The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and the short-handed Sacramento Kings handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their third straight loss with a 123-119 victory on Wednesday night.

DeRozan made back-to-back baskets down the stretch to give the Kings a 119-116 lead and they closed it out from there for their second consecutive win following a four-game losing streak.

Malik Monk added 20 points as the Kings won without stars Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine.

Evan Mobley scored 22 of his 31 points in the final 15 minutes for Cleveland but it wasn’t enough to help the Cavs get back on the winning track. Cleveland has matched its longest skid of the season following a 16-game winning streak.

Donovan Mitchell added 26 points for Cleveland.

The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) discusses an official’s call with referee Pat Fraher during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Takeaways

Cavaliers: With Darius Garland resting, Mobley took over for a stretch in the second half. He scored Cleveland’s final seven points of the third quarter and first eight of the fourth for 15 in a row to get the game back tied after the Cavs trailed by 11.

Kings: Sacramento fell behind by 13 early with Sabonis (ankle) and LaVine (personal) sidelined as they missed 17 of their first 19 shots. But they rallied thanks in part to a season-high 16 points from rookie Devin Carter.

Key moment

Sacramento went on a 7-0 run midway through the fourth to take a 109-107 lead. DeRozan tied the game with a 3-pointer and Carter then had a steal and dunk to put the Kings ahead.

The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win | iNFOnews.ca
Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Key stat

The Kings shot 1 for 11 from 2-point range in the first quarter for their worst performance in any non-overtime period in 19 years. They went 1 for 14 against Dallas in the third quarter on March 12, 2006.

Up next

The Kings host Chicago on Thursday to finish a back-to-back, while the Cavs head to Phoenix on Friday.

The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) passes the ball past Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, left, and Keegan Murray during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win | iNFOnews.ca
Sacramento Kings interim head coach Doug Christie shouts from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) is guarded by Sacramento Kings center Jonas Valanciunas, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell drives past Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis, left, ands Malik Monk during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, right, drives past Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome is guarded by Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter, left, and Jonas Valanciunas during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
The Kings hand the Cavaliers their 3rd straight loss with a 123-119 win | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives past Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

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