There are nights when one player simply refuses to let his team lose. Sunday night at Golden 1 Center was one of those nights. DeMar DeRozan put on a masterclass, dropping a season-high 41 points and dishing out 11 assists to carry the Sacramento Kings past the Utah Jazz, 116-111. A gritty, back-and-forth battle that refused to be decided until the final seconds — exactly the kind of game DeRozan was built for.
Kings Get a Vintage DeRozan Performance
DeRozan finished 11-of-21 from the floor, converting 18 of his 21 free throw attempts in one of the most complete individual performances Sacramento has seen all season. He’s now scored 20 or more points while shooting at least 50 percent, a staggering 417 times in his career. Let that sink in.
This was also the first time the six-time All-Star hit the 40-point mark since February 2, 2025 — and it came at exactly the right moment. The Kings needed every single one of those points.
Just last week,DeRozan passed Hall of Famer Tim Duncan to move into 18th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. They happen because of nights like this — quiet, relentless, and utterly dominant.
Kings Survive a Jazz Comeback in the Fourth Quarter
Sacramento looked comfortable for much of the second half, pushing its lead to 110-99 with 4:45 remaining after Daeqwon Plowden drained his second three-pointer of the game. The Kings had weathered Utah’s third-quarter storm and appeared to be pulling away.
Then the Jazz woke up.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Brice Sensabaugh and Elijah Harkless trimmed the deficit to just three at 110-107 with three minutes left. The Golden 1 Center crowd, which had been buzzing all night, suddenly held its breath.
DeRozan didn’t flinch. He stepped to the free throw line and knocked down three clutch free-throws over the final four minutes, including a cold-blooded make with just 14.9 seconds remaining that effectively sealed the win. That’s the mark of a veteran — knowing when the moment calls for calm, and delivering it.
Kings Get Key Contributions Beyond DeRozan
While DeRozan was the headliner, the Kings needed a full cast of contributors to pull this one out. Precious Achiuwa was a force, finishing with 20 points and 11 rebounds in what amounted to an impressive double-double performance. He was physical, relentless on the boards, and gave Sacramento a presence that the Jazz simply couldn’t match inside.
Killian Hayes, who signed a contract extension with Sacramento earlier in the day — yes, the same day as the game — responded with 16 points and eight assists. That’s a statement. Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden each chipped in 10 points off the bench, providing the kind of depth Sacramento needed against a short-handed Utah squad.
Jazz Give Kings a Fight Despite Short-Handed Roster
Utah may be in full rebuild mode, sitting at 20-48 on the season, but Cody Williams reminded everyone why he was the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft. The young forward poured in 34 points, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. He erupted for 14 points in the first quarter alone, giving the Jazz an early edge and putting the Golden 1 Center crowd on edge.
Sensabaugh added 22 points, and Isaiah Collier contributed 21. For a team that entered with nine available players, Utah made Sacramento work every single minute.
Kings Find Momentum Down the Stretch of a Difficult Season
With the win, the Kings improve to 18-51 on the season — not the record anyone envisioned when the year began. But Sacramento has now won four of its last five games, showing a resilience and pride that the standings don’t fully capture.
There’s something to be said for a group that keeps competing, keeps showing up, and keeps fighting for wins even when the playoff picture disappeared months ago. DeRozan is leading by example, and his teammates are following.
The Kings host San Antonio on Tuesday. Utah travels to Minnesota on Wednesday.
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