The Sacramento Kings are making every effort to clinch the final automatic playoff berth, but they will have a difficult task ahead of them following Malik Monk’s diagnosis of an MCL sprain that will prevent him from playing for more than a month.
While the Utah Jazz aren’t the most challenging team in the West, the Kings needed to win every game until the end of the season to increase their chances of playoff success. This pressure had some fans worried about the state of the team as they prepared to finish the remaining games of the season.
Fortunately for the Kings, it seems like things worked out as Mike Brown’s experimental line-up of bringing an established vet and a promising prospect together with their star duo of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis worked better than expected.
Thankfully, it seemed like the experiment worked as the players thrived alongside Fox and Sabonis. Murray was the most eye-catching player during over the Jazz. He played for 35 minutes and enjoyed a solid night with his 25 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Barnes also showed a bit of his vintage Golden State Warriors form with his 24 points, two boards, and two dimes. Fox rounded up the night with his 24 points, six rebounds, and 12 assists. Sabonis chipped in with 17 points, 11 boards, and six dimes.
The Kings played well against the Jazz, but as the 2023–24 NBA season enters its last two weeks, the rest of the team needs to perform better. The Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, and Oklahoma City Thunder are among the formidable opponents they will face.
Murray, an Iowa native in his second year of play, needs to take Monk’s place, according to Elaine Baum of A Royal Pain. To unseat the New Orleans Pelicans and earn the final automatic postseason berth, though, requires a team effort.
It won’t be unusual to see the Sacramento Kings advance unharmed to the first round if they perform like they did against Utah.
