SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Zach LaVine scored a season-high 42 points in his finest game with Sacramento since being acquired in a multi-team trade near the deadline, leading the Kings to a 130-88 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.
LaVine hit eight 3-pointers and shot 16 of 19 overall as the Kings earned their first home win over the Hornets since 2021. LaVine has scored in double figures in all eight games for Sacramento. DeMar DeRozan had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Kings (29-28). Malik Monk scored 13, Keegan Murray added 10 and Domantas Sabonis finished with seven points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Miles Bridges scored 23 points for the Hornets. LaMelo Ball and Nick Smith Jr. each scored 13 points, and Jusuf Nurkic and Moussa Diabate scored 12 apiece for Charlotte, losers of 12 of their last 14 games.
LaVine hit four 3-pointers and shot 8 for 9 in the first half as the Kings built up a 20-point lead. Coming off a 53-point loss to Portland two nights earlier, the Hornets showed early poise but couldn’t sustain their attack. This game seen the Kings employ what might have been their most cohesive performance since acquiring LaVine, needed as they try to hold onto the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
The Hornets shocked the Kings with an 8-2 run to start the game, but Sacramento quickly responded with a 23-10 run and never looked back. Over the next few minutes, the Kings demonstrated superior teamwork and offensive efficiency. It laid the groundwork for their lead throughout the game.
The Hornets have lost their last two games by combined margins of 95 points, highlighting the challenges they have faced on the road during this stretch. Charlotte continues its trip Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. Meanwhile, the Kings are set to play at Utah on Wednesday.
Sacramento’s impressive shooting statistics were led by LaVine, whose 42 points came from 16 of 19 field goals, including 8 of 9 from beyond the arc, marking his 22nd career 40-point game. Monk contributed significantly with 10 assists alongside his 13 points, showing versatility and depth for the team.
LaVine’s performance triggered applause from the home crowd, showcasing his ability to rally the team following tough prior outings. The Kings shot over 50 percent both overall and from three-point territory, which is indicative of their offensive power.
The Kings, snapping a two-game losing streak with this victory, now look toward their upcoming road games, aiming to build on this momentum against the Jazz, who they have already defeated three times this season.
For the Hornets, the struggle continues as they have now faced consecutive losses by substantial margins. The road trip has not favored them, and they return to their home court needing corrective action moving forward.