Coach Doug Christie assesses new-look roster as Sacramento Kings top New Orleans Pelicans
The Kings made a series of moves before the NBA trade deadline to add shooting, size and depth as they gear up for a playoff push over the final 30 games of the season.
Integrating two-time All-Star Zach LaVine, veteran center Jonas Valanciunas and versatile young forward Jake LaRavia could be a challenge, but interim coach Doug Christie is excited about the possibilities after general manager Monte McNair addressed some of the team’s biggest needs.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Christie said. “I’m not complaining at all. Is it difficult? Yeah, a little bit because you’re trying to learn on the fly and that can be tough with guys trying to find their rhythm — when do I go, plays, defense, coverages, all that stuff — but we’re not going to make excuses. The organization has done a hell of a job of getting us talent, and now it’s my job to figure out how to make it work and get us wins.”
The Kings picked up a much-needed win with a 123-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 17,832 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. They moved up to ninth in the Western Conference, 3 ½ games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 6 seed.
Domantas Sabonis posted his league-leading 46th double-double with 27 points and 16 rebounds for the Kings (26-26), who trailed by 20 in the first quarter. LaVine scored 22 points, LaRavia provided a big spark off the bench in his Kings debut and Valanciunas played important minutes in place of Sabonis.
Zion Williamson scored 40 points on 16-of-21 shooting for the Pelicans (12-40), who have lost eight in a row. CJ McCollum scored 31 points. Trey Murphy III had 20 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
The Kings were 29th in the NBA in bench scoring (25.0 ppg) going into the game. They got 31 points off the bench Saturday, including 15 in the first quarter to help them overcome the early deficit.
The Kings were outscored 24-6 over the first six minutes. They went 3 of 15 from the field and 0 of 5 from 3-point range while the Pelicans made nine of their first 12 shots, including all five of their attempts from beyond the arc.
LaVine acknowledged that learning to play with a new group has been an adjustment.
“It’s tough,” LaVine said. “It’s really tough coming to a new team with everybody and we’re trying to figure it out on the fly, but we’re pros. It’s not excuse and we know how tight he West is. So, to come out here and have this type of performance after a slow first (quarter), it was great.”
The Kings trailed by 20 before LaRavia came on to change everything, bringing life to his team and energy to the arena. In his first 1:22, LaRavia had a steal, a layup, a 3-pointer, a blocked shot and a dunk as Sacramento stormed back to cut the deficit to seven late in the first quarter.
“I’ve said it since the beginning, that’s what I’m bringing over here, those hustle plays, those winning plays, diving on the ground, getting steals, loose balls, rebounds, stuff like that,” LaRavia said. “That’s kind of just what I do when I’m out there, so just playing hard, and you can expect that every game.”
LaRavia appreciated the warm welcome and the show of appreciation from Kings fans.
“I’m glad I was able to make a statement,” LaRavia said. “Obviously, I checked in the game and got that steal and that layup pretty quickly. I’m excited to be here. I love that the crowd was getting behind me and I’m excited to play more games.”
The Pelicans opened the second period with a 10-2 run to stretch the lead to 18. The Kings still trailed by 11 at the half, but they outscored New Orleans 45-22 in the third quarter to carry a 99-87 lead into the fourth.
Sacramento led by as many as 18 before New Orleans came back to cut the deficit to one on a 3-pointer by McCollum with 4:08 to play. There were some tense moments in the final minutes, but down the stretch the Kings got big baskets from Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan with clutch free throws from LaVine and Valanciunas.
When it was over, LaVine, Valanciunas and LaRavia joined public address announcer Scott Moak at the scorer’s table to light the beam for the first time.
“It was great,” LaRavia said. “I love the environment. Even since my rookie year when I played here, it’s always been like that. It’s been loud and I enjoy environments like these a lot. I’m just excited to be here. I’m grateful for the opportunity Monte gave me and I’m just ready to light more beams.”
Even McCollum could see how much Sacramento’s trade deadline acquisitions contributed to the win.
“I think LaRavia and the bench, that changed the game for sure,” McCollum said. “Second quarter and third quarter, you got to see LaVine get downhill a lot, the finishing, the ability to get to the free-throw line, a little bit of everything. Obviously, JV is a huge interior presence. He rebounds, he controls the paint, a great finisher and a walking double-double.”
The Kings acquired LaVine in the three-team trade that sent De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and Kevin Huerter to the Chicago Bulls. LaVine averaged 24.0 points while shooting career highs of 51.1% from the field and 44.6% from 3-point range in 42 games with the Bulls.
The addition of LaVine should help a Sacramento team that ranks 25th in the NBA in 3-point shooting (.346). The Kings shot 35.1% from long distance in their first two games with LaVine, but in that short sampling they ranked 25th in scoring (109.8) and 30th in assists (22.0), down from No. 9 in scoring (116.1) and No. 12 in assists (26.7).
Christie said he is emphasizing motion, passing, cutting and screening as the Kings learn to play with their new teammates.
The Kings added Valanciunas and LaRavia in separate trades involving the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies. Valanciunas, a 6-foot-11, 265-pound center, averaged 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 49 games for the Wizards. LaRavia averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 44.4% from 3-point range in 47 games for the Grizzlies.
Christie believes Valanciunas and LaRavia will bolster Sacramento’s bench and allow him to matchup with bigger lineups in certain situations.
“Both of those guys, I’m a fan of,” Christie said. “I got to known Jonas by going to Lithuania and hanging out with him and Domas, which was spectacular. He brings something with size and physicality that is hard to play against.
“Jake, from coaching against him in summer league and all the years in Memphis, and those being my scouts, I got to know his game. I’m thinking all of it has to translate, but he’s probably a lot better than people even think. I remember him defensively being solid. He shoots the ball. We just have to get him in a good space to understand what it is that we would like from him on a night-to-night basis.”
The Kings were 29th in the NBA in bench scoring at 25.0 points per game going into Saturday’s game. Christie thinks Valanciunas and LaRavia can help with that, too.
“That’s tough because you’re putting so much onus on your starters that it’s crazy,” Christie said. “We need production from the bench, and I think those guys will give us some.”
Keon Ellis had 13 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists off the bench. LaRavia scored seven points. Valanciunas had six points, five rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot. Trey Lyles added five points and two rebounds in 10 minutes.
After the game, Christie said he liked what he saw from his reserves following the additions of Valanciunas and LaRavia.
“It’s really good, to be honest with you, to be able to go to your bench and have production, and the production doesn’t always have to be offensive,” Christie said. “There was some offense there, but Jake immediately gets a steal. Those are the things we need when we go to the bench. Jonas’ size, his rebounding, his rim protection. Those are things we need when we go to the bench.”
This story was originally published February 8, 2025 at 10:53 PM.
