March 30, 2026, 10:41 a.m. ET

NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets (18-57) returned home with a 10-game losing streak as they couldn’t find a way to get over the hump during their most recent west coast road trip. Brooklyn came back home for a rematch against the Sacramento Kings (18-57) and while the game became more competitive in the second half, the Nets found a way to close the deal.

The Nets beat the Kings on Sunday 116-99 thanks to how well Brooklyn played on both ends of the floor, especially on the defensive end. Forward Ochai Agbaji led the way for the Nets with 18 points in just 25 minutes off the bench while rookie guard Nolan Traore had 17 points and six assists and fellow rookie Drake Powell had 16 points and two rebounds alongside Traore.

Brooklyn began the game with a 31-18 lead following the end of the first quarter as Agbaji scored seven points in the period to add to the Nets’ 14 bench points. The Kings, who were missing Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, and Russell Westbrook due to injuries, were unable to get anything going on either end of the court outside of guard Devin Carter, who had 20 points and eight rebounds.

The Nets’ offense finally came to play as they shot 49.4% from the field and 41.5% from three-point land while turning the ball over 15 times. Brooklyn’s defense was arguably more impressive to watch as they held Sacramento to just 42.9% shooting from the field and 31.3% from behind the three-point line, showing how prepared the Nets were to win for the first time in awhile.

The Nets were still without forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Danny Wolf, but forward Noah Clowney had his best game since returning from his ankle sprain as he finished the contest with 15 points and seven rebounds. Brooklyn waited a long time to end their 10-game losing streak, but they made the plays necessary to beat the Kings and now, they’ll hope to continue their winning streak on Tuesday against the visiting Charlotte Hornets.

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!Ochai Agbaji Puts On Scoring Display

Since coming to Brooklyn, Agbaji has dealt with inconsistent playing time and some unfortunate injuries, but Sunday’s win over the Kings was another chance for him to show what he’s capable of. Agbaji will be a free-agent after this season ends and with the way he has played when receiving a decent amount of playing time, the Nets would have a hard time letting him go in the summer.

Nolan Traore Showing Strong All-Around Game

Traore has had his fair share of struggles since Brooklyn returned from the All-Star Break, but he has seemed to regain his previous form when he looked confident as both a scorer and playmaker. Traore finished the game with 17 points, three rebounds, and six assists, but he also had four turnovers, showing that he still has some work to do when it comes to protecting the basketball.

Drake Powell Finds Offensive Groove

Powell is one of the rookies that has had the epitome of an up-and-down season as he looked promising in the beginning before experiencing some woes due to his offensive inconsistency. Powell has already shown that he can be a solid defender at the NBA level, but the hope is that a game like this where he scores 16 points is proof that he can eventually learn to be a consistent contributor on the offensive end of the court.