It’s tough to get far when you run out of gas on the road.
On the second night of a back-to-back, the Kings ran out of fuel in the second half, falling to the unbeaten Chicago Bulls 126-113 on Wednesday night at United Center.
It wasn’t the fourth-quarter collapse that has famously haunted Sacramento this season, but a 24-minute session marred by lethargy and the inefficiency of scoring points in the paint.
“I think it hurt quite a bit,” coach Doug Christie told reporters after the Kings’ fourth loss of the 2025-26 NBA season. “Just getting downhill and just people running in your paint is not what we’re trying to do or what we’re about, and that was one of the topics of conversation afterwards.
“We have to stand our ground. We have to be in gaps. The things that we did against a really good team. This team is 4-0. They play a fast style, an aggressive style and they are putting their heads down. They knew all those things and got themselves a 12-point lead.”
Even though Kings star guard Zach LaVine scored a game-high 30 points in his return to Chicago for the first time since being traded to Sacramento, the Bulls outscored the Kings 26-8 on points in the paint during the game-defining third quarter.
What did the rim do to you, Zach?! 😯 pic.twitter.com/pCk5GEHq9C
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) October 30, 2025
The game got away from Christie and Co. when the Bulls went up by 15 early in the fourth.
“And then, a little bit of boredom,” Christie signaled. “I would say that a part of that is going to be on me because I need to recognize if the energy is not there, we’re just going to have to hockey sub, whatever it takes to make sure our energy is where it needs to be. I have to own that.”
Despite the losing record, Wednesday night marked the fourth 30-point game of a young season for LaVine.
Star DeMar DeRozan, on the other hand, contributed 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, while big man Domantas Sabonis had 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
The Kings, striving to return to winning ways, will now need to refuel before heading to Milwaukee on Friday to face the Bucks.
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