SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the primary time this season, the Sacramento Kings emerged victorious on the second night time of a back-to-back.
It took 23 lead adjustments, 16 ties and double time beyond regulation, however the Kings outlasted the Orlando Magic 138-135 Wednesday in what Malik Monk referred to as a “dogfight.”
After a lackluster efficiency in Tuesday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the workforce that drafted him with the No. 11 decide within the 2017 draft, Monk responded along with his second-highest scoring output in a Sacramento uniform. He completed with a season-high 37 factors, 9 assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block on 12-of-20 capturing and seven of 13 from 3-point vary.
The 6MOTY tonight off the bench:
👑 37 PTS
👑 9 AST
👑 7 3PM🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/yFlW5VqPSf
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 4, 2024
“That’s why you wish to play basketball, man,” Monk stated postgame. “To be in moments like this. Sport tied up, time beyond regulation, what are you going to do? I stay for these moments.”
That was apparent when he despatched the sport into the primary time beyond regulation on a left-handed reverse layup. Monk has a knack for getting the Golden 1 Heart crowd on its ft like few different Kings gamers do … and for good cause. He’s within the midst of his finest season but, averaging 14.9 factors, 5.3 assists and 42 % from behind the arc on 6.3 makes an attempt per sport — all on tempo to be profession highs.
All gasoline, no breaks!
@AhmadMonk sport tying lay-up in crunch time 😤 pic.twitter.com/Y1IGTHv9T5— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 4, 2024
He and coach Mike Brown had a productive dialog Wednesday morning that’s not solely indicative of the particular bond the 2 share, but it surely doubtless contributed to Monk’s huge night time.
“I referred to as him into my workplace and I stated, ‘Malik I’ve received to look you within the eye and I’ve received to apologize to you as a result of I didn’t do a great job teaching you final night time,’” Brown stated. “‘I’m not apologizing for sitting you on the bench since you didn’t play effectively. However I’m apologizing to you for not teaching you final night time the best way that I ought to have.’”
Monk logged 5 first-half minutes, a season low. He solely tried one shot in these 5 minutes, which was additionally a first-half season low. And when Brown pulled Monk from the sport throughout that first half, he admitted he did so with out telling Monk why.
“Malik’s a hell of a participant, however he’s an incredible particular person, too. I’m lucky, not solely am I lucky, however I additionally take pleasure in teaching him as a result of virtually every little thing he says is actual.”
Brown’s willingness to carry himself accountable plus his vulnerability along with his gamers are just some of the traits which have allowed him to be efficient with this workforce.
It doesn’t damage for Brown to have a participant of Domantas Sabonis’ caliber at his disposal.
Sabonis — who turned the primary participant since Corridor of Famer Wilt Chamberlain to document a 22-point, 23-rebound, 12-assist triple-double — answered with one phrase when requested how he felt after the win.
“Exhausted,” he stated simply earlier than lighting the beam.
Domantas Sabonis tonight:
22 PTS
23 REB
12 ASTHe is is the primary participant since Wilt Chamberlain to succeed in these thresholds in a sport 🤯 pic.twitter.com/iJrYcuMMV6
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) January 4, 2024
It took Sabonis’ finest Chamberlain impersonation, Monk’s scoring outburst and a 28-point double-double from Keegan Murray to beat a Magic workforce that made a franchise document 25 3-pointers. Think about a career-high 43 factors from Paolo Banchero and De’Aaron Fox’s worst capturing night time of the season (he nonetheless managed to complete in double figures with 15 factors) and you’ve got all the mandatory substances for a 58-minute thriller.
“I simply go on the market and do my job,” Sabonis stated nonchalantly within the locker room. “I do know what I’ve received to do to assist this workforce and immediately was necessary for us to return out with the win.”
This was his third consecutive sport with at the least 19 rebounds, making him simply the sixth participant in franchise historical past to take action and the primary since DeMarcus Cousins in 2015. Though Sabonis downplayed his historic efficiency, it’s essential to not take video games like these as a right. The truth that he flirts with a triple-double on a nightly foundation has change into par for the course, but it’s something however regular.
MALIK TO DOMAS TO PUT THE KINGS UP 1 🔥🔨 pic.twitter.com/2e2EAH0fXD
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 4, 2024
Whereas Sabonis shined with one other spectacular outing, he was positive to focus on Monk’s impression.
“Sixth Man of the Yr proper there,” Sabonis stated. “Each time he’s prepared. He brings the vitality and good vibes. We love him on this workforce.”
Murray is one other beloved participant on this workforce, and in some way it felt like he had a quiet night time regardless of recording his second double-double of the season. However he grabbed 12 boards to associate with his 28 factors and shot 13 of 21 with no turnovers. He’s persevering with to take strides on each ends of the ground and he’s conscious of it.
“I do know what I can do on this workforce,” Murray stated throughout his postgame information convention. “It’s a course of that I do know I’m excited for. I do know there’s going to be ups and downs with that, so simply taking it day-to-day. Going via the great occasions, the unhealthy occasions. I’m simply sticking with it. I do know I can change into a extremely good participant on this league.”
KEEGAN RACK ATTACK 🔨 pic.twitter.com/ho5TOk3OWx
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 4, 2024
The second-year ahead spoke extremely of Monk’s bucket-getting prowess as effectively.
“He’s a man that may get a bucket at any time when he desires,” Murray stated. “He noticed quite a lot of totally different coverages immediately and simply type of developed his sport from that and made quite a lot of well timed buckets for us.”
Harrison Barnes and Trey Lyles rounded out Sacramento’s double-figure scorers, posting 17 and 10 factors, respectively. Lyles, who gained the defensive participant of the sport crown, drew a game-high three fees and none larger than this offensive foul on Banchero.
TREY DRAWS BIG CHARGE ON PAOLO BANCHERO 😤 pic.twitter.com/FcBFVMsnHw
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 4, 2024
It was a collective effort for the Kings to notch their first win on the second night time of a back-to-back after beginning the season 0-4 in these conditions. With Wednesday’s win, they improved to 20-13 and resiliency has been key.
“I count on us to battle, man,” Monk stated. “As a result of we’ve been collectively for a bit minute and we’ve been speaking about combating, particularly on back-to-backs. … This was our first one we gained and it was nice on this vogue.”
(Photograph: Sergio Estrada / USA At present)
