Zach LaVine scored 29 points to help the Kings snap a four-game losing streak with a 128-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Domantas Sabonis had 22 points, 19 rebounds and six assists for the Kings (36-37). DeMar DeRozan had 21 points and 10 assists while Keegan Murray added 17 points and seven rebounds.
Malik Monk returned to score 16 points after missing the past three games due to illness. Monk was listed as a starter and introduced in the starting lineup during pregame introductions, but in an odd twist it was Keon Ellis who took the floor with the starters.
Deni Avdija scored 24 points to lead the Blazers (32-42). Shaedon Sharpe scored 22 points. Anfernee Simons had 20.
The Kings will be back in action Saturday when they open a six-game road trip against the Orlando Magic.
Play-in picture
The Kings maintained their position at ninth in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks and one game ahead of the Phoenix Suns.
The Mavericks beat Orlando 101-92. Phoenix had the night off.
Injury updates
Monk and Devin Carter (illness) were cleared to play before Thursday’s game. Jake LaRavia was ruled out due to left thumb soreness.
The Blazers announced that Toumani Camara (foot) would be available, but Deandre Ayton (calf), Jerami Grant (knee), Bryce McGowens (rib) and Robert Williams III were ruled out.
Halftime report
Murray scored nine of Sacramento’s first 11 points. LaVine then went on his own 7-0 run to put the Kings up 22-13.
The Kings went up by as many as 10 and led 36-27 at the end of the opening period. Sacramento extended its lead to 16 early in the second quarter and carried a 68-50 lead into the halftime break.
The Kings shot 63.6% from the field while holding the Blazers to 36.2%. Sacramento had a 36-18 advantage on points in the paint and an 18-4 advantage in fastbreak points.
Second half
The Kings went up by 21 on a basket by Sabonis early in the second half. They led 100-82 at the end of the third quarter and went up by as many as 23 in the fourth.
Up next
The Kings will begin their final road trip of the season when they visit the Magic on Saturday at Kia Center in Orlando.
The Magic (35-38) had won three in a row going into Thursday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. Orlando is chasing the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Magic is led by Paolo Banchero, who is averaging 25.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM.
