What we learned as Kings hit rock bottom with huge loss to Pacers

SACRAMENTO: The Kings just can’t catch a break. They took a hard hit with a 122-95 loss to the Pacers, and it’s tough to watch. Domantas Sabonis had another double-double, racking up 17 points and 21 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough. He ended up with a minus-26 rating, which says a lot about the game.

De’Aaron Fox tried to step up with 23 points, and Malik Monk added 14, but the Pacers were on fire. They had seven players scoring in double figures, while the Kings struggled to find their rhythm. They were tied at halftime, but the Pacers exploded in the third quarter, scoring 35 points and leaving the Kings in the dust.

On the bright side, the Kings did manage to take care of the ball better than in previous games, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds. But with this loss, they dropped to 13-17 and are stuck in 12th place in the Western Conference. It’s a tough spot to be in after they had just clawed their way back to .500.

One thing that stood out was Sabonis’ offensive game. He’s been criticized for his defense, but he’s a beast on offense. This was his 26th double-double of the season, and he’s now fifth in the NBA for double-doubles since 2016-17.

However, the Kings really need to work on their passing. They weren’t getting open looks, especially from beyond the arc. Instead of driving and kicking out to the shooters, they kept running into traffic. It’s something Coach Mike Brown has been frustrated about all season.

And what’s up with Keon Ellis? He’s been a solid player off the bench, but he barely got any minutes in this game. Fans were even chanting for him to play, but he didn’t step on the court until the last few minutes. It would have been great to see him bring some energy when the team needed it most.

It’s a tough time for the Kings, and they’ve got to figure things out fast if they want to turn this season around.