The Sacramento Kings’ nightmare start to the season doesn’t look like it’s going to turn around any time soon, but it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom each night.
Sure, the Kings dropped another close game, this time a 98-93 contest to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night at Golden 1 Center, but a trio of rookies had strong performances for Sacramento.
Undrafted center Dylan Cardwell brought fans to their feet multiple times during a five-block night. Nique Clifford scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds off the bench. Maxime Raynaud continues to impress as a starting center, this time by racking up his third double-double of the season.
The Kings (6-22) now own the worst record in the Western Conference and have lost nine of their past ten games, but we’re getting to the point where that probably isn’t a bad thing.
Following Saturday’s action, Sacramento has the second-best odds at securing the top pick in the loaded 2026 NBA Draft at 14%, including a 52.1% chance of landing a top-four pick (best odds in the league).
The Kings take their first lead of the game 👏 pic.twitter.com/sBVgs1j7Bh
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) December 21, 2025
Sacramento Kings vs. Trail Blazers takeaways
On the heels of one of their best competitive showings of the season thus far on Thursday, Sacramento didn’t begin this rematch against Portland on the right foot.
The Blazers opened things up by putting the Kings in a 15-2 hole over the first six minutes of regulation, causing Sacramento to call on its bench early in hopes of injecting life into a lineup that looked outmatched early.
Rookie wing Nique Clifford (seven points) and guard Dennis Schroder (five points) brought the Kings back from a double-digit deficit, but first-year center Dylan Cardwell brought the energy on both ends of the floor.
Cardwell, an undrafted center out of Auburn on a two-way contract, blocked two shots during the first quarter, turning to the crowd following each swat with his arms raised to the sky as fans, bringing fans in attendance at Golden 1 Center to their feet.
The 6’10 big man knocked down a fadeaway mid-range jumper at the end of the period that brought Sacramento within two and gave the Kings a 14-3 advantage in bench scoring through twelve minutes of action.
Sacramento’s bench carried the momentum from the end of the first quarter through the rest of the half, with Schroder and Clifford combining to score 19 of the Kings’ 25 first-half bench points to accomplish a feat that has been easier said than done as of late:
Remain competitive and keep the game close heading into the break.
Dylan Cardwell is lovin’ G1C 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AiSje2Wm90
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) December 21, 2025
It was a quiet third period for both teams, especially Sacramento, as they shot just seven-of-21 (33%) from the field and one-of-nine (11%) from long distance in the quarter.
While the starters (outside of Keegan Murray) continued to struggle, Schroder and the bench kept pace with the Blazers as play entered crunch time.
Cardwell had several moments on Saturday night, and fellow rookie center Maxime Rayanud made his presence felt by scoring six straight points to begin the final period.
Raynaud, the 42nd overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, racked up his third double-double of the season against Portland, and his 13 points scored during the fourth quarter helped give the Kings their first lead of the night, and a chance to snap a four-game losing streak–but the Blazers would do just enough to secure the win.
Both teams struggled to control the ball in this one, with Sacramento turning it over 18 times and Portland 20. The difference, however, was that the Kings scored just nine points off those mishaps, compared to Portland’s 23.
Points off turnovers and an abysmal night from the Sacramento offense (39% FG and 20% 3PT) sunk the Kings’ chances of ending the losing skid, leading to another losing effort–one that dropped the not-so-Beam Team to a Western Conference-worst 6-22 on the season.
“The competition level is higher, and that’s what we need,” Kings head coach Doug Christie said of his team’s effort on Saturday. Defensively, we were better tonight. That’s the biggest thing. We have to compete at a high level.”
Another DNP-CD For Malik Monk
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk did not play on Saturday, marking the second straight game that the former Sixth Man of the Year runner-up failed to check in.
When asked about the decision to bench Monk for a second-straight game, Christie gave a similar answer that he gave on Thursday in Portland: Keon Ellis is getting a look in light of the Kings’ defensive woes.
“We made the decision to go with Keon [Ellis], a similar position when Keon wasn’t playing,” Christie said of the decision to bench Monk for Keon Ellis. “We’re going to turn over all the rocks and make sure we are locked in on that.”
While Ellis, who, like Monk, has also been subject to countless trade rumors as the February 5th trade deadline approaches, will get more opportunities in the near-term, Christie made a point to say the change isn’t permanent.
“Not necessarily permanent, no,” Christie said. “Be ready when your number is called. We made a decision to go that way in light of the record that we have… Right now, we’re searching and trying to find a product that fans are absolutely proud of, and that’s the bottom line.”
This story is currently being updated.
Sacramento Kings Injury Updates
Domantas Sabonis, who has been sidelined since November 16th due to a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, will miss at least another 4-5 weeks of action.
Zach LaVine (moderate left ankle sprain) will be re-evaluated next week. LaVine missed his second-straight game on Saturday.
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will play 14 of their next 18 games at home, including Sunday’s second leg of a back-to-back against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.
Sacramento dropped a 121-95 contest in Houston on December 3rd at the Toyota Center. Maxime Raynaud had 25 points and six boards during the loss, while Kevin Durant scored 24 in the Rockets’ win.
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM PT on Game Night before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from Golden 1 Center.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Sunday, December 21st – vs. Houston Rockets – 7:00 PM PT
Tuesday, December 23rd vs. Detroit Pistons – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, December 27th – vs. Dallas Mavericks – 2:00 PM PT
Sunday, December 28th – @ Los Angeles Lakers – 6:30 PM PT
Tuesday, December 30th – @ Los Angeles Clippers – 8:00 PM PT
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