NBA: Malik Monk, Kings hold off Nets

Malik Monk scored 32 points, and Maxime Raynaud added 22 points with 10 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings snapped a two-game losing streak with a 126-122 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

Coming off the bench, Monk also had six assists and made 7 of 13 3-pointers. Devin Carter contributed 16 points, while Precious Achiuwa added 14 points and 15 rebounds for Sacramento (19-53).

Ben Saraf led the Nets (17-54) with 22 points off the bench. Malachi Smith and Ziaire Williams scored 18 points each, and Nolan Traore finished with 17. Brooklyn’s seventh consecutive loss was sealed after Traore stepped out of bounds with 6.2 seconds left; Raynaud’s free throw afterward put the Kings ahead for good.

Monk’s 12 first-quarter points, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, helped Sacramento cut Brooklyn’s early lead to 34-30. Kings guard Killian Hayes exited in the second quarter with a left toe injury, while Nets center Danny Wolf left at the same time favoring his left ankle.

The lead changed hands 13 times in the first half, ending with Brooklyn up 62-57. Sacramento dominated the boards, holding a 28-15 advantage, with Raynaud grabbing seven in the second quarter alone.

Tensions flared in the third period when Mann and Raynaud exchanged words and had to be separated. Dylan Cardwell blocked Chaney Johnson’s shot, leading to a Carter pull-up basket that gave Sacramento an 85-82 lead heading into the final period.

The Kings lost Nique Clifford to a left ankle injury in the fourth quarter, leaving them without their starting backcourt alongside the already sidelined Russell Westbrook (right foot soreness). Monk’s seventh three-pointer and Carter’s free throw gave Sacramento a 121-113 lead with 1:25 remaining before Brooklyn closed the gap to 121-120.

Sacramento and Brooklyn meet again in New York on March 29.

—Field Level Media/Reuters