Coming off a two-point performance last game in Houston, it seemed like the Sacramento Kings were intentional in getting Zach LaVine rolling early as he converted his first five triples.
Tallying 29 of his 42 points in the first half was essential to their 127-111 win over the Kings. As a unit, the Kings went 14/33 from the three-point line in their best offensive showing of the season.
Just as impressively, they held the top-scoring team to 47.7 from the field and did not have one horrific quarter (as they often have this season).
Rookie Nique Clifford also added a season-high 15 points, with six coming in the final frame. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led Miami with 27 points on 9/15 shooting.
Saturday night’s win snaps a four-game skid for head coach Doug Christie’s squad as they’ll head to Indiana to conclude their four-game road trip on Monday night.
Kings @ Heat Game Notes
Sacramento came into Saturday night’s action with a notable rest advantage and a new-look starting lineup as rookie Maxime Raynaud had earned his first career start.
The host Heat suffered a hard-fought one-point loss last night in Orlando, but it’s fair to wonder how much off-nights in Miami are genuinely going to work in a visiting team’s favor.
The classic South Beach flu could always sneak in. Well, that advantage seemed to play out early, specifically for Zach LaVine, who came out on fire.
His up-and-down scoring production throughout the early season is well represented by following up a two-point performance (1/5 FG) last game in Houston with an electric first quarter.
The two-time All-Star recorded his team’s first eight points of the night in a way that felt intentional. Given his aforementioned quiet performance, it wouldn’t be surprising if Coach Christie was intentionally leaning on LaVine early.
By the end of one, LaVine had 18 of Sacramento’s 34 first-quarter points as they held a three-point lead. The Kings attacked Miami with their own (new-look) style of high-paced basketball.
After having just two points last game, Zach LaVine has 18 of Sacramento’s 34 first-quarter points.
The Kings are 2-4 when LaVine has 30+ this season.
That might not sound impressive, but it feels notable when you consider they’re 3-13 when he doesn’t reach that mark.
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) December 7, 2025
Shooting 57.1 percent (12/21) in the frame, they were going to have to find ways to maintain their offensive efficiency without LaVine for a bit.
That meant more reliance on DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Florida native Keon Ellis to playmake in their second unit. Rookie Nique Clifford made his presence known as well, but it was Simone Fontecchio and Norman Powell who punched back.
Four minutes into the second, LaVine returned to the floor with the score at 47-45 in Sacramento’s favor.
Zone defense became more prevalent on both sides, underscoring the importance of perimeter shooting. That played right into the hot hand as LaVine instantly returned to pouring in buckets.
After surpassing the 14,000 career point marker in the first, that tally kept expanding. Adding 11 more in the second, LaVine had 29 points on 9/14 from the field, 6/7 from three, and 5/5 on free throws at the midway point.
Largely thanks to his tough shot-making, Sacramento recorded a season-high 72-point half compared to Miami’s 55. With the Heat owning the league’s highest pace, outscoring them 21-to-8 in fast-break points was exceptional.
Recording just 12 assists on their 28 made field goals, how they would manage if their jumpers stopped falling was curious. But I’d bet Christie was more enthused with their efforts on the other end as the Heat shot 20/49 in the first half.
Powell (16) and Fontecchio (11) led the Heat at that point. Miami head coach Eric Spoelstra elected to start Jaquez in the second half in place of Ware, presumably to improve their perimeter defense against LaVine.
But more of the same followed as LaVine added eight quick points in the second half. Jaquez and Powell attempted to spark a comeback to no avail.
Even though that ended up being all LaVine added in the quarter, Murray’s eight and 10 more field-goal attempts than the Heat helped them win the Sacramento frame.
Having blown significant leads in previous instances this season, excelling in the third quarter was essential. Converting from long distance as a team carried a lot of weight en route to a 29-point frame, but holding their opposition to 23 felt just as crucial.
Leading 101-78 with 12 minutes remaining, one promising stretch would all but put it away. DeRozan remained on the floor, but Nique Clifford seized the extended opportunity as his career night was overshadowed by LaVine’s excellence.
Maybe uncomfortable calling it early, LaVine checked back into the game with roughly seven minutes to play. Proving that concern to be reasonable, a 12-3 Miami run cut Sacramento’s advantage to 15 with three minutes to play.
After a few more defensive stops and trips to the charity stripe, the Kings had secured a 127-111 win in South Beach.
Tallying 29 of his 42 points in the first half, LaVine’s season-high was essential to their 127-111 win over the Kings. As a unit, the Kings went 14/33 from the three-point line in their best offensive showing of the season.
Just as impressively, they held the top-scoring team to 47.7 from the field and did not have one horrific quarter (as they often have this season).
Clifford also added a season-high 15 points, with six coming in the final frame. Jaquez Jr. led Miami with 27 points on 9/15 shooting.
Saturday night’s win snaps a four-game skid for head coach Christie’s squad as they’ll head to Indiana to conclude their four-game road trip on Monday night.
More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports
When the Sacramento Kings go through extended struggles, they tend to have drastic reactions to their underwhelming moments. Sitting at 5-17, 14th in the Western Conference, they’re at the point where people are expecting notable change.
While resetting and embracing a rebuild/youth movement would seem like the logical path, the Kings don’t typically follow that. Given the current standing and reportedly uncertain future of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brenden Nunes, Chris Watkins, and Allen Stiles debated whether Sacramento should enter trade conversations.
It may seem crazy, and the chance that Antetokounmpo would be willing to re-sign in California’s capital would likely be limited, but Sacramento general manager Scott Perry could put together an enticing package for the former Most Valuable Player.
Read More:
Should the Sacramento Kings pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Monday, December 8th – @ Indiana Pacers – 4:00 PM PT
Thursday, December 11th – vs. Denver Nuggets – 7:00 PM PT
Sunday, December 14th – @ Minnesota Timberwolves – 4:00 PM PT
Thursday, December 18th – @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, December 20th – vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 PM PT
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