The Sacramento Kings (34-25) snapped a two-game losing streak in grand fashion, taking down the top dog of the Western Conference in the Minnesota Timberwolves (42-18). Even without star PG De’Aaron Fox (left knee), the Kings handled business with Keon Ellis starting in his place.
Friday night’s matchup was the second time the Kings have taken on the Timberwolves in Minnesota this season. In both those games Sacramento put up 124 points and won, making them the only team in the NBA to beat the Timberwolves in their own arena multiple times in the 2023-24 season.
A Malik Monk takeover led the Kings to victory, with the Sixth Man of the Year favorite dropping a season-high 39 points off the bench. Monk was able to provide a much-needed offensive spark for Sacramento against a Minnesota team that has allowed the least amount of points per game in the NBA (106.6).
The victory marked the Kings’ 7th win against the top-3 seeds in the West, pushing them to a 70% win rate against the top-3. On top of that, Sacramento is now 4-1 in overtime games, showing just how clutch they can be in the biggest moments. With their current position in the conference, it’s very possible the Kings will match up against a top three team, and these regular season battles prove they can hold their own if that ends up being the case.