{"id":149484,"date":"2026-01-26T02:32:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T02:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/149484\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T02:32:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T02:32:55","slug":"kings-cant-slow-pistons-concede-136-points-in-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/149484\/","title":{"rendered":"Kings can’t slow Pistons, concede 136 points in loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sacramento Kings failed to slow down the best team in the Eastern Conference, falling 139-116 at Little Caesars Arena.<\/p>\n

The noon P.S.T. start time didn\u2019t seem to impact the Detroit Pistons as they recorded a season-best 78 points in the first half and never looked back. They were led by All-Star starter Cade Cunnginham who ended his night with 29 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds on 13\/22 shooting.<\/p>\n

Sacramento\u2019s bright spots came from rookie Nique Clifford, who scored 15 points, and Malik Monk, who scored 19.<\/p>\n

The Kings shot 52.4 percent from the field as a team, but allowing their opponents to shoot 54.9 percent, including 16\/31 from three, wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n

Conceding 26 second-chance points off 16 offensive rebounds and committing 19 turnovers were the primary shortcomings that caused the Kings to suffer their fifth straight defeat.<\/p>\n

Defense was optional on Sunday afternoon in Detroit.<\/p>\n

Sacramento Kings @ Detroit Pistons Game Notes<\/p>\n

Playing against the best team in the East is no easy task, and Sacramento went into Sunday night\u2019s contest with a new look starting lineup.<\/p>\n

Usual starter Zach LaVine was sidelined due to low back soreness, and Domantas Sabonis finally reentered the starters in his fifth game back from an extended absence.<\/p>\n

Rookie Nique Clifford got the fourth start of his career, playing alongside Sabonis, Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, and Precious Achiuwa.<\/p>\n

As was the case last game in Cleveland, the Kings struggled to slow down the opposition\u2019s all-star caliber center. Cunningham found big man Duren early in the pick-and-roll \u2014 one of the most frequently run plays in the entire NBA. He recorded eight of Detroit\u2019s first 10 points.<\/p>\n

But it was Clifford who helped bring a spark for his side, playing more aggressively than usual, as evidenced by his chase-down block and subsequent catch-and-shoot triple.<\/p>\n

Nique on both ends \u2194\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Highlight of the Game presented by Phase 3 Construction, Inc. pic.twitter.com\/LHHeBzB39P<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Putting the ball on the deck led to a few more buckets and a pair of free throws for the Kings\u2019 rookie.<\/p>\n

Their back-and-forth early action was largely due to a highly effective offense. Sacramento was converting its shots, playing in transition, and knocking down threes. Westbrook saw a couple go down from distance.<\/p>\n

For the Pistons, they weren\u2019t converting at the same rate, but offensive rebounds enabled second-chance opportunities. Forcing turnovers helped their case, too.<\/p>\n

As Cunningham went to the sideline, their offense sputtered, and former Piston Dennis Schroder took advantage on the other end.<\/p>\n

Tobias Harris knocked down a triple as the first-quarter buzzer sounded, tying the scoreboard at 35. Westbrook (8) and Clifford (7) led Sacramento\u2019s 14\/23 shooting in the frame, recording 10 assists as a team.<\/p>\n

Duren had 10 points, and Cunningham added seven points and five assists.<\/p>\n

The Kings were unable to maintain that offensive pace in the second, while Detroit continued to ramp up.<\/p>\n

With Duren off the floor, Cunningham simply went to his two-man game with Isaiah Stewart while shooters spaced the floor. He picked apart their defense with ease, increasing his individual scoring output.<\/p>\n

Two minutes of Cade buckets for your timeline<\/p>\n

24 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds and counting\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/fZ2AgjH0Eo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

An ineffectiveness to contain the ball handler, apply pressure, and provide timely help from their backside wasn\u2019t there for Sacramento.<\/p>\n

Whistles had become more frequent as the Kings attempted to increase their physicality. Committing five turnovers in the frame and allowing five more offensive rebounds in the frame led to a 43-point frame for the Pistons. Sacramento scored a respectable 30 of their own, but not enough to keep up.<\/p>\n

Trailing 78-65 at halftime, the Pistons\u2019 18-7 advantage in second-chance points made a notable difference. Converting 8\/18 from three compared to Sacramento\u2019s 5\/9 didn\u2019t help their case either.<\/p>\n

