It’s been a rough 20-year stretch for the Sacramento Kings, with just two teams finishing above .500 since the start of the 2006-07 season.
As bad as things have been over the years, none of those Kings teams had lost twelve-straight games–until now.
Sacramento’s losing streak reached twelve games on Saturday night as the Kings dropped a 132-126 game to the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden 1 Center.
For the first time since March-April 1998, the Kings (12-42) have lost twelve consecutive games, tying the longest single-season losing streak in the Sacramento era.
Although the Kings have lost twelve straight games, the past 24 hours of basketball have been a change of pace from the first ten games of this extended skid.
Rather than watch aging veterans play the majority of available minutes, Sacramento’s rookies and young players shone brightly against Cleveland, making this loss easier to stomach as we look towards the future.
NIQUE IS ON FIRE 🔥
He’s got 28 points tonight pic.twitter.com/vQlzfXGjZ4
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 8, 2026
Sacramento Kings vs. Cleveland Cavaliers takeaways
The Kings have been rolling with their younger players in closing lineups over the past two games, but Saturday night’s game flipped the script.
Outside of Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento rookies Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud–along with second-year players Devin Carter and Daeqwon Plowden–took the bulk of the minutes against the Cavaliers.
Raynaud, Clifford, and Plowden (logging his first career NBA start) joined the starting lineup, while star guard James Harden took the floor for his Cleveland debut following a blockbuster deadline deal that sent Darius Garland to Los Angeles.
Plowden, who is playing on a two-way contract this season, followed up an eight-point outing on Friday night by scoring seven points over the first five minutes of regulation on Saturday.
The second-year guard got some help from Clifford, who entered the night having scored 14 or more points in three of the past four games.
Clifford continued to build on his recent efforts by scoring nine points in the opening frame to help the Kings take an early 11-point lead, but the momentum would shift shortly after.
Cleveland outscored Sacramento 32-24 in the second to take a two-point lead into the break, but the Kings’ thin rotation was holding its own against a Cavaliers team that entered the night with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Through two quarters, Sacramento held Cleveland–a top-five three-point shooting team in the NBA–to five-of-18 (27%) shooting from deep.
Nique Clifford ties his career high with 18 points 💦 pic.twitter.com/0MfVxLA23M
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 8, 2026
The ‘young Kings’ re-ignited the Sacramento offense as play entered the second half.
Maxime Raynaud scored eight points in the third quarter, Nique Clifford established a new career-high with 23 points before the end of the period, and Dylan Cardwell did what Dylan Cardwell does best: Bring the energy.
Thanks to the efforts of the Kings’ trio of rookies, Sacramento outscored the Cavs 41-36 in the period to take a three-point lead into the fourth.
Devin Carter continued his strong play in what has been his most-impressive stretch of professional basketball yet, scoring 10-plus points in his third-straight game–the longest such streak of his NBA career.
Carter aided the Kings’ rookies’ efforts as play entered crunch time by attacking the basket and pushing the pace, setting a new career high in the process as Sacramento held a lead with less than three minutes to go.
With the game on the line late, Harden did what he does best by closing things out.
The future Hall of Fame guard scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, including four free throws during the final 35 seconds that put the game away for good.
🤯 JAMES HITS THREE AGAIN FOR THE LEAD. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Ny4Rx62COx
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 8, 2026
Not to bury the lede of Sacramento’s longest losing streak since 1998 (the fourth-longest in franchise history), but the Kings’ youngsters did all they could to make this a game.
Clifford, the 24th overall pick from last summer’s draft, was the main takeaway in this one, as the rookie led all Sacramento scorers with 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting (five-of-nine from beyond the arc) to go along with four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks over nearly 40 minutes.
“I can see that the thinking is going away,” head coach Doug Christie said of Clifford’s night. “He put together a really good game. To watch him continue to improve is really special and a lot of fun.”
