Welcome to The Kings Beat, a subscriber based independent news source with more than fifteen years of experience covering the Sacramento Kings as credentialed media. Please consider supporting independent content, such as this, with a premium subscription.

Welcome in to your morning cup of Kings. The struggle is real. The Kings may never win again. But we’ll have you covered for all of the latest on a franchise that can’t seem to get it right.

Bakers dozen. The Sacramento Kings dropped their 13th straight game Monday night in New Orleans, falling to the Pelicans by a final of 120-94. Here are six quick thoughts as the Kings set a new Sacramento-era record for futility and head into the break at 12-43:

🏀 1. Feed the big man. Maxime Raynaud had another strong game against a big Pelicans front line. The rookie center didn't get an invite to the Rising Stars game, but he managed to post 21 points and 20 rebounds against Derik Queen, who did. This was Max's 8th double-double.

🏀 2. Let it rain? The shift to young players should come with a shift in shot distribution. That isn't what we saw from Russell Westbrook, who shot 7-for-17 from the field for 17 points in 21 minutes. This has to be about development and opportunity.

🏀 3. Find consistency. Fresh off a 30 point performance against the Cavs, rookie Nique Clifford, on his 24th birthday, struggled. This is the life of a rookie. Clifford posted 10 points on 4-for-16 shooting to go with 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 turnovers. It's a process.

🏀 4. Cleaning the glass. Dylan Cardwell continues to bring energy, defense and rebounding. The rookie center posted his fourth straight game with 10+ boards. Cardwell finished the night with 6 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals.

🏀 5. Getting his shot. Devin Carter has been waiting for the opportunity to step on the floor and contribute. The second-year guard has registered 20+ minutes in 4 consecutive games for the first time in his career and scored in double figures in all 4 as well.

🏀 6. Throw in the towel. With Sabonis, LaVine, Monk, Murray and Hunter all sidelined, the Kings played with just 10 men. Doug Christie had to turn to every able body, including Doug McDermott and Drew Eubanks. It doesn't sound like it will get better until after the break.

With the team on the road, we don’t have post game clips to run, but here is the latest episode of Locked On Kings to get you started on your day!

The Kings play Wednesday night in Utah against a Jazz team that continues to sit their best players when wins are on the line. Sacramento is looking to snap that 13 game losing streak before taking the next week off for the NBA’s All-Star break.

After the break, the Kings return to play on Feb. 19 against the Orlando Magic at Golden 1 Center before heading back out on the road for a five game trip that goes into March.

With the extra time away, there is a good possibility that Keegan Murray will return to play against Orlando. There is also a possibility that the rest of the veterans — Malik Monk (illness), Domantas Sabonis (lower back soreness), Zach LaVine (pinky finger) and De’Andre Hunter (eye) will return as well.

How Doug Christie manages the final 27 games of the season with a 14 man roster will be intriguing. Will he test the pairing of Murray and Hunter? Will Sabonis jump back in the rotation? Who will be the primary focus of the team when wins and losses no longer matter?

It should be an extremely interesting final two months of basketball as the Kings toil at the bottom of the standings, but internally struggle with who plays and who doesn’t.