The Sacramento Kings’ early season continues to spiral. Their 144–117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night sealed their worst ten-game start since the 2017-18 season.
Fans expected a fightback. Instead, they got another flat performance.
Early Momentum Lost
Coming off a heavy 31-point defeat to Oklahoma City, the Lords again fell early and now have no way back. The Timberwolves took control from the opening tip, dominating the makeup and forcing development after development.
Minnesota’s Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert were impregnable, combining for 25 first- partial points on 71 firing.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards signed off on a poor start to explode for 16 points in the alternate quarter, sending Sacramento into another halftime hole.
nah he’s going off rn… pic.twitter.com/ANdQbK81hk
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) November 10, 2025
The Kings trailed 71–54 at the break, with boos echoing around Golden 1 Center. Fans had seen enough.
Offence Still Struggling
Sacramento’s offence continues to lack flow and confidence. Ten turnovers. Nine assists. The numbers said it all.
The Timberwolves punished every mistake, outscoring the Kings 19–7 on fast breaks and adding 18 points from turnovers in the first half alone.
By the third quarter, the game was slipping down presto. Minnesota poured by 40 points, extending its lead to 28 as home suckers began chanting for Keon Ellis, the protective livewire who sat unused on the bench until the fourth.
“We want Keon” chants for Keon Ellis at Golden 1 Center. pic.twitter.com/95gFTkRwB5
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) November 10, 2025
When Ellis finally entered, the crowd roared in approval.
Fans Demand Change
Those chants carried a message. Supporters want fresh energy. They want to see Ellis, novice Nique Clifford, Keegan Murray, and big man Maxime Raynaud on the bottom, indeed if it means taking many lumps along the way.
Clifford, the 24th overall pick in June’s draft, impressed again. He finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists, one of the many bright moments on a long night.
The Timberwolves dominated outside, outscoring the Lords 64 – 46 in the makeup and converting 18 possessions into 37 points.
Zach LaVine led the way for the Sacramento Kings with 26 points, hitting six of nine from deep. DeMar DeRozan added 22, his eighth straight game with 18 or further.
Dennis Schroder’s struggles continued, managing just three points on 1 of 6 shooting. His early-season pars, 39 from the field, 28 from three, accentuate his inconsistency.
Sabonis Shows Grit
Domantas Sabonis returned from a rib contusion that sidelined him for two games. Despite visible pain, he battled hard, recording 20 points and 13 rebounds.
“I don’t use it as an excuse. If I’m going to play, I’m going to go out there and fight,” Sabonis said after the game. That determination drew respect from teammates and fans alike. But one man’s fight can’t fix a broken system.
Next Game Outlook
Keegan Murray (thumb injury) remains out for another two to three weeks. His protective presence is plaintively missed.
Next up, the Lords face the Denver Nuggets at home on Tuesday night, live on NBC and Peacock. Sacramento will seek vengeance after falling 130 – 124 in Denver before this month, when Nikola Jokić dominated with 34 points and 14 assists.
The schedule doesn’t get easier; the Hawks, Timberwolves, Spurs, and Thunder await in quick succession.
At 3–7, the Kings sit near the bottom of the Western Conference. The spark that once made them electric has dimmed. Until the rotations change or the roster does, the slide may well continue.
A team in need of rhythm. A fanbase is losing patience. Another painful chapter in the Kings vs Timberwolves story.
