Wizards Edge Kings in Close Contest, Highlighting Sacramento’s Continued Struggles

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Sacramento Kings suffered a disappointing 116-111 defeat to the Washington Wizards on April 2, 2025, marking their third consecutive loss and seventh in eight games this season.

Despite DeMar DeRozan scoring 29 points and six Kings players finishing in double digits, Sacramento’s defense faltered, allowing the Wizards to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Wizards forward Justin Champagnie led his team with 23 points, while Deni Avdija and Kyle Kuzma each contributed 19 points to the victory.

The Kings entered the game trailing their opponents in the standings with only two games remaining before the conclusion of the regular season, and with the impending play-in tournament on the horizon, the urgency for a win was palpable. However, they faced a 14-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter.

Sacramento showed signs of life in the final period by outscoring the Wizards 34-25, but the comeback fell short as they never managed to close the gap beyond 111-109 in the final minute. DeRozan’s impressive performance was complemented by Domantas Sabonis’s contributions of 18 points and 16 rebounds.

“We fought hard in the fourth quarter, but we have to start the game with that same energy,” DeRozan said postgame. “Defensively, we left too many gaps.”

In a key moment in the game, Wizards forward Jalen Thor, recently called up from the G League, hit a crucial 3-pointer to push Washington‘s lead to 114-109 with just 40 seconds remaining, silencing the Kings’ fans who had traveled to D.C. to support their team.

The Kings struggled from beyond the arc, making only 10 of their 39 attempts while Washington found success with 17 of 43 from 3-point range. This discrepancy was critical, especially as both teams continuously competed for playoff positioning.

This defeat extends the Kings’ road lose streak to three games as they prepare to face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. The team currently occupies the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, needing to secure wins to maintain a play-in tournament position.

Meanwhile, the Wizards broke a three-game losing streak and improved their home record to 8-30, the lowest in the NBA this season. Coach Wes Unseld Jr. expressed relief at finally securing a win on home turf.

“It’s a great feeling to get the win tonight,” Unseld remarked. “We’ve had our struggles, but we need to carry this momentum into the next game.”

Upcoming matches will see Sacramento visit Charlotte, while Washington looks to continue their success against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.