While Clifford became just the third Sacramento Kings rookie to score 30 points while drilling five or more triples in a single game (joining Ricky Berry and Keegan Murray), the Colorado State product brushed off his career performance.
“I’m not a stat guy,” Clifford said postgame of his big night. “I really don’t care unless we get the win.”
Winning is the priority for these players on the hardwood, but those on the sideline understand the importance of Sacramento’s place in the standings.
The Kings end the night with a two-game cushion over Indiana and New Orleans (pick will go to Atlanta) for the worst record in the NBA, giving them a 52 percent chance of securing a top-four pick in June’s NBA Draft and a 14 percent chance of obtaining the top overall selection.
During his post-trade deadline press conference, Sacramento general manager Scott Perry stated that he would be evaluating this roster the rest of the way, with a priority on rookie and younger players being an important aspect of what he and his staff are watching over the final 30 games.
Dylan Cardwell POSTERIZES Jarrett Allen 😱 pic.twitter.com/06E6kEF6EJ
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 8, 2026
Dylan Cardwell finished the night with his second-straight double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds over 25 minutes.
Fellow center Maxime Raynaud scored 14 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Daeqwon Plowden scored a season-high 16 points during his first NBA start.
On a night that saw the Sacramento Kings without five key rotation players, seven finished the night in double-figures, including Russell Westbrook (21 points) and DeMar DeRozan (13 points).
Hey Mr. Carter
Devin Carter hasn’t had a real shot in the rotation this season, but the former 13th pick is taking full advantage of his opportunity.
Carter finished Saturday’s game with a career-high 18 points on six-of-13 shooting from the floor (two-of-five from deep), but the Providence product also handed out four assists, pulled down four rebounds, blocked a shot, and swiped a steal over 27 minutes.
For the first time in his NBA career, the guard has scored in double figures in three straight games.
“Devin is my guy. He’s a hooper, he can ball,” Clifford said of Carter following the loss. “It’s great to see him get that opportunity. He can play.”
Devin Carter beats the shot clock 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Gn9Ec1cPKz
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 8, 2026
Familiar Faces In New Places
It didn’t take long for former Kings guards Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis to make their return to Golden 1 Center.
Exactly one week removed from a deadline deal that sent the duo to Cleveland in return for veteran forward De’Andre Hunter, Schroder and Ellis took the floor as opposing players on Saturday night.
While Schroder–a veteran guard who played just 40 games in Sacramento–received a mild reception, Ellis got a strong ovation from the Kings faithful after checking in to begin the second quarter.
Ellis sat down with Sactown Sports’ Brenden Nunes for an exclusive chat before facing his former squad on Saturday. Check it out by clicking here.
Keon Ellis gets a nice ovation from the G1C crowd as he checks into the game as a member of the Cavaliers. pic.twitter.com/vjxfw3Pfdy
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) February 8, 2026
Sacramento Kings Injury Updates
Guard Zach LaVine (right fifth finger soreness) missed Saturday’s game and is considered day-to-day.
Guard Malik Monk (illness) is considered day-to-day.
Forward De’Andre Hunter (eye) exited Friday’s game after taking a hit to the face during the third quarter. Hunter is considered day-to-day.
Center Domantas Sabonis missed his second-straight game due to lower back soreness and is considered day-to-day.
Forward Keegan Murray will miss the next 2 weeks with a moderate left ankle sprain.
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will hit the road for a two-game trip leading into the All-Star break, with Monday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans as their first stop.
Sacramento and New Orleans (their 2026 draft pick will go to Atlanta) enter play on Monday holding two of the three worst records in the NBA.
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 3:30 PM PT on Game Night before a 5:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown New Orleans.
More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Monday, February 9th – @ New Orleans Pelicans – 5:00 PM PT
Wednesday, February 11th – @ Utah Jazz – 6:00 PM PT
Thursday, February 19th vs. Orlando Magic – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, February 21st @ San Antonio Spurs – 5:00 PM PT
Monday, February 23rd @ Memphis Grizzlies – 5:00 PM PT
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