Mar 22, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (41) during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The Sacramento Kings entered the second half Saturday with a 12 point lead over the Milwaukee Bucks. By the end of the third the lead had been whittled to 3. By game’s end, the Bucks won 114-108. All the ways you’d think that might have happened? Yeah, that’s pretty much how it happened. Poor execution, missed opportunities, missed shots, it was all there in all the ways that have become so familiar for Kings fans this season.
At a quick glance at the box score, even without Malik Monk (illness) and Domantas Sabonis (injury), it looks like the Kings roster played a good game. Six Kings scored in doubt digits, including all five starters. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 22, and Keon Ellis had 20. But the Kings allowed the Bucks to shoot 41.9% from deep, while only making 23.7% of their own threes. The Bucks dominated fast break points and points in the paint. The Kings had no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 32 points and 17 rebounds.
All this to say that, once again, the Kings put up a bunch of good individual performances that didn’t add up to a good team performance. I feel like a broken record talking about how this team is less than the sum of its parts, but it stands out over and over again.
#### **Up Next**
The Kings face the Celtics on Monday. Ouch.