Domantas Sabonis achieved his 35th career triple-double with an impressive 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 143-131 win over the Washington Wizards during NBA’s Monday action.
De’Aaron Fox’s 30 points bolstered the Kings’ victory, with 12 of them coming during a high-scoring 46-point third quarter. Keegan Murray contributed 25 points in a game where six Kings players hit double figures in scoring.
Sacramento’s offensive prowess, displayed by players like Harrison Barnes with 19 points, Kevin Huerter with 14, and Malik Monk with 10, is a positive sign for a team aiming for consecutive playoff appearances after a long drought.
Fox highlighted the team’s ambition to maintain this high level of play, emphasizing their effort to improve defensively as well.
“When you have multiple guys playing at a high level in the same game, it’s extremely hard to beat us,” Fox said. “We want to be able to consistently be able to play at this level. That’s the type of work we put in. We’re just continuing to play the right way. And we continue to go out and become a better defensive team.”
Despite a strong challenge from the Wizards, who shot over 50% and made 18 three-pointers, they ultimately fell short. Jordan Poole matched his career-high with eight 3-pointers for the Wizards and scored 28 points, while Kyle Kuzma added 27. However, Washington’s overall record dropped to 4-22 after losing 17 of their last 19 games.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards Updates
Sabonis, who has consistently been a double-double threat this season, marked his eighth consecutive and 21st in 25 games. His triple-double was his 17th in a Kings uniform, setting a record in the franchise’s Sacramento era.
Kings coach Mike Brown praised Sabonis’s impact, noting his ability to seamlessly achieve triple-doubles with the team’s current lineup. The Kings maintained the lead for the final 30 minutes of the game despite a tied score early in the second quarter.
“Domas was a monster,” Brown said. “Him playing the right way with the people we have on this team, he can fall into a triple-double.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards Updates
Fox, recently sidelined with a sore shoulder, is close to breaking Mike Bibby’s team record for assists in the Sacramento era. Poole’s efforts kept the Wizards in contention, but they struggled to gain the lead.
“They just look more together,” Poole said. “They’ve been building this for seven, eight years. They have all the right pieces.”
The Kings’ substantial lead at halftime grew with a dominant third quarter, featuring significant contributions from Barnes and Fox.
Looking ahead, the Wizards will continue their West Coast trip in Portland against the Trail Blazers, while the Kings are set to face the Boston Celtics.
