SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento Kings sat four veterans Monday night at Golden 1 Center, suiting up just nine players against the Orlando Magic. It didn’t matter. Behind a ruckus crowd, seven Kings scored in double-figures as the home team snapped their eight-game losing streak by a final of 120-115.
The Thin Towers put on a show. Starting together on the frontline for the first time, Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere gave fans a glimpse of the future in Sacramento.
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Cauley-Stein went to work in the post, scoring 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Labissiere produced on both ends of the floor, coming away with 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in 20 minutes of action.
Veteran point guard Darren Collison orchestrated the offense, hitting the Magic for 19 points and 13 assists. His work with Cauley-Stein in the pick-and-roll opened up the perimeter shot for Sacramento’s shooters.
Anthony Tolliver made it rain from downtown, dropping in 5-of-7 from behind the arc on his way to 19 points and six assists.
Buddy Hield let it fly. The rookie shooting guard isn’t shy about hoisting up shots. Against the Magic, he finished with 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field and added six rebounds.
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Veterans Garrett Temple scored 14 points and grabbed two steals and Ben McLemore scored 14 on 3-for-6 shooting from long distance.
During the 2014 NBA Draft, the Kings chose Nik Stauskas over Elfrid Payton. Payton went two picks later to the Magic and in his third season in the league, he’s growing into a solid pro for Orlando. Monday against Sacramento, he pushed the tempo, finishing the night with a 13-point, 13-assist, 10-rebound triple-double.
Nikola Vucevic hurt the Kings in the post. The veteran big dropped in 23 points and added nine rebounds as the Magic fell to 24-44 on the season.
Evan Fournier got hot from the perimeter, scoring 21 points on 4-of-11 from deep. Aaron Gordon finished with 17 points and three rebounds and Mario Hezonja added nine off the Magic bench.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Sacramento dropped in 16-of-30 on the night, including makes from six different players. The ball movement was good and so was the spacing.
TURNING POINT:
The short-handed Kings put on a gritty performance, using all 48 minutes to come away with the win and snap their eight-game losing streak.
INJURY UPDATE:
Tyreke Evans missed the game with a sore left ankle. Kosta Koufos, Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo all sat for “planned rest.” Rookie Malachi Richardson is out another week or two with a right hamstring thickness tear. Rudy Gay is out for the year with a torn left Achilles.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Kings travel to Phoenix following the game where they’ll take on the Suns Wednesday in the first of three on the road.