The Sacramento Kings dropped a heartbreaker in Portland last night, falling to the Trail Blazers by a single point in overtime. And while the loss extends Sacramento’s rough stretch, there were some encouraging signs-especially considering the lineup was held together with duct tape and determination.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Kings were without Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Drew Eubanks due to injuries. That’s a huge chunk of their core missing, and yet they still pushed the Blazers to the brink on the road.
The reshuffled starting five even featured Precious Achiuwa slotted in at small forward-a role he doesn’t often occupy. Despite the unconventional lineup, the Kings stayed competitive wire to wire.
Now, Sacramento’s record has taken a beating lately. This latest loss adds to a growing skid, and they now sit at 6-21 in the Western Conference standings. But they’re not alone in the basement-the Clippers and Pelicans continue to stumble as well, which keeps the Kings from falling further behind in the race to climb back into relevance.
But the real head-scratcher from this one? Malik Monk didn’t play a single minute.
That’s right-Monk, the Kings’ spark plug off the bench, their Sixth Man extraordinaire, spent the entire game on the bench. He was healthy, suited up, and ready to go-but head coach Doug Christie opted not to use him.
It’s a surprising move, especially given Monk’s track record. Over the past few seasons, he’s been one of the most reliable sources of instant offense for Sacramento.
He’s not a starter-his brief stint at point guard after De’Aaron Fox’s departure didn’t pan out-but as a reserve, he’s dynamic. He changes games with his energy and shot-making.
So to see him sit for the full 48 minutes (plus OT) raised more than a few eyebrows.
According to a source familiar with the situation, this wasn’t trade-related. There’s no deal in the works involving Monk at this time. Instead, it was a coaching decision-Christie simply chose to go in a different direction.
In his postgame comments, Christie addressed the decision, pointing to the logjam at guard. With so many backcourt options, he said it’s tough to get everyone minutes. In this one, he rolled with Keon Ellis over Monk-and while the move was unexpected, Ellis made the most of his opportunity.
Ellis turned in a gritty performance: 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, and six steals. That’s a stat line that jumps off the page defensively.
He was active, disruptive, and provided a noticeable spark on that end. Of course, it wasn’t a perfect outing-Ellis also racked up five fouls and three turnovers-but the defensive upside was hard to miss.
This could be Christie sending a message, or maybe just trying to see what he has in Ellis with the season slipping away. Either way, Ellis looked like a player trying to seize a role.
As for Monk, his absence from the rotation might not mean anything beyond a one-game coaching choice. But it’s also worth noting that he’s been mentioned in trade rumors going back to the end of last season. Whether this is a sign of things to come or just a blip on the radar remains to be seen.
The good news? The Kings get another crack at the Blazers tomorrow-this time at home. If they can bring the same energy they showed in Portland, and maybe get Monk back in the mix, there’s a real shot to snap the skid and start building something again.