Monk, Fox and Sabonis make Sacramento Kings history in win over Nuggets
Dec 29, 2022, 8:32 AM
SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Malik Monk #0, DeAaron Fox #5 and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings react to a basket in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Golden 1 Center on December 28, 2022 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)
Some history took place for the Sacramento Kings in Wednesday night’s win over the Denver Nuggets.
For the first time since 1979 and the first time ever in the Sacramento era, three players scored 30 points or more. Malik Monk (33 points), De’Aaron Fox (31 points), and Domantas Sabonis (31 points) became the first trio in the Sacramento era (1985-present) to do so as the three accounted for 95 of the team’s 127 points.
The explosive performance was a much-needed outing for Monk, who entered play having averaged 9.8 points and 4.2 assists per game on 33% FG and 15% 3PT over his past five games. Monk took to social media following Tuesday’s loss in which he scored just eight points on three-of-10 shooting, stating that he needed to do better.
He did just that during the win, establishing a season-high in points scored while handing out three assists over 31 minutes.
Fox scored 31 points (12-of-21 from the field) and dished out 13 assists to secure his fifth double-double of the season, with most of his damage coming during the fourth quarter. The speedy guard has scored 10+ points during the fourth quarter in three-straight games.
They were on one tonight.
👑 @AhmadMonk 33pts
👑 @Dsabonis11 31pts
👑 @swipathefox 31pts #BeamTeam pic.twitter.com/TFjwS4HYGy— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 29, 2022
Lastly, Domantas Sabonis — the player that everyone had their eyes on during the win — secured his 11th-straight double-double during the victory, as the big man finished the night with 31 points, 10 boards, and five assists.
Playing with a fractured right thumb, Sabonis had his hand taped up and played with tons of heart during the win, something that Fox spoke about following the game.
“He literally has a broken thumb,” Fox said postgame of his teammate. “He goes out there and fights, rebounds. He still went out there and it shows his toughness. He wants to win.”
The big man said postgame that he feels fine after returning to action, adding that he even had to tell his teammates to stop asking about how he was feeling. Sabonis says that his injury is one that he will likely have to manage for the remainder of the season, but added that he feels confident that he will be able to continue playing at a high level while managing the pain and recovery process.
Sabonis and Fox became the first set of Kings teammates to post 30-point double-doubles in the Sacramento era. Not a bad night for the Kings’ two franchise stars.
