closely contested, with the Timberwolves overcoming a 12-point deficit to briefly take a lead at 91-90 early in the fourth quarter. However, the Kings quickly regained the upper hand and continually countered Minnesota’s attempts to surge ahead as the game drew to a close.
Taking away some key points, Sacramento adjusted effectively to the absence of Fox, with Monk stepping up to lead the offense. Alongside his scoring, Monk also recorded five assists and eight rebounds and played a pivotal role in maintaining Sacramento’s rhythm late in the game, including draining critical free throws in the final moments. Conversely, Minnesota found it difficult to bounce back from their earlier loss to the struggling Washington Wizards, resulting in a disappointing second consecutive loss to a team with a lesser record.
A crucial moment in the game occurred when DeRozan executed a layup that extended the Kings’ lead to 110-106 with just 30 seconds left on the clock, solidifying Sacramento’s hold on the game. A noteworthy statistic reflects that despite the Timberwolves attempting 16 more three-pointers than the Kings, making 40 to Sacramento’s 24, they only succeeded in converting two additional shots from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, the Kings will return home to face the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, while the Timberwolves will host the Chicago Bulls on the same day.
