Zach LaVine and Demar DeRozan leading the way for the Kings.
The Sacramento Kings have had to battle through adversity in recent weeks, but they remain afloat and are trending in the right direction. Despite adjusting their rotation significantly due to trades and injuries, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say Sacramento is playing its best basketball of the season. The Kings have gone 7-3 over their last 10 games.
That run of seven wins in 10 games hasn’t been flashy, as it features victories over the Jazz, Hornets, Mavericks (twice), and Pelicans (twice). However, playoff teams need to win those games and avoid complacency. That 7-3 record ranks third in the Western Conference, tied with the Denver Nuggets and only behind the top two teams in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, context matters. The Nuggets are surging, led by MVP candidate Nikola Jokić. The Thunder have been consistently strong under Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who appears to be ahead of Jokić in the MVP race. Meanwhile, the Lakers are as dangerous as they’ve been in years, with the duo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić wreaking havoc on opposing defenses. And the Kings?
Sacramento parted ways with De’Aaron Fox before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, sending him to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Zach LaVine as the primary asset. LaVine has been everything the Kings could’ve hoped for and more. The star guard, who has reached a new level while reuniting with DeMar DeRozan, is averaging 23.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists over his last 10 contests.
Parting ways with Fox hasn’t been the only hurdle. The Kings are also missing Domantas Sabonis due to a hamstring injury, and Malik Monk is sidelined with a toe issue. Bench players like Jonas Valančiūnas, Keon Ellis, and Jake LaRavia have stepped up. This 7-3 stretch has kept them in the race for a Play-In Tournament spot, as Sacramento currently holds a 32-29 record, good for ninth in the West.
The Kings have been forced to play the hand they’ve been dealt, and the outlook wasn’t promising after all they’ve endured this season. However, they’re moving in the right direction, and Sacramento shouldn’t be ruled out of making a late push for one of the top-six seeds in the West. They’ve been playing like a team that deserves a postseason spot, despite injuries to key players and numerous roster changes.
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