On the heels of a season-long four-game losing streak, the Sacramento Kings have returned to their losing ways.
Sacramento dropped its second-straight game, this time to the Miami Heat, by a final of 130-117 on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center.
The Kings (12-32) fell back to 20 games below the .500 mark as they moved within 2.5 games of the NBA’s worst record and best odds for the top selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Sacramento’s three-point defense failed them on Tuesday, as the Heat converted 21 triples against a Kings defense that allowed 130-plus points for the 12th time this season (third-most in the NBA).
Simooooo! pic.twitter.com/ciTjooho4r
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 21, 2026
Sacramento Kings vs. Miami Heat takeaways
Miami isn’t a team known for setting the nets on fire from three-point range, but you wouldn’t know it from how things started off on Tuesday night.
The Heat sank six of their first 11 attempts (54%) from beyond the arc, leading by as many as ten points during the first quarter as the Sacramento defense struggled to slow down veteran guard Norman Powell (three-of-four during the opening frame).
Surprisingly, the Kings entered play with a top-three perimeter defense among all NBA teams (34.5%), but Miami caused the bulk of its damage outside the arc during the first half.
Entering play on Tuesday, the Heat averaged 13.2 made triples per game. By the end of the first half, they had knocked down 15 of their 24 (62%) tries from downtown, scoring 77 points against a lackluster Sacramento defense.
Although the Kings held a 40-24 advantage in the paint, Miami took a 13-point advantage into the break.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 21, 2026
Things never turned around for Sacramento’s defense in the second half.
The Heat continued to hammer the Kings on the perimeter, with four players making three or more triples en route to an easy road win.
One interesting aspect of Tuesday’s loss was the fact that Zach LaVine–who scored 12 points during the first half–and Domantas Sabonis played just five minutes each during the second half.
Sabonis, who came off the bench for the third-straight game, once again was benched for rookie center Dylan Cardwell in crunch time. Kings head coach Doug Christie previously said that the decision to sit Sabonis late in games was due to what Cardwell brings on the defensive end, not because the All-Star center is returning from a partial left knee meniscus tear.
As for LaVine, Christie opted to play DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, and rookie wing Nique Clifford for the bulk of the second half.
Sacramento is navigating a logjam at the guard–and now center–spots, but the way the rotational puzzle pieces fit on Tuesday left many scratching their heads.
Of course, the upcoming NBA trade deadline (Thursday, February 5th) looms on the horizon, and several Kings players have been heavily linked to reports and rumors in recent weeks.
LaVine and Sabonis are two players who could be on the move in the near future, with the latter’s current place in the rotation becoming a storyline to watch.
“It’s difficult, but you’re trying to find that energy group,” Christie said of the roster logjam postgame. “It’s difficult trying to find that rhythm of who’s bringing that energy and playing well together.”
Sabonis has now been a reserve for three-straight games, marking the first time he’s done so since the 2018-19 season while playing for the Indiana Pacers.
This story is currently being updated.
Sacramento Kings Injury Updates
Forward Keegan Murray will miss the next 1-2 weeks with a moderate left ankle sprain.
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
Sacramento will conclude a season-long seven-game homestand on Wednesday night when it faces the Toronto Raptors for the first time this season.
Last year, the Kings and Raptors split the regular-season series, with each team taking care of business on its home floor.
Toronto beat Sacramento by a final of 130-122 during a preseason tune-up game on October 8th at Golden 1 Center.
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors 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 downtown Sacramento.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Wednesday, January 21st – vs. Toronto Raptors – 7:00 PM PT
Friday, January 23rd – @ Cleveland Cavaliers – 4:30 PM PT
Sunday, January 25th – @ Detroit Pistons – 12:00 PM PT
Tuesday, January 27th – @ New York Knicks – 4:30 PM PT
Thursday, January 29th – @ Philadelphia 76ers – 4:00 PM PT
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