The Sacramento Kings secured their fourth consecutive victory, beating the Washington Wizards 128-115 on Friday night. Domantas Sabonis, returning from a knee injury, contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in just over 21 minutes. He was an efficient 5-for-6 from the field, missing only one 3-pointer. The three-time All-Star forward/center entered the game with 5:11 left in the first quarter, replacing the injured Russell Westbrook. Westbrook, who had 26 points and six assists, was also on the court for a significant portion of the game.
Dennis Schroder, who had served a three-game suspension for confronting Luka Doncic, returned to the lineup and scored 15 points with five assists. DeMar DeRozan, Precious Achiuwa, and Zach LaVine each contributed 17, 16, and 16 points, respectively. The Kings' strong performance during a seven-game homestand has improved their record to 12-30. They started the homestand with a win against Houston, followed by victories over the Lakers and New York.
On the other hand, the Wizards suffered their fifth consecutive loss, dropping their record to 10-30. Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson led the Wizards with 19 and 18 points, respectively. However, the team's star player, Trae Young, is currently sidelined due to knee and quadriceps injuries, and his return is expected in mid-February. The game was close throughout, with the Kings leading 67-61 at halftime after scoring 41 points in the first quarter and giving up 39 in the second. The Kings maintained their lead in the third quarter, winning 34-23.
The Kings will host Portland on Sunday night, while the Wizards will travel to Denver on Saturday night.
