Things got heated in Sacramento on Sunday, as tensions boiled over between the Kings and Pistons in a game that was already slipping away from the home team. The flashpoint came midway through the fourth quarter, when Pistons rookie Ron Holland was ejected after a brief but fiery altercation with Kings guard Keon Ellis.
The sequence started with Ellis applying ball pressure near the sideline. As he reached in to poke the ball loose, the two players got tangled up.
Holland responded with a clear shove that sent Ellis to the floor - and Ellis, for his part, added a little flair to the fall. Let’s just say if the NBA handed out a “Flop of the Year” award, Ellis might have just submitted his entry.
Now, was the contact enough to warrant that kind of reaction? Probably not.
But in the heat of the moment, with emotions running high and the Kings trailing by double digits, it’s not unusual to see players try to sell the call. Holland’s shove was enough to get him tossed, and the Pistons went on to cruise to a 139-116 win.
That loss marked the fifth straight for Sacramento, who now sit at 12-35 and 14th in the Western Conference. It’s been a tough stretch for a Kings team that came into the season hoping to build on last year’s progress. Instead, they’ve struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor, and frustration is clearly starting to show.
Even so, Keon Ellis remains a bright spot - and a player drawing attention beyond Sacramento. Around the league, rival teams have reportedly expressed interest in Ellis ahead of the trade deadline. The Kings are said to be open to moving him, and it’s easy to see why contenders are circling.
Ellis fits the mold of a classic 3-and-D guard. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable - the kind of player who can give you solid minutes off the bench, knock down open threes, and hold his own defensively against opposing guards.
Keon Ellis' reaction to being pushed by Ron Holland. 🤣
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 25, 2026
(h/t @Pistons__Talk)
pic.twitter.com/G4EEAHUa59
In 39 appearances this season, including five starts, Ellis is averaging 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in just over 17 minutes per game. His shooting splits - 38.4% from the field, 35.7% from deep, and 63.3% from the line - aren’t eye-popping, but they’re serviceable, especially for a player still carving out his role.
For a playoff-bound team looking to shore up its perimeter depth, Ellis offers a low-cost, high-effort option. He brings energy, defensive intensity, and just enough shooting to stay on the floor in meaningful minutes. Whether Sacramento ultimately decides to move him or not, it’s clear the league has taken notice.
As for the Kings, the frustration is real - and Sunday’s scuffle was just the latest example. With the trade deadline looming, decisions are coming. And Keon Ellis might be right in the middle of them.