Kings Struggle Without Star Player in Heavy Loss to Knicks

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings faced another setback this season, falling to the New York Knicks 133-104 at Golden 1 Center on Monday night. This defeat marks the Kings’ third loss in their last four games, dropping their record to 33-31.

Sacramento entered the game without their star center, Domantas Sabonis, who has missed the last five games due to a grade 1 hamstring strain. The Knicks were also without their standout point guard, Jalen Brunson. Despite the missing players, Malik Monk analyzed the situation succinctly, saying the Kings were “punked” by New York.

The Knicks took advantage of Sacramento’s struggles defensively, shooting 55% from beyond the arc on 40 attempts. This inability to guard the perimeter has been a recurring issue for the Kings, who fired head coach Mike Brown earlier this season after an underwhelming start.

Interim head coach Doug Christie addressed the challenges the team faces this season, using a vivid analogy: “The airplane is in the air, but we’re fixing it while we’re in the air.” Despite these obstacles, Christie has guided the Kings to a 20-13 record since taking over, a notable uptick compared to Brown’s 13-18 mark.

Zach LaVine, a new addition to the roster, shared his perspective on the team’s evolving identity. “We just have to be the harder playing team every night. That’s going to be the main thing for us going forward,” LaVine remarked. He also noted that Sacramento has improved defensively, evidenced by a defensive rating of 113.1 since the All-Star break.

However, the Kings’ recent performances lack consistency. They suffered blowout losses on either end of their seven-game stretch, including a 24-point defeat to the Houston Rockets and a 29-point loss to the Knicks. In a demanding Western Conference, they face a challenging schedule ahead, marked by games against NBA powerhouses like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.

The Kings’ upcoming match against the Warriors on Thursday will be crucial as they aim to regain their footing in the playoff race. Currently sitting just two games back of the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers, the Kings realize the importance of their remaining 18 games in securing a position for the Play-In Tournament.

While the Kings have seen some improvement under Christie’s leadership, the road ahead remains tough. A pivotal factor to their success will be the potential return of Sabonis, who continues to be assessed on a daily basis. “I think he’s going to be day-to-day probably,” Christie said regarding Sabonis’ recovery. As the playoffs approach, every game intensifies in significance for Sacramento.

The Kings will tip off against the Warriors at 7 p.m. PT on Thursday in San Francisco.