The Sacramento Kings opened their road trip with a tough 123-118 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the story wasn’t the final score-it was how Sacramento stayed in the fight. On a night when the starters struggled to find their rhythm, it was the bench unit, anchored by Domantas Sabonis, that kept the Kings within striking distance.
Things looked bleak early. Cleveland came out swinging, racing to a double-digit lead before the Kings even got on the board. Sacramento’s first points came from a pair of Russell Westbrook free throws, and for a moment, it felt like the night might get away from them fast.
But credit where it’s due-the Kings didn’t fold. By the end of the first quarter, they’d clawed their way back to a 35-35 tie.
At halftime, they trailed by just three. The game stayed close throughout, and while the Cavs ultimately came away with the win, Sacramento made them earn every bit of it.
What made this performance stand out was who showed up. Outside of DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento’s starters were largely quiet.
Rookie big man Maxime Raynaud logged just over nine minutes and finished with a single rebound. The rest of the starting five didn’t do much more to tilt the scales.
It was the bench that turned what could’ve been a blowout into a competitive, down-to-the-wire contest.
In total, the Kings’ bench poured in 73 of the team’s 118 points. That’s not just a spark off the bench-that’s a full-on engine. In the first half especially, while the starters were still trying to find their footing, it was the second unit that kept the Kings afloat.
The second half saw a bit more life from the starting group. DeRozan, Westbrook, and Zach LaVine all finished in double figures, with DeRozan leading the way at 20 points.
He found his rhythm as the game went on, giving Sacramento a much-needed scoring punch late. But make no mistake-this game belonged to the bench.
Domantas Sabonis returned from a one-game absence due to injury management and looked sharp, dropping 24 points on the Cavs. Dennis Schroder added 21, and Malik Monk chipped in 16 of his own. All three played with energy and purpose, and it showed on the scoreboard.
It’s worth noting that Sabonis, Schroder, and Monk are among the names reportedly in play as the Kings approach the trade deadline. Performances like this only raise their value-whether Sacramento keeps them or looks to make a move, they’re proving they can produce when called upon.
One of the more curious stat lines came from Zach LaVine. He took just eight shots on the night, finishing with 10 points on 50% shooting.
It’s not the kind of aggressive outing fans are used to seeing from him, and it raises questions about how he’s fitting into the current offensive flow. The Kings will need more from him if they want to come out of this road trip with some wins.
Bottom line: this wasn’t the result Sacramento wanted, but it wasn’t without positives. The bench showed up in a big way, Sabonis looked healthy and productive, and DeRozan continues to be a steady force.
If the starters can find their rhythm moving forward, this team has the pieces to compete. The road trip rolls on, and the Kings will look to build off the grit they showed in Cleveland.