In a clash that extended into overtime, the Sacramento Kings emerged victorious against a top-tier Phoenix Suns bereft of Kevin Durant, pulling off a 127-118 win last night. Kings' De'Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan stepped up, scoring 16 combined points in overtime to seal the deal. DeRozan, the lead scorer on the night, dropped 34 points, with 8 significant ones in overtime, while Fox contributed 21 points alongside a well-rounded 11 rebounds and 8 assists. Kings' shooter Kevin Huerter nailed 5 from beyond the arc, contributing to the team's just shy of 30% three-point shooting, as mentioned by CBS News Sacramento.
However, the evening wasn’t without setbacks for Sacramento. Kings guard Malik Monk suffered a right ankle injury after stepping on Mason Plumlee’s foot in the second quarter, abruptly ending his participation. He was unable to return to the game. "The Kings lost Monk when he went down with an injury early in the second quarter," as reported by The Sacramento Bee. Monk's early exit left him with 8 minutes played, 4 points scored, and 2 assists before the injury. His absence will continue as he's slated to miss the upcoming game against the San Antonio Spurs while his ankle injury gets further evaluation, according to senior NBA insider Chris Haynes, noted by ClutchPoints.
Bradley Beal led the Suns' offensive push with 28 points, while Devin Booker added 23 points and a dozen assists. Despite their efforts, they couldn't stave off the Kings' surge in overtime. With this win, Sacramento's season record climbs to a promising 6-4, while the Suns experience their second loss, adjusting their strong start to 8-2. The win might just give the Kings the confidence push they need as they take on the Spurs without Monk tonight, leaving fans to wonder how they'll fare without one of their reliable guards on the floor.
As for Monk's season contributions, prior to his injury, he had been averaging 12.6 points, shooting an efficient 44.2% from the field with three rebounds and 2.8 assists across 25 minutes per game. The Kings now must quickly adapt and reconfigure their strategy to effectively handle the Spurs showdown minus Monk. It's a test Sacramento will have to somehow navigate as they continue to aim for consistency and a stronger foothold in the standings without one of their key contributors setting foot on the court.
