Update: 10 p.m.
The Sacramento Kings couldn’t keep the momentum going Wednesday as they fell 112-100 to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns jumped out to a 41-16 first quarter advantage and that basically sealed the game from that point. At halftime the Kings were down 67-45 and only had 5 assists and 10 turnovers. Sacramento would gain some life in the third quarter thanks to Malik Monk and Keegan Murray, but ultimately could never close the gap much more than that in the fourth.
The Kings desperately needed more size in this one as offensive rebounds killed them down the stretch. Drew Eubanks only played 14 minutes, Maxime Raynaud played 9 minutes. Precious Achiuwa got most of the big minutes at center and played admirably but was too undersized. He finished with 14 points and 5 rebounds. It sure was nice back when we had Jonas Valanciunas to fill in if Domantas Sabonis was out.
Keegan Murray finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds. He should have got the ball more in the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 8 rebounds. Zach LaVine had yet another quiet night with 13 points in 32 minutes. He also had 6 turnovers. Malik Monk scored 15 off the bench. Keon Ellis got 23 minutes and made several nice defensive plays.
The Kings are 5-14 and in 13th place in the Western Conference.
From Earlier Preview:
Keegan. Murray. Finally, the Kings are giving fans something worth watching. Sacramento has won two-straight games against strong Western Conference teams (Nuggets, Timberwolves) and it hasn’t been on the back of veteran players. It’s because of Keegan Murray.
OK, I’m exaggerating here. But Keegan Murray is playing an aggressive style of basketball unlike anything we’ve see out of him before, and it’s compelling. In fact, it’s the most compelling the Kings have been all year. It has certainly rejuvenated my interest in watching this team play. I don’t expect that excitement to last very long, so I’ll take it while it’s here.
Who: Sacramento Kings (5-13) vs. Phoenix Suns (11-7)
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
When: 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET
Watch: NBCSCA / League Pass
The Suns are one of the more surprisingly successful teams in the young 2025-26 NBA season. They are currently 6th in the Western Conference, ahead of teams like the Timberwolves and Warriors. They’ll be without Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn, and Jalen Green tonight. For the Kings, Domantas Sabonis is still out, and Dennis Schroder is questionable.
The Suns defeated the Kings in the season opener back in October, so the Kings will have a chance for a little revenge tonight. It’s also an NBA Cup matchup, however the Kings are already 0-2 in NBA Cup play, so, you know. Whatever.
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for all the other sickos still watching this thing.
Prediction: Kings 117, Suns 110.
The Suns have mostly been winning,
And playing the Kings has them grinning.
Though we’ve won two straight,
Our most likely fate
Is that Vivek destroys what’s beginning!
+1 Ever wonder what Brooks would look like as a King?
Or SunKings!
This still makes me laugh
(full Game of Zones episode)
Yup, that still snaps.
Kayte like the way the Kings started the game with some “crispness.” Bahahahah…lol. Are you kidding me?
LaVine please play good so Bucks will take you!
Dear fans,
We told you. See those two wins against playoff teams? We are right in the mix with a blend of defensive presence and hard-nosed effort. Please pay no attention to all the chatter around “trades” and “rebuild”. These are only buzzwords used by haters who can’t see the vision from boxed seats. As we have said from the start, this is a complete roster, with all-stars at every level. You will see the effort on display tonight as we grind for 94 feet and play a full 48 minutes. It’s not like the team could give up 40 points in the first quarter or something ridiculous like that: I mean, come on, it’s the Suns. We are ready to show the true dominance that a 3rd straight win brings.
Sincerely,
Management
Wow, a few minutes into the game Kayte said she liked the way the Kings started the game with some “crispness.” But now she’s saying “they’ve played loose since the beginning of the game.” Which is it Kayte?
Kayte just talks. The words have little to do with what is actually happening on the court .
What a disaster of a team. Fuck Vivek and his dumb technology boy ego.
She
never
shuts
up
Vivek pays her by the word . Should make more than Lavine bu seasons end .
*in Lionel Ritchie
“All! Game! Long…!
These refs are out of f-ing control.
Time for old man LaVine to get his 4th quarter break on the bench.
Not for me. Haven’t watched a single game this season and don’t plan to. From the comments here so far it seems like aggressive Keegan didn’t make the Kings watchable tonight, or maybe he just didn’t show up.
It’s pretty hard when he’s the only player on the floor besides Keon who continually fights on both sides of the floor. And when old man DeMar and Zach showed up.
Keegan played well . You didn’t watch or plan to but judge individual play . Wow
Umm, please explain to me how I judged anyone’s individual play. Maybe you don’t understand what “it seems like” means.
I agree, no size, dominated on the boards as always. God forbid we have a backup big that can rebound, play defense and has size. Why are you keeping Cardwell or Eubanks if they can’t rebound and defend?
