Sacramento Kings forwards Keegan Murray and DeMar DeRozan share their thoughts on victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 24, 2025. By HECTOR AMEZCUA
The Sacramento Kings have endured many losing seasons and more losing streaks than anyone would care to remember, but none quite like this.
This Kings team will live in infamy after losing its 15th consecutive game, falling 131-94 to the Orlando Magic before a crowd of 16,544 on Thursday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
The Kings eclipsed a franchise record for futility that was previously held by the Cincinnati Royals, who lost 14 in a row in 1959-60 and 1971-72. The Kings have not won a game since beating the Washington Wizards on Jan. 16.
The record-setting loss did not sit well with Kings coach Doug Christie, who helped Sacramento win 61 games en route to the 2002 Western Conference finals.
“I’ve been here for the best and I’ve been where for the worst, so I know what both of them look like,” Christie said. “Our fans deserve more and we’ll get there. This is about as painful as it gets, obviously.”
Paolo Banchero had 30 points, five rebounds and six assists for the Magic (29-25), which set a record of its own.
Orlando broke a franchise record for 3-point goals in a game with 27, surpassing the club’s previous mark of 25, which was set in a double-overtime loss to the Kings on Jan. 3, 2024.
Anthony Black scored 20 points for the Magic. Desmond Bane scored 17 while Jett Howard added 16.
Rookie center Maxime Raynaud recorded a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Kings (12-45).
Keegan Murray, who returned to the lineup after missing almost six weeks with an ankle injury, had 15 points and eight rebounds. Precious Achiuwa had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Malik Monk also scored 14 points.
The Kings led 28-18 after dominating the first quarter. Sacramento shot 50% in the opening period while Orlando went 5 of 24 (.208) from the field and 4 of 13 (.308) from 3-point range.
The Kings went up by 12 early in the second quarter, but the Magic made that lead disappear, staging a 20-7 run to take a 38-37 lead on a 3-pointer by Black with 6:57 to play in the half.
Orlando led 64-55 at the halftime break. The Magic only missed five shots in the second period, going 16 of 21 (.762) from the field and 8 of 11 (.727) from beyond the arc.
The Kings came back to cut the deficit to one on a 3-pointer by Monk with 5:08 to play in the third period, but the Magic closed the quarter with a 22-5 run to take a commanding 102-84 lead into the fourth.
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) reacts after a no foul call in the first half against the Orlando Magic on Thursday at Golden 1 Center. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Murray, who was part of a 48-win team that went to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the West during his rookie season in 2022-23, was asked how the Kings have fallen so far so fast.
“It’s tough,” Murray said. “I don’t really have words to explain it to be honest. I don’t know if anyone has words to explain what’s transpired these last three or four years, but obviously we’ve got to change something because this obviously can’t happen. Not many teams in NBA history have gone 15 straight losses in a row.”
Injury report
The Kings returned from the All-Star break a day after the Kings announced that Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis would be sidelined for the rest of the season.
LaVine had surgery to repair a tendon injury in his right pinky finger. Sabonis has surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee.
In addition, the Kings announced that undrafted rookie center Dylan Cardwell is expected to miss at least four weeks due to a left ankle sprain.
Keegan Murray’s return
Murray suited up for the first time since spraining his left ankle in a Jan. 4 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Christie chose to start Murray after bringing LaVine and Sabonis off the bench following lengthy injury absences earlier this season. Murray went 6 of 13 from the field and 3 of 7 from 3-point range.
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) reacts after missing a three point shot in the second half against the Orlando Magic on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at golden 1 Center. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Eubanks returns to rotation
With Sabonis and Cardwell out due to injuries, veteran center Drew Eubanks returned to the rotation as Raynaud’s primary backup.
Eubanks had appeared in only two games since Jan. 11, logging a total of 10 minutes in a Feb. 1 loss to the Washington Wizards and a Feb. 9 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. He went scoreless on 0-of-2 shooting while grabbing five rebounds in 11 minutes.
Up next
The Kings will open a five-game road trip when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
The trip will also include games against the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers.
The Spurs (36-16) are second in the West behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are led by Victor Wembanyama, who is averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, and former Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, who is averaging 19.4 points and 6.3 assists.