Kings season ends, what comes next and how dire is the Malik Monk situation?

Welcome to The Kings Beat! With the season over, we’ll be diving into what comes next for the Sacramento Kings and it’s a great time to jump on board with a premium subscription so you get all the latest delivered directly to your inbox. Also, for more Kings content, join Kyle Madson and myself Monday-Friday from 10-noon for The Insiders on ESPN 1320!

The 2023-24 Sacramento Kings season came to an official end Friday night in New Orleans when the team fell to the Pelicans by a final score of 105-98. It wasn’t a blowout, but the score doesn’t capture the feel of the fourth quarter where the home team went up by as many as 20.

De’Aaron Fox finished the season on a high note, scoring 35 points on 12-for-29 shooting. He relied too heavily on the 3-point shot late, hitting just 4-of-16 from long range in the loss. Fox added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in 42 minutes of action.

In addition to Fox’s big night, Domantas Sabonis posted 23 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in the loss. Veteran Harrison Barnes added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists against a Pelicans squad that gave the Kings fits all season.

On the downside, Keegan Murray struggled in this game, shooting just 4-for-12 from the field and 2-of-7 from long range on his way to 11 points and seven rebounds. Murray looked a step slow and he hesitated on multiple jumpers. 

Murray took a tough spill in the second quarter and left the game with a sore left hip. He returned in the third quarter, but never really made an impact.

Keon Ellis struggled as well. The second-year guard went scoreless in 28 minutes, missing all five of his shots, including four misses from three. Ellis did play impressive defense, helping to limit the Pelicans backcourt of CJ McCollum and Herb Jones to a combined 12 points, but the Kings needed at least some scoring from their starting shooting guard.

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