At long last, the Sacramento Kings have won a game on their home floor.
Entering Sunday’s action on a nine-game home losing streak–the second-longest such skid in franchise history–Sacramento used a complete effort from its offense to deliver a 126-110 win over the Chicago Bulls at Golden 1 Center.
The win was much-needed for a Kings team that hadn’t won at home since January 16th as they navigated a stretch that saw them lose 20 of 22 games.
As we enter the final five weeks of the regular season, NBA Draft Lottery odds are at the top of many fans’ minds–but do not fret. Sacramento (15-50) still holds a one-game lead over Indiana for the worst record in the league.
Reminder: The bottom two records in the NBA will finish with identical odds (14% to secure the top pick), meaning it’s okay for the Kings to win here and there.
To be honest, this was one Sacramento almost needed. In a year that has seen more losing than most Kings teams in recent memory, the lighting of the beam was a welcome sight, like seeing an old friend.
Killian finds Malik for an ALLEY-OOP 🙌 pic.twitter.com/LB1X3eXoCQ
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 9, 2026
Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls takeaways
With leading scorer DeMar DeRozan (illness) missing his first game of the season, Sacramento was forced to seek offensive reinforcements on Sunday night.
The Kings put on a show in the first quarter with several highlight-reel dunks, with Precious Achiuwa and Malik Monk (twice) attacking the rim with authority to help Sacramento set the tone early and take a lead into the second quarter.
Monk was a microwave for the Kings during the first half, but rookie center Maxime Raynaud was arguably more effective–just in a different way.
Rather than initiate off the dribble or soar above the rim like Monk, Raynaud connected with Russell Westbrook in the pick-and-roll several times, finding himself in his sweet spot, about ten feet from the basket, for several chances in the paint.
The Stanford product entered the night shooting 58 percent from three-to-ten feet away from the basket this season, and he nearly matched that percentage during a first half that saw him pour in 18 points–the most points the rookie has scored in a single half during his brief NBA career.
It was somewhat of a historic occurrence for Raynaud, as his 18 first-half points were the most in a single half by a Sacramento Kings rookie since Skal Labissière scored 26 second-half points vs. Phoenix in March 2017.
Rayanud entered the halftime break with 18 points on seven-of-13 (53%) shooting in the paint to go along with seven rebounds and two blocks to help lead the Kings to a 65-51 advantage, with three of his made baskets coming off feeds from Westbrook.
Brodie throws a DIME to Max 🪙 pic.twitter.com/Jo0fHpwqCo
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 9, 2026
Sacramento’s offense was absolutely dialed in as play entered the third quarter.
Monk, Westbrook, Raynaud, and two-way guard Daeqwon Plowden helped push the lead up to 17 points, with the Kings ending the period with 10 assists against just two turnovers en route to scoring 39 points.
If it wasn’t for Bulls guard Collin Sexton (12 points in the third), Sacramento would have had the game in the bag before play even entered the fourth, and it took a consistent effort for the Kings to put things away late.
Chicago trimmed the deficit to single digits early in the fourth, but one of Sacramento’s better offensive showings of the season would prove to be too much on Sunday night.
As a team, the Kings handed out 33 assists and turned the ball over just four times, marking the second time in franchise history that Sacramento posted 30+ assists in a single game with three or fewer turnovers (Feb. 2024).
Westbrook was a huge factor in that history, as the star guard posted a double-double for the second-straight game, scoring 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds, 12 assists, and one steal, including his fifth triple-double of the season–the most in a single campaign since the 2021-22 season.
Don’t sleep on the Russ-Eubanks connection 🤫 pic.twitter.com/gAf1XrPAuw
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 9, 2026
The veteran put on a playmaking clinic, running seamless pick-and-roll sets and finding big Raynaud and Drew Eubanks near the rim on lobs, all while taking impeccable care of the basketball (no turnovers over 32 minutes of action).
“He’s an amazing worker, a great human being,” Raynaud said of Westbrook. “I have nothing but positive things to say about him.”
Monk led all Kings scorers with 30 points (11-of-24 shooting), marking the 19th time in his Sacramento Kings career that he has scored 25+ points in a game, passing Eddie Johnson (18) for the most in franchise history.
Raynaud’s 26-point, 11-rebound performance gave him four 20-10 games on the season, the second-most among all NBA rookies, only trailing first-overall pick and Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (five).
Most 20-point, 10-rebound games by NBA rookies this season:
Cooper Flagg 5
Maxime Raynaud 4
Kon Knueppel 3
1st pick.
42nd pick.
4th pick. pic.twitter.com/S6mCSTU8xt
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) March 9, 2026
Sacramento Kings Injury Updates
Guard-Forward DeMar DeRozan missed his first game of the season due to illness and is considered day-to-day.
Forward Keegan Murray will be re-evaluated next week after suffering a mild left ankle sprain on February 25th.
Center Dylan Cardwell (left ankle sprain) will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Guard Zach LaVine (left fifth finger tendon repair) will miss the rest of the season.
Forward De’Andre Hunter (left eye retinal repair) will miss the rest of the season.
Center Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair) will miss the rest of the season.
More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will continue a five-game homestand on Tuesday night when they face the Indiana Pacers at Golden 1 Center.
Sacramento lost to the Pacers by a final of 116-105 in Indiana back on December 8th.
Both teams will enter play on Tuesday with the bottom-two records in the NBA, giving each team a 14% chance of securing the top pick in May’s NBA Draft Lottery (52.1% chance of landing a top-four pick).
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Indiana Pacers action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Sacramento.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Tuesday, March 10th vs. Indiana Pacers – 7:00 PM PT
Wednesday, March 11th vs. Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, March 14th @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7:30 PM PT
Sunday, March 15th vs. Utah Jazz – 7:00 PM PT
Tuesday, March 17th vs. San Antonio Spurs – 7:00 PM PT
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