In Sacramento, the Kings achieved a remarkable 130-88 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, powered by an impressive performance by Zach LaVine, who scored a season-high 42 points. LaVine, who joined the Kings following a multi-team trade just before the deadline, made a notable impact by hitting eight 3-pointers and shooting an astounding 16 of 19 from the field. This win marked the Kings’ first home triumph over the Hornets since 2021, with LaVine contributing double digits in points in all eight games he has played since joining Sacramento.
Alongside LaVine’s stellar performance, DeMar DeRozan contributed 18 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, who now hold a 29-28 record. Other key players included Malik Monk, who scored 13 points, Keegan Murray with 10, and Domantas Sabonis, who tallied seven points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
On the opposing side, Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 23 points, while LaMelo Ball and Nick Smith Jr. each added 13 points. Jusuf Nurkic and Moussa Diabate both contributed 12 points to Charlotte, a team that has entered a slump, losing 12 of their last 14 games.
In the first half, LaVine was particularly formidable, making four 3-pointers and shooting 8 for 9, helping the Kings to build a comfortable 20-point advantage. Despite a promising start from the Hornets, who launched an 8-2 run early in the game, Sacramento quickly regained control with a subsequent 23-10 run and maintained their lead throughout.
For the Hornets, this was another tough loss, coming off a 53-point defeat to Portland just two nights before. Despite a positive beginning, their inability to maintain momentum cost them dearly. On the other hand, the Kings displayed one of their most unified games since LaVine’s acquisition, a promising sign as they aim to secure their position in the Western Conference’s final play-in spot.
The Hornets’ recent struggles are illustrated by their losing margin over the last two games, which totals 95 points. Looking forward, Charlotte will visit Golden State on Tuesday, while Sacramento is set to face Utah on Wednesday.