DeRozan (12), Sabonis (12), Westbrook (11), and Monk (10) were all in double-digits while the Kings had converted 61.4 percent from the field.<\/p>\n

But Cunningham (19) and Duren (17) combined for 26 as the Pistons shot 52.8 percent.<\/p>\n

Allowing Detroit to record its highest scoring half of the season, the Kings were in need of a defensive spark. They started the third by committing two fouls in 24 seconds\u2014unideal.<\/p>\n

An 8-0 run by the Pistons forced a Sacramento timeout as they faced a 54-47 deficit. Kings head coach Doug Christie elected to go with an early substitution, entering Dylan Cardwell and Schroder in favor of Westbrook and DeRozan.<\/p>\n

Eventually extending to an 18-6 run for the home team, Sacramento found themselves down 20+ points in a hurry.<\/p>\n

Schroder and Monk impressively maintained their offense for the most part, but an inability to get stops prevented them from recovering.<\/p>\n

Detroit scored 35 points in the third quarter \u2014 a mark they reached in each frame up to that point \u2014 shooting 14\/20 in the third. That left the Kings down 113-93 with 12 minutes to play.<\/p>\n

In need of a miracle if they wanted a chance, the Kings managed one. Monk continued to get buckets, but whistles continued to be heard as the Pistons found their way to the free-throw line.<\/p>\n

With six minutes left to play, Devin Carter made his 13th appearance of the season and first in the last eight showings. Playing alongside the rest of Sacramento\u2019s youth, they had all but waved the white flag.<\/p>\n

Ron Holland II pushed Ellis to the floor after the two had gotten wrapped up, earning an ejection with five minutes to play. Clifford was also assessed as a technical in the moment after stepping up for his teammate.<\/p>\n

A+ job selling the call by Keon \ud83e\udd23 pic.twitter.com\/BIdvhHADru<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

From there, the final outcome was all but inevitable. The final scoreboard read 136-116, the second-most scored by a Kings opponent this season.<\/p>\n

Cade Cunnginham who ended his night with 29 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds on 13\/22 shooting.<\/p>\n

Sacramento\u2019s bright spots came from rookie Nique Clifford, who scored 15 points, and Malik Monk, who scored 19.<\/p>\n

The Kings shot 52.4 percent from the field as a team, but allowing their opponents to shoot 54.9 percent, including 16\/31 from three, wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n

Conceding 26 second-chance points off 16 offensive rebounds and committing 19 turnovers were the primary shortcomings that caused the Kings to suffer their fifth straight defeat.<\/p>\n

Defense was optional on Sunday afternoon in Detroit.<\/p>\n

More Sacramento Kings coverage on Sactown Sports<\/p>\n

Senior NBA Writer for Anscaped and 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, Marc Spears, joined\u00a0The Matt & Kayla Show\u00a0to make sense of what\u2019s expected to be a busy trade deadline for Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry.<\/p>\n

Perry is in his first season running the Kings, but has spent more than 2.5 decades in the NBA. Spears shared that their relationship goes all the way back to Perry being the head coach of Eastern Kentucky University from 1997-2000.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my assignments was to write a story on this coach named Scott Perry, who had the saddest office I\u2019ve ever seen in my life,\u201d Spears shared. \u201cFour white walls with nothing on it. Nothing said short timer more than this guy\u2019s office, right? But now in his office he has this beautiful full painting that his wife got made for him, where it lists his six principles as to what he wants from the franchise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read More:<\/p>\n

Marc Spears: Kings should pattern themselves after Detroit, Oklahoma City<\/a><\/p>\n

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n

Tuesday, January 27th\u00a0\u2013 @ New York Knicks \u2013 4:30 PM PT
\nThursday, January 29th\u00a0\u2013 @ Philadelphia 76ers \u2013 4:00 PM PT
\nSunday, January 30th\u00a0\u2013 @ Boston Celtics \u2013 4:30 PM PT
\nSunday, February 1st \u2013 @ Washington Wizards \u2013 3:00 PM PT
\nWednesday, February 4th \u2013 vs. Memphis Grizzlies \u2013 7:00 PM PT<\/p>\n

Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n

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