Malik Monk Catches Fire, But Kings' Skid Continues in Heartbreaker vs. Clippers
The Sacramento Kings are in the middle of a brutal stretch, and Friday night’s matchup against the Clippers didn’t offer much relief-despite a red-hot start from Malik Monk.
Monk came out firing, putting on a shooting clinic in the opening quarter and giving the Kings an early spark. He finished the night with 18 points, all of which felt timely, and knocked down six shots from beyond the arc.
When Monk gets going like that, it’s hard not to think the Kings might finally turn the corner. But even with his early fireworks, Sacramento couldn’t hold off a late push from Los Angeles, falling 114-111 in a game that slipped away late.
It’s the Kings’ 11th straight loss, dropping them to 12-41 on the season. That kind of streak stings in any context, but this one is especially tough considering Sacramento controlled the pace early and led at the half. The Clippers, now 24-27, made their move in the second half and closed things out down the stretch, handing Sacramento yet another frustrating defeat.
The loss extends what’s now the Kings’ worst losing streak since the 1997-98 season. For some perspective, that’s nearing the longest skid in the franchise’s Sacramento era-13 straight-and just three shy of the all-time record of 14. That’s not the kind of history any team wants to flirt with.
Monk three
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2026
Monk three
Monk three
Malik Monk ends the first quarter on FIRE from deep 🎯
pic.twitter.com/IKjej3gU6E
It’s been that kind of year for Sacramento. Defensive struggles have plagued them all season, and the absence of Domantas Sabonis on Friday didn’t help. The big man was sidelined with a sore back, and his presence in the paint was sorely missed against a Clippers team that knows how to capitalize on mismatches.
Still, Monk’s performance was a reminder that there’s talent on this roster. He’s averaging 12 points per game this season-down from last year-but his ability to heat up in a hurry gives Sacramento a much-needed scoring punch off the bench. His minutes are down, but his impact when he’s on the floor is hard to ignore.
The Kings haven’t won since January 16, when they knocked off the Wizards. That feels like a lifetime ago for a team searching for answers and trying to keep morale up during a long, difficult campaign.
With a young core that includes Sabonis and several promising pieces, there’s still reason for long-term optimism. But in the short term, this group is simply trying to stop the bleeding.
Sacramento will get another shot to snap the skid on Saturday night when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers. At this point, any win would be a much-needed breath of fresh air. The Kings aren’t just playing for pride-they’re playing to prove they haven’t given up on a season that’s tested them at every turn.