Third-quarter surge not enough to beat Thunder – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

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BOX SCORE

SACRAMENTO – That was pretty painful.

One night after taking it on the chin in a loss to the defending NBA champs, the Kings had a chance to save face and prove they belong in discussions about the playoffs.

Instead of cementing that idea, Sacramento slept-walked to a 121-105 loss to the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at Golden 1 Center that extended the Kings’ losing streak to four games and opened the door to the very real possibility that they’ll be sitting at home when the postseason begins.

At 35-37, the Kings remain locked into the No. 9 slot in the Western Conference despite their recent skid, but their hold is tenuous at best. The Dallas Mavericks also lost but remain tied with the idle Phoenix Suns for the No. 10 position, both teams a half-game behind Sacramento.

Keegan Murray found a way to stand out, pouring in a season-high 28 points to go with six rebounds and three blocks. Zach LaVine showed signs of coming out of his shooting slump, scoring 19 points while going 7 of 16 from the floor. Keon Ellis added 12 points and four steals.

Make it eight for Threegan Murray 💦

pic.twitter.com/FIDL7TeoYs

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 26, 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points for the Thunder, who became the first team in the NBA this season to reach 60 wins. Oklahoma City has won 16 of its last 18.

The Kings end their homestand on Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers before embarking on their final road trip, a six-game swing going through Orlando, Indianapolis, Indiana, Washington, Charlotte, Cleveland and Detroit.

Here are the takeaways from Tuesday’s game:

LaRavia Legend Grows

Jake LaRavia’s legend seems to grow with every game he plays for the Kings. He had 11 points, two rebounds and three blocked shots in another blue-collar effort at the state capitol.

The No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, LaRavia had a nondescript career during his first two seasons in the league. But the 23-year-old forward has been an instant hit with Sacramento fans since being acquired in a February trade.

Anything LaRavia does is met by wild…

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Publish date : 2025-03-25 21:36:00

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