Kings outlast Bulls, stretch winning streak to seven

Field Level Media|published: Sun 12th January, 18:17 2025

Jan 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (2) defend against Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

De'Aaron Fox had 26 points and nine rebounds and Domantas Sabonis added 22 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists to help the visiting Sacramento Kings extend their season-long winning streak to seven games with a 124-119 victory against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.

DeMar DeRozan added 21 points against his former team while Malik Monk (18 points) and Keegan Murray (14) followed in double figures for the Kings.

The teams combined on 28 lead changes against just 14 turnovers. The biggest edge belonged to the Bulls at eight points.

Chicago's Zach LaVine led all scorers with 36 points to go with 10 rebounds. He has scored at least 30 points in a career-best six straight games.

The Bulls took their final lead at 113-111 on a LaVine running 3-pointer with 6:30 to go. Sacramento led by as many as five down the stretch but the Bulls trimmed the deficit to 120-119 on a LaVine fadeaway jumper at the 2:28 mark.

A pair of Fox free throws pushed the Kings' advantage to 122-119. The Bulls missed their next two attempts from the floor. A would-be bid to tie the game faltered when the Bulls were called for a five-second violation with 14.1 seconds to go. Sabonis made it a two-possession game with two free throws moments later.

Nikola Vucevic scored 18 points for Chicago. Lonzo Ball added 15 points, Josh Giddey contributed 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, and Talen Horton-Tucker scored 10 points.

Monk had nine assists and eight rebounds.

Sacramento closed the third quarter on a 14-4 run to take a 97-95 lead into the fourth. Fox, who returned to the Kings' lineup after missing the past three games with a bruised right glute, punctuated the spurt with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

The Bulls shot 48.6 percent (18-for-37) from long range. That extended to 39 the team's streak of making at least 10 treys in a game, a franchise best and the longest in the NBA this season.

The Bulls led 63-61 at halftime.

Coby White missed the game for Chicago with a neck strain.

Sacramento took an 86-85 lead in the all-time series against Chicago. The Kings are set to host the Bulls on March 20.

--Field Level Media

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