Strong finish kick sends Kings past Cavaliers

Field Level Media|published: Thu 20th March, 24:57 2025

Mar 19, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) drives in against Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

Keegan Murray broke a late tie with a driving hoop, DeMar DeRozan dropped in a pair of clutch baskets in the final 1:35 and the host Sacramento Kings extended the Cleveland Cavaliers' losing streak to three games with a 123-119 triumph on Wednesday.

DeRozan finished with a team-high 27 points, Malik Monk added 22 and rookie Devin Carter chipped in with a season-best 16 off the bench for Sacramento (35-33). The Kings moved three games ahead of the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks in their duel for ninth place in the Western Conference.

Cleveland (56-13), which elected to rest All-Star Darius Garland on the second night of a road back-to-back, dropped to 0-2 on a five-game Western swing. The three-game losing streak overall matches the Cavaliers' worst run of the season, with the prior skid occurring in late January.

Down 56-47 at halftime, the Kings used a 43-point third quarter to pull in front 90-88 at period's end. Carter had 10 of his 16 points in the uprising.

There were four fourth-quarter ties, the last of which came on a tip-in from Cleveland's Evan Mobley with 3:52 remaining.

Murray's floater came 42 seconds later, after which a DeRozan's interior hoop with 2:29 to go created a four-point margin. The Kings never trailed again.

The Cavaliers got within one on three subsequent occasions, but DeRozan padded the Kings' lead on each of the last two threats, converting a driving layup with 1:35 to go and sinking a 16-footer with 1:08 left.

Monk also found time to dish a game-high eight assists for the Kings, who were without Domantas Sabonis (ankle) and Zach LaVine (personal reasons).

Carter topped his previous career high of 13, set at Golden State on Jan. 5.

Subbing for Sabonis, Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Murray, Keon Ellis and Trey Lyles contributed 13 points apiece for Sacramento. Lyles 11 also collected seven rebounds and five assists.

Mobley registered 31 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who remained six games up on the Boston Celtics for the top record in the East.

Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell finished with 26 points, while Ty Jerome added 14 to complement a team-high six assists. Dean Wade and Max Strus chipped in with 12 points apiece, and Jarrett Allen had 10.

--Field Level Media