Agree, but a better question might be why do we have guards that can’t defend and create fewer assists than turnovers .
So apparently I was reading on Bluesky and Reddit that there was a fan yelling at the Kings bench and was really animated? Take with a grain of salt, but one of the replies said (big oooof if true):
I remember asking people here who that fan was a year or two ago. He’s at almost every home game decked out with kings gear and jewelry lol
Good on him if that is what happened though. Fuck Zach Latrine. Vivek finally got his guy and look at us now ????????
Here’s the video of that moment. Good for that fan I don’t blame him.
Ha Ha, got a smile out of Keegan.
Is it true LaVine told Christie to bench Clifford and he did. No way in the world when I was a coach I would do that. All my players knew who I was. They could make suggestions but not flat out tell me how to coach. That’s my responsibility right or wrong. Doug should know that and later IN THE LOCKER ROOM tell that to LaVine.
What we know for sure is that LaVine was sitting on the bench during 4th quarter crunch time for two consecutive games.
The problem is that Doug is not a leader, but nothing more than a yes-man who found an opportunity to accept a job when one was available.
A job that was basically guaranteed to him by the parasitic idiot owner who prays off of the nostalgia of loyal casual Kings fans who either don’t know any better, or choose not to care.
And he was a cheap hire. Anything to save a little money right?
Not even a leader like General Patton can make this army perform. Don’t blame Christie or any coach before him. It’s a string of poor general managers starting with the one who set the franchise back 12 years, Vlade Divic.
A leader like General Patton can choose which hardest working units to put in the first line and which units to put in reserve.
Stop making excuses for Christie. He’s a 100% shill and part of the problem, not part of any solution.
If this would have been a random coach with no ties to the Kings “golden era”, everyone here would be ripping into him without mercy.
Comments like yours show that Vivek at least knew what he was doing when he hired DC.
His comment just proved my point. Thank you Rik.
Reports confirmed: LaVine to decline player option and will be lead assistant and special advisor to Vivek next season.
What makes it funnier is thag Nique had 1 turnover and was 0-2 from the field.
Zach HAD 6 TURNOVERS!!! 5-14 from the field and took so many awful shots.
Also, if Doug is listening to the players about who plays, then that’s a major issue, imo.
Let’s take a moment to remember it’s not the players or coaches who are the problem with this organization.
Why not both?
You don’t get it. Doug is the victim here. And you are a hater!!!
Veteran leadership at its best!
Hopefully after this year Nique will still be a King and LaVine will not.
Its sia_collective on Instagram. Check his stories. He yelled at Zach to play defense and sounds like Zach had an expletive or two in telling him to go home. Basically called players out for no defense.
This dude.
Whoever this dude is, I love him.
This guy is a new local hero.
Puke Guy is now the Robin to this Batman.
That’s why he’s the GOAT!!!
Full video:
This season has been so strange.
Never has there been a collection of such unmotivated and disliked players all wearing Sacramento uniforms.
I find myself upset with the wins, and smiling after losses – as if things are right in the world. I really dislike that backwards feeling of fandom.
Even through the ruckus and hair-tingling mayhem of the come-from-behind, overtime win where the fan base showed truly how much we need to see a winner play in this building; there is still a prevalent sense of dread that no rebuild is coming. That we are about to suffer another season beyond this of unlikeable, losing players with highlight reel dunks in one holster and turnovers in the other.
Please Kings – if you don’t want passionate fans popping off behind your bench, if you don’t want to laughed at by national media – then take some cues from consistent winning franchises; have some semblance of a plan and hire the right people to make excellent basketball decisions and get out of their way. Take your lumps with a couple of losing seasons to advance through asset collection and prudent asset management. We know you love to hear the Perry’s of the world talk about “toughness”, “discipline”, “playing hard” etc.. but games are not won, fans are not won, the media is not won by the eloquence of voice, but by the play demonstrated by the team between the whistles. Fix this thing. Move the players who have not demonstrated the principles you preach. Bring in assets that can grow into starter roles, and for goodness sake, hire somebody, or many somebody’s who actually know how to develop talent.
I am tired of the Kangziness the past couple of seasons.
I want to go back to rooting for the team to win.
Yeah, Perry isn’t preaching principles. He’s selling soundbites.
I remember when the Suns blew it all up this past summer by trading away Durant and waiving Beal. We all thought they’d be the bottom of the West, yet here we are. Good times.
Happy Thanksgiving all!
…
LaVine can’t get off this team quick enough. Worn out his welcome (for the few that wanted him).
Shouldn’t the guy on the left be Vivek?
Picturing the Kings on defense…
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
The Kings future is about as bright as this website.
Badge Legend