What We Learned As Domantas Sabonis Has Uncharacteristic Game In Kings' Loss

What we learned as Domantas Sabonis has uncharacteristic game in Kings' loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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SACRAMENTO — The Kings still search for their first home win of the 2026-27 NBA season after falling to the Orlando Magic by a final score of 107-100 on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center.

The Magic, even without their best player as Paolo Banchero remains sidelined with a right ankle sprain, picked up just their third win of the season against Sacramento.

As we’ve seen far too often this season, the Kings’ slow start to the game wound up haunting them. Sacramento turned the ball over eight times in the first quarter, resulting in 15 of the Magic’s 34 points.

The Kings responded with an 18-0 run through the second quarter, but the Magic never let up and fought all the way back to regain the lead and maintain it until the final buzzer.

Zach LaVine led the way for the Kings with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 6 of 9 from 3-point range, with three rebounds, two assists and two steals, but five turnovers in 33 minutes.

Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. trailed just behind him with 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field and 4 of 9 from downtown, with four rebounds, six assists, two steals and four turnovers in 40 minutes.

Keegan Murray came off the bench for the second consecutive game after returning from an ankle injury. He finished with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, with two rebounds, one assist and two turnovers in 24 minutes.

Malik Monk played just three minutes off the bench. Rookie guard Emanuel Sharp played 19.

Precious Achiuwa started for the Kings but left the game early and didn’t return with a leg contusion. LaVine also went to the locker room after rolling his ankle but returned.

The Kings, who dropped to 1-10 on the season, continue their seven-game homestand against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, when they will continue their search for their first home victory.

Here are the takeaways from the Kings’ loss:

Same ol’ Acuff

Darius Acuff Jr. entered Tuesday’s game leading the NBA in minutes played per game at just above 37.

Coach Doug Christie was asked about it pregame, and he admitted Acuff’s minutes should be “a tick” under where they currently are, but said he enjoys watching him play and seeing him on the floor.

On Tuesday, Acuff played 40 minutes, finishing with 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field and 4 of 9 from downtown, with four rebounds, six assists, two steals and four turnovers.

The rookie really has become one of the few consistent bright spots for the Kings this season.

LaVine’s well-rounded effort

After a rocky start to this game, the Kings got going a bit toward the end of the first quarter.

The momentum continued into the second quarter, as Sacramento’s offense came alive with an 18-0 run that began with Keegan Murray’s first 3-pointer of the season.

Zach LaVine was a massive part of that run — on both ends of the floor. He had 13 points in that stretch before being substituted out of the game.

Orlando went on a run of its own with LaVine on the bench, responding with an 8-0 run to get right back in this game and eventually regain the lead.

LaVine was thrown back into the game after about two minutes of rest on the bench.

After scoring four points in the opening quarter, LaVine dropped 11 points in the second. He was plus-8 in the first half in plus/minus rating, while every other Kings starter was minus-7 or minus-8.

After a brief injury scare, LaVine finished with a team-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 6 of 9 from 3-point range, with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and five turnovers in 33 minutes.

Off night for Domas

Sabonis returned to action Tuesday after missing Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat with left knee soreness.

But it was an unusual showing from the double-double machine.

He went three quarters without attempting a single shot, and his first attempt came from beyond the arc after 22 minutes of playing time. That isn’t entirely shocking, as Sabonis is averaging just 9.0 field-goal attempts this season.

But what was a bit more concerning were his rebound numbers.

Sabonis, who is averaging an impressive 14.6 rebounds per game this season and nearly 11 throughout his 11-year NBA career, had just two rebounds on Tuesday.

He finished with zero points, two rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes.

Perhaps his knee still was bothering him, but nonetheless, it was an uncharacteristic showing from the rebounding machine.

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