Kings blasted by Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio Spurs in first game without Malik Monk
The Kings had to start adjusting to life without Malik Monk on Monday night in San Antonio after learning their star sixth man will be sidelined at least two weeks with a sprained ankle.
What they learned was that two weeks without Monk could be a struggle if they don’t start getting more production from other members of their bench.
Victor Wembanyama put up 34 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots to lead the Spurs to a 116-96 victory over the Kings at Frost Bank Center.
Sacramento’s bench was outscored 37-21 without Monk, who is averaging 12.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points to lead the Kings (6-5), who fell flat on the second night of a back-to-back following a thrilling win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 11 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan added 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter combined for just seven points on 3-of-14 shooting, going 1 of 10 from 3-point range.
“We’re definitely going to have to collectively step up,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “There’s not one guy that can do it. It’s going to be tough also if Kevin and Keegan have a combined seven points, so it’s a collective effort from the guys coming off the bench.”
Wembanyama was one of six players who scored in double figures for the Spurs (5-6). Julian Champagnie scored 13 points. Chris Paul had 12 points, six rebounds and 11 assists.
“I think it was one of those nights where we got back to our strengths,” Wembanyama said. “When we needed points, we knew who to go back to. Devin (Vassell) had a good stretch. Everybody was really in their role tonight and made great shots. This is how it works. We’re gonna get rewarded for making the right plays.”
Brown went deeper into his bench in hopes of replacing Monk’s production, but the Kings couldn’t find an answer. Trey Lyles contributed eight points and four rebounds in 27 minutes, but Keon Ellis, Doug McDermott and Jordan McLaughlin combined to go 3 of 13 from 3-point range.
The Kings led 26-22 after shooting 52.2% in the opening period. They went up by as many as nine in the second quarter before the Spurs staged a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to one.
The teams exchanged leads a number of times over the last eight minutes of the first half. The Spurs were up 60-55 at the halftime break after Chris Paul made a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
San Antonio carried that momentum into the second half, outscoring Sacramento 15-6 to start the third quarter. The Spurs went up 75-61 on a basket by Champagnie, stretched the lead to 15 on a four-point play by Vassell and carried an 84-71 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The Kings trailed by 16 after Wembanyama knocked down his fourth 3-pointer of the night early in the fourth. The Spurs led by as many as 20 before it was over.
“We did a really good job in the third quarter setting the tone,” acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “We knew they would probably go on a little run, which they tried to there in the fourth. I think we responded really well.”
Hello old friend
The Kings got a chance to catch up with friend and former teammate Harrison Barnes as players, coaches and other members of the organization greeted him warmly before Monday’s game.
Barnes finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.
“It was a great experience,” Barnes said. “Obviously, (I was) in that locker room for a long time, a lot of good memories, a lot of close relationships, so it’s good to go out there and compete against familiar faces.”
Barnes is a 13-year NBA veteran who started all 399 games he played over six seasons with the Kings, averaging 14.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The 32-year-old forward was a key member of the team that won 48 games to secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference in 2022-23, ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history after 16 consecutive losing seasons.
Barnes played all 82 games in 2022-23 and 2023-24 before being traded to the Spurs in the three-team sign-and-trade deal that brought DeRozan to Sacramento last summer.
Up next
The Kings will open a four-game homestand when they play the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
The Kings will face the Suns (8-2) for the second time in four days following a 127-118 overtime victory on Sunday at Footprint Center in Phoenix. Suns star Kevin Durant will be out again due to a left calf strain.
The Suns will be on the second night of a back-to-back after opening a four-game road trip against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. With Durant out, they will rely heavily on Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
Booker is averaging 23.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists, but he is shooting just 42.6% from the field and 32.1% from 3-point range. Beal averages 17.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
Sacramento Kings schedule
Nov. 13 vs. Phoenix Suns
Nov. 15 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Nov. 16 vs. Utah Jazz
Nov. 18 vs. Atlanta Hawks
Nov. 22 at Los Angeles Clippers
This story was originally published November 11, 2024 at 9:08 PM.
