Kings Hit Rock Bottom in Blowout Loss to Jazz: A Shooting Night to Forget
There are bad shooting nights, and then there are nights like the one the Sacramento Kings just had in Salt Lake City - the kind that makes you double-check the stat sheet to make sure it’s real. In a 121-93 loss to the Utah Jazz, the Kings delivered one of their most woeful offensive performances of the season, and that’s saying something for a team that’s already struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor.
Let’s be clear: Sacramento came into this game short-handed. No Russell Westbrook, no Zach LaVine, no Malik Monk, no Keegan Murray, no Domantas Sabonis, no De’Andre Hunter.
That’s a lot of firepower and playmaking left in street clothes. But even with that context, this was a collapse that went beyond personnel.
This was about execution - or lack thereof - and a complete breakdown in shot-making.
Cold Doesn’t Even Begin to Cover It
The Kings shot just 34.4% from the field. That’s 31-of-90, for those keeping track.
But it was from beyond the arc where things really unraveled. Sacramento attempted 33 three-pointers and hit just seven - a brutal 21.2% clip.
And if not for Doug McDermott, who came off the bench and knocked down four of his eight threes, that number would’ve looked even worse.
This wasn’t just a team missing shots. This was a team completely out of rhythm, out of sync, and unable to generate any kind of sustainable offense.
The Jazz, fresh off a major roster shake-up that brought in Jaren Jackson Jr., looked energized and cohesive. The Kings?
Anything but.
A Night to Forget for Sacramento’s Backcourt
While it’s easy to pin a loss like this on injuries, the players who were on the floor didn’t do much to stem the tide. DeMar DeRozan, Devin Carter, and Daeqwon Plowden all struggled to get anything going, but the roughest night belonged to Nique Clifford.
The rookie guard went 1-for-15 from the field - a staggering 6.7% shooting night that defies explanation. Whether it was poor shot selection, tight Jazz defense, or just one of those nights where the rim feels like it’s got a lid on it, Clifford couldn’t buy a bucket.
And when your offense is already gasping for air, that kind of shooting performance makes it nearly impossible to stay competitive, let alone win.
Utah’s New Look Shows Promise
On the flip side, the Jazz looked like a team on the rise. The addition of Jaren Jackson Jr. has already started to pay dividends, giving Utah a dynamic presence on both ends of the floor. The Kings found out the hard way just how dangerous this new-look Jazz squad can be when they’re clicking.
Utah moved the ball well, took advantage of Sacramento’s defensive lapses, and never let the Kings get comfortable. The final margin - 28 points - felt about right for a game that was never really in doubt after the first half.
Where Do the Kings Go From Here?
The All-Star break is right around the corner, and for Sacramento, it couldn’t come soon enough. This team needs a reset - mentally, physically, and strategically.
There’s no sugarcoating a loss like this. It was ugly, it was lopsided, and it exposed just how fragile the Kings’ offensive identity can be when their key players are sidelined.
But more than that, it was a reminder that even in a season full of ups and downs, there are still new lows to hit if the effort and execution aren’t there.
If the Kings want to salvage anything from the back half of this season, they’ll need to come out of the break with a renewed focus - and a much, much better shooting touch. Because performances like this?
They don’t just lose you games. They shake confidence, test chemistry, and challenge a team’s identity.
Sacramento’s got work to do.