The Sacramento Kings took to the Target Center court on Monday night and emerged victorious against the Minnesota Timberwolves, edging them out with a final score of 116-114. Despite being without their star guard De’Aaron Fox—who was traded on Sunday—the Kings quickly established themselves as the team to beat, scoring 38 points in the first quarter alone.
This game marked yet another chapter of tumult for the Timberwolves, especially coming off their disappointing 105-103 loss against the Washington Wizards just two nights prior, where they faced embarrassment against the league’s worst team. With standout players Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid back after previous absences, hopes were high for Minnesota to bounce back.
The Kings had recently completed a notable trade deal, shipping Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and acquiring veteran guard Zach LaVine. While LaVine was not yet available, Sacramento demonstrated their capability to contend without him. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, prior to tip-off, expressed the unpredictability teams often face following significant player trades, saying, “There’s strength in knowing, okay this is who we got, and now we’re gonna go forward.”
The Kings showed strong resolve, shooting impressively during the first half—making 13 of their first 19 shots. The Wolves seemed unable to find their rhythm on defense, allowing Sacramento to score or secure rebounds on 41 of their 58 possessions before halftime, leading to their 67-59 advantage. Minnesota’s shooting struggles were evident as well; they went 2-for-11 from beyond the arc during the second quarter, contributing to their lagging score.
Despite improved defense from the Wolves, led by strong performances from Reid, who ended the night with 30 points, and Jaden McDaniels, who contributed 22, the team found themselves unable to seize control as the game progressed. The Wolves’ third quarter saw them close the gap slightly, but they missed numerous key shots from three-point territory, with only one successful attempt out of nine.
With the game tied at 95-95 early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota's offense faltered dramatically, only managing to squeeze out two points over the following six minutes. Finch lamented post-game about the defensive lapses, stating, “We committed a cardinal sin. We got caught up in up-and-down scoring.” Such lapses allowed Sacramento to rebuild their lead significantly.
It was DeMar DeRozan who helped to secure the Kings’ win, with him scoring 33 points throughout the contest, including multiple clutch baskets down the stretch. Malik Monk also was instrumental, contributing 26 points. With strong shooting and offensive cohesion, the Kings maintained their lead and capitalized on the Wolves' postseason instincts as the clock wound down.
With just 6.1 seconds remaining, the Timberwolves found themselves down three points, but Jaden McDaniels lost possession out of bounds, effectively sealing the contest for Sacramento.
Edwards, who had returned after missing one game due to illness, struggled with his shooting throughout the night, finishing with 21 points but making only 7 of 21 attempts. After the game, he expressed his fatigue, acknowledging, “I was just tired. I was just exhausted, but I’m cool.”
Rudy Gobert, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, shared his observations about the team's defensive struggles, emphasizing the need for urgency and focus from the very start: “We put them in a good mood when you start the game, and you get lots of comfortable shots.” The Timberwolves, currently sitting at 12-12 at home, have been criticized for their inconsistency, particularly with their defense. Speaking about their home vs. road dynamic, Edwards added, “On the road, the effort is there from the jump for sure.”
The Timberwolves’ next chance to improve will come against the Chicago Bulls, with both teams set to meet on Wednesday night. The Kings will look to build on their recent success, having now won five consecutive games against the Timberwolves at Target Center.