The Sacramento Kings (38-40) withstand a furious fourth quarter comeback from the Cleveland Cavaliers (62-16) and moved closer to securing a play-in spot with an intense 120-113 victory on April 7.
Cleveland Cavaliers Top Performers:
Evan Mobley 16 PTS | 9 REB | 3 STL | 46.8 FPS
Mobley is always a threat to contribute strong all-around production, and he showed that again today, nearly recording his second straight double-double with at least 4+ stocks. While his scoring has been somewhat inconsistent lately, he continues to provide strong value in other ways—particularly with his exceptional rebounding and shot-blocking.
Donovan Mitchell 19 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST | 38.2 FPS
Mitchell came into this contest on a strong run, having scored 24 or more points in five straight games. However, his recent struggles from three resurfaced today, leading to a more subdued scoring performance. Still, he maintained solid production with contributions across the board, especially on the defensive end—tallying 14 combined steals and blocks over his last four games. One concern moving forward is that he hurt his ankle during the game. While he was able to finish the contest, it’s something that could potentially impact his performance in upcoming matchups.
Max Strus 11 PTS | 6 REB | 7 AST | 28.7 FPS
Strus has broken out of his shooting slump, scoring double digits for the first time in his last four games. He’s also seen an uptick in peripheral stats, showcasing more well-rounded contributions lately. However, his offensive inconsistency, combined with limited impact on the defensive end, continues to hold back his overall value.
Ty Jerome 20 PTS | 4 REB | 1 STL | 27.8 FPS
Jerome was coming back from an injury, but it didn’t slow him down—he extended his double-digit scoring streak to eight games, including 20+ points in his last two. However, it’s still difficult to trust him to maintain this level of performance consistently.
De’Andre Hunter 11 PTS | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 24.4 FPS
Hunter is known to be a good perimeter defender, but it usually doesn’t reflect in his defensive stats. This performance is likely an outlier, but he should remain a strong offensive contributor, having scored in double figures in nine straight games.
Sacramento Kings Top Performers:
Domantas Sabonis 27 PTS | 10 REB | 7 AST | 47.3 FPS
Sabonis has been highly productive lately, scoring 24 or more points in three of his last four games. He’s also pulled down double-digit rebounds in each of those contests and has recorded at least seven assists in his last three. However, turnovers continue to be a concern—committing seven today. With tougher matchups coming up, his numbers might dip slightly, but he should continue delivering strong all-around performances.
DeMar DeRozan 28 PTS | 4 REB | 7 AST | 46.3 FPS
Derozan offensive dominance continues, scoring 20+ points in 13 of his last 14 games. He’s been very consistent in scoring but his improving all-around game makes him even more dangerous. The only knock is his minimal defensive production. Still, he remains a strong fantasy contributor and is poised for another solid outing tomorrow against the Pistons.
Zach LaVine 37 PTS | 2 REB | 1 AST | 38.9 FPS
LaVine struggled through a rough stretch in late March, recording subpar performances in seven of eight games. However, he’s shown signs of turning the corner over his last two outings, capped by an explosive showing today—shooting an impressive 15-for-21 from the field and 7-for-11 from deep. This performance also earned him a place in franchise history for the most points scored in a game without attempting a free throw. Despite that, his overall impact remains somewhat limited. But with the way he’s trending, another high-scoring game tomorrow is well within reach.
Keon Ellis 11 PTS | 4 STL | 2 BLK | 37.1 FPS
Ellis has managed to retain his starting role despite Monk’s return, though his recent production hasn’t been the same. However, he turned things around today, posting double-digit points for the first time in five games while also contributing solid value across four other major categories—all while continuing to avoid turnovers. But he’ll only become a reliable option if he can develop more consistency on the defensive end.
Malik Monk 8 PTS | 7 REB | 3 AST | 19.9 FPS
Monk’s offensive production has dipped of late. Even after a strong showing in his last game, he couldn’t sustain it, finishing with single-digit points for the third time in five outings. While he’s tried to offset this in other ways, his impact has been inconsistent across the board. To make it worse, he’s also been prone to turnovers, averaging 5 in three recent games.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Darius Garland 9 PTS | 7 AST | 3 TO
DG has been dealing with some offensive struggles lately, yet he’s still managed to score just under 20 points over his last three games. Today, however, was a different story—turning in his lowest-scoring performance in over a month. He still kept his playmaking numbers strong but his overall impact remained minimal. Despite that, he should be able to bounce back and put up better scoring numbers against the Bulls and the Pacers.
