Sacramento Kings get back on track versus 76ers after tough month of January

After a disastrous month of January, the Sacramento Kings got a much needed win over a surging Philadelphia team.

2019 didn’t start well for the Sacramento Kings. They went 7-8 — their most losses in a month since November — and watched as they dropped in the Western Conference standings, sitting at ninth in the West at 27-25. They got off to a better start this month.

Coming up against a Philadelphia 76ers team that sits at third place in the Eastern Conference, the Sacramento Kings faced a tall task. Still, they came out hot and in one of their better games this season — came out on top.

Despite leading at halftime, 62-52, things don’t come easy for the Sacramento Kings, as they lost their lead several times in the fourth, falling behind 105-104 with 2:54 remaining. They wouldn’t falter again. The Sacramento Kings ended the game on an 11-3 run, led by Buddy Hield’s five points in the final 1:44 of the game.

A one-game sample size is nothing to draw conclusions from, but it’s hard to ignore how well the Kings played against a quality team compared to their play the month of January.

In January, the Kings as a team averaged season-lows in points per game, field goals made and field goal percentage en route to just one win over a team .500 or better. The game against the Sixers was a different story. They scored six more points than their January average, brought down more rebounds and stole more passes than they did on average last month.

Will it continue? It won’t get any easier. The Kings are set to face a gauntlet of playoff teams, with the Rockets, Bucks, Nuggets, Spurs, Warriors and Thunder — and that’s just for February. They’ll play some fluff in there too, namely the Suns, Heat and Timberwolves, but it’s going to a tough road for them to remain relevant in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Trades will be necessary and without them, the Kings don’t stand much of a chance.