SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — In a thrilling game that electrified the fans at Golden 1 Center, the Sacramento Kings overcame an early deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 123-119 on March 19, 2025. With key players sidelined due to injuries and personal reasons, the Kings demonstrated resilience and teamwork, pulling off their second consecutive win after a brief four-game losing streak.
Leading the charge was DeMar DeRozan, who scored 27 points, while Malik Monk added a robust performance with 22 points and a whopping eight assists. Monk's playmaking was pivotal, showcasing his consistency as a major contributor, especially since he has now dished out three or more assists in 33 straight games. "This is a baseline for who the Sacramento Kings are," said interim head coach Doug Christie, emphasizing the team’s spirit and potential moving forward. "If that’s what we continue to solidify, ultimately we start to grow and be everything our fans and our organization want us to be."
The game began on a shaky note for the Kings as they trailed 20-7, struggling early on. They managed to hit just 2 of 19 shots at the start, with 1 of 9 from beyond the arc in the first ten minutes. The Cavaliers capitalized by leading 22-15 at the close of the first quarter. Despite a closing gap, the Kings found themselves down 56-47 at halftime, with Monk putting up 14 points—an effort that kept hope alive for Sacramento.
In the third quarter, things took a turn when rookie Devin Carter stepped up off the bench. He notched a career-high 16 points, including a crucial ten-point burst within a two-minute span that fuelled a game-changing 17-2 run, propelling the Kings from a deficit to an 85-74 advantage. "I think it was everybody. The whole second unit, the whole first unit. I wouldn’t say it was just me. It was everybody," Carter remarked after the game, acknowledging the collective effort of his teammates.
The Kings managed to maintain their lead and entered the final quarter ahead 90-88. The back-and-forth continued as Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers, who ended the night with 31 points and 10 rebounds, sparked a 14-2 run for Cleveland, briefly taking the lead at 107-102. The Kings responded with determination, asserting control back with a vital 7-0 run, culminating in a DeRozan basket giving Sacramento a 119-116 lead with just over a minute left.
With 34.2 seconds remaining, Monk hit a fallaway jumper to stretch the lead to 121-116. Though Donovan Mitchell countered with a three-pointer for Cleveland, Monk sealed the win with two free throws, solidifying the Kings’ hard-earned victory despite missing their star players Domantas Sabonis (sidelined with a right ankle sprain) and Zach LaVine (absent for personal reasons).
The Kings are poised for their next challenge against the Chicago Bulls on March 20 after this impressive showing, with interim coach Doug Christie hopeful for the return of LaVine and LaRavia from their absences. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers, who have suffered three losses in a row for just the second time this season, will look to bounce back against the Phoenix Suns.
This game epitomizes the resilience of the Kings amidst difficult circumstances and marks an essential moment as they strive to secure a playoff position this season. Following a tough period, this victory against the top team in the Eastern Conference serves as a promising sign of what the Kings can achieve, bursting forth with enthusiasm and cementing their identity as they head into the final stretch of the season.
