Heartbreak in Sacramento! Mike Brown's return to his old stomping grounds ended in a stinging defeat as DeMar DeRozan and the Kings triumphed over the Knicks, 112-101. But the story goes deeper than just a simple win or loss.
The January 14th, 2026, matchup saw DeRozan put on a scoring clinic, racking up 27 points and etching his name even further into NBA history. This performance propelled him past the legendary Kevin Garnett and into the 22nd spot on the NBA's all-time scoring list. DeRozan, now in his impressive 17th season, showcased his veteran savvy, hitting 7 of 16 from the field, including a clutch three-pointer, and sinking 12 of 13 free throws. This brought his career total to a staggering 26,077 points, surpassing Garnett's 26,071 accumulated over 21 seasons. What a feat!
The Kings (now sitting at 11-30) secured their third consecutive victory, adding extra salt to the wound for Knicks coach Mike Brown. This game marked Brown's first appearance in Sacramento since his somewhat unexpected dismissal early in the 2024-25 season. The Golden 1 Center crowd gave Brown a warm welcome with a loud ovation before the game began, and he even shared a friendly embrace with Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, the very person who made the decision to let him go back in December 2024. A bittersweet reunion, to say the least.
For the Knicks, Mikal Bridges led the scoring with 19 points, but the team struggled to find their rhythm, especially after losing Jalen Brunson early in the game. Brunson suffered a right ankle injury just five minutes into the contest after scoring only four points, forcing him to limp off the court. This was a major blow to the Knicks' offense. OG Anunoby contributed 15 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 13, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Kings' momentum.
And this is the part most people miss... The Knicks' shooting woes were a major factor in their downfall. They only managed to shoot 39% from the field and a dismal 8 of 41 from beyond the arc. This marked their first loss in Sacramento since March 9, 2023, ending a short but sweet winning streak in California's capital.
Zach LaVine chipped in with 25 points for the Kings, while former Knicks player Precious Achiuwa had a monster game, posting 20 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Russell Westbrook continued his strong play, adding 19 points and dishing out 11 assists. The Kings' offense was firing on all cylinders, led by DeRozan and Achiuwa, who each scored 10 points in the first quarter, helping the team jump out to early leads of 18-8 and 32-17.
The Kings are on a roll, notching consecutive wins against the Rockets, Lakers, and now the Knicks. Can they keep the streak alive?
Looking ahead:
The Knicks will try to bounce back quickly with a visit to Golden State on Thursday.
The Kings will look to continue their winning ways as they host Washington on Friday.
But here's where it gets controversial... Was firing Mike Brown too hasty of a decision by the Kings back in 2024? He did lead them out of that long playoff drought, after all. Or was it a necessary move to propel them to even greater heights?
Now, it's your turn to weigh in! Did the Kings prove they made the right call by letting Brown go? Could the Knicks have pulled off the win if Brunson hadn't been injured? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below! Let's get the conversation started!
