Last night, the Sacramento Kings lost to the Indiana Pacers by a score of 116 to 105, which is better than the blowouts they've been hit with in the past. While it was disappointing to see them lose another winnable game, there were some positive takeaways Kings' fans should like.
The Pacers are one of the few teams in the league having as tough a season as the Kings. Both franchises are currently sitting at six and 18 in their respective conferences after last night's game. Each team would have to really turn the season around to be contenders in 2025-2026.
Really, the Kings lost the game in the first half, specifically the first quarter. By the end of the opening 12 minutes, the Pacers were up on the Kings 35 to 23. Things were even worse for Sacramento by the end of the half as Indiana extended their lead to 66 to 51.
During the second half, business started to pick up for the Kings. They dominated the third quarter 37 to 26, though the Pacers cemented their win in the final frame by outscoring Sacramento by seven points. The Kings actually managed to briefly take the league in the second half.
There were big positives for the Kings from key players
The team's effort to make it a close game in the second half was impressive, though it was too late. That being said, there were a lot of individual performances on the Kings to celebrate along the way. Not surprisingly, Russell Westbrook is at the top of that list with yet another triple-double.
Maxime Raynaud was the starting center again and finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. He's now scored double digits in the last three games and in four out of the last five games. Fellow rookie Nique Clifford also has a solid game off the bench.
Both DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine had solid shooting evenings, while Keegan Murray was rebounding up a storm. Precious Achiuwa was their best player off the bench, while Malik Monk had a shockingly quiet evening for him. It seemed like an off night for the Kings' Sixth Man.
When your team is having a tough season, it's important to look at individual performances for comfort. Now, everyone just needs to get on the same page and have a good game at the same time. If the Kings can find that sweet spot, they might actually string a few wins together.