Orlando Magic Defeat Kings, Handing Sacramento 15th Straight Loss

The Sacramento Kings faced a historic defeat on Thursday night, as they succumbed to the Orlando Magic with a score of 131-94. This loss marked the Kings' franchise-record 15th consecutive defeat, further solidifying their position at the bottom of the NBA standings. The game took place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, and was particularly challenging for the Kings, who are struggling with injuries to key players.

Paolo Banchero led the charge for the Magic, scoring an impressive 30 points. His performance was highlighted by a remarkable shooting display from beyond the arc, where he connected on 5 of 7 attempts. In addition to his scoring, Banchero contributed six assists and five rebounds, showcasing his all-around game. The Magic's victory was also marked by a record-setting performance in terms of three-point shooting. Orlando made a total of 27 three-pointers on 51 attempts, breaking their previous team record of 25 set back in January 2004 during a game against Sacramento.

The Kings' struggles have been exacerbated by recent injuries to star players. Just a day before this game, center Domantas Sabonis and guard Zach LaVine underwent season-ending surgeries. Sabonis has been dealing with a meniscus tear since November and has only played 19 games this season. LaVine's surgery was to repair a tendon in his right pinky finger. The absence of these key players has left the Kings in a difficult position, as they have not won a game since January 16, when they secured a victory against the Washington Wizards.

The Kings' current record stands at 12-45, making them the worst team in the NBA. Their losing streak is now the longest in franchise history, surpassing previous streaks of 14 games recorded in the 1959-60 and 1971-72 seasons when the team was known as the Cincinnati Royals. The NBA record for consecutive losses is 28, set by the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, and matched by the Detroit Pistons in the 2023-24 season.

In the game against the Magic, the Kings had a brief moment of hope when they cut the deficit to just two points at 83-81 with 4:25 left in the third quarter. However, the Magic responded with a dominant 19-3 run to close out the quarter, taking a commanding 102-84 lead into the final period. The fourth quarter saw the Magic continue to pull away, outscoring the Kings 48-13 in the last 16:25 of the game. This overwhelming performance highlighted the Magic's offensive prowess and the Kings' ongoing struggles.

In addition to Banchero's standout performance, the Magic received significant contributions from other players. Anthony Black added 20 points, while Desmond Bane scored 17. Jett Howard and Jevon Carter chipped in with 16 and 14 points, respectively. The Magic's depth and balanced scoring were evident throughout the game, as they improved their record to 29-25, placing them seventh in the Eastern Conference.

Maxime Raynaud led the Kings in scoring with 17 points, while Keegan Murray added 15. Precious Achiuwa and Malik Monk each contributed 14 points, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the Magic's offensive onslaught. The Kings' inability to stop the three-point shooting of the Magic was a significant factor in the game's outcome, as they struggled to defend the perimeter effectively.

Looking ahead, the Magic will continue their four-game road trip with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Kings will face the San Antonio Spurs in Austin, Texas, also on Saturday. As the Kings aim to end their losing streak, they will need to find a way to overcome the challenges posed by injuries and regain their competitive edge.

The current state of the Kings raises questions about the future direction of the franchise. With a record that reflects their struggles, the team will need to reassess its strategy moving forward. The loss to the Magic serves as a stark reminder of the challenges they face in the remainder of the season.

NBA PREDICTIONS

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Totals Pick

  Over 228.5

57.7%
Spread Pick

 POR +7.5

57.0%
31.6%
31.6%
68.3%
68.3%
Side Value
POR  3.11%

Money Line
CHA  68.3%


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NBA

NBA2 Season Futures

Eastern SEASON-TO-DATE FORECAST POSTSEASON
WIN LOSS WIN LOSS WIN DIV PLAYOFF
ATL
New York Knicks 0 0 14.7 7.3 85.1% 100%
Philadelphia 76ers 0 0 11.2 11.9 0.4% 98.5%
Toronto Raptors 0 0 10.6 12.4 0.8% 99.3%
Boston Celtics 0 0 10.2 12.8 13.7% 100%
Brooklyn Nets 0 0 4.9 18.1 0% 0%
CEN
Cleveland Cavaliers 0 0 14.7 6.3 9.4% 100%
Detroit Pistons 0 0 13.1 10.9 90.6% 100%
Milwaukee Bucks 0 0 12.3 10.7 0% 74.4%
Chicago Bulls 0 0 9.9 12.1 0% 10.2%
Indiana Pacers 0 0 9.1 12.9 0% 0%
SE
Orlando Magic 0 0 14.8 9.2 65.7% 99.3%
Atlanta Hawks 0 0 11.7 9.3 13.1% 92.6%
Miami Heat 0 0 11.5 10.5 20.8% 97.4%
Charlotte Hornets 0 0 7.3 14.7 0.3% 28.9%
Washington Wizards 0 0 5.1 18.9 0% 0%

Western SEASON-TO-DATE FORECAST POSTSEASON
WIN LOSS WIN LOSS WIN DIV PLAYOFF
NW
Oklahoma City Thunder 0 0 15.8 5.2 99.3% 100%
Minnesota Timberwolves 0 0 13.1 8.9 0.3% 100%
Denver Nuggets 0 0 13.0 8.0 0.4% 100%
Portland Trail Blazers 0 0 10.7 11.3 0% 84.5%
Utah Jazz 0 0 5.0 18.0 0% 0%
PAC
Los Angeles Clippers 0 0 13.9 10.1 2.2% 88.6%
Los Angeles Lakers 0 0 13.9 10.1 62.8% 100%
Golden State Warriors 0 0 13.8 9.2 27.1% 99.6%
Sacramento Kings 0 0 9.6 11.4 0% 0%
Phoenix Suns 0 0 9.0 13.0 7.9% 98.5%
SW
Houston Rockets 0 0 15.1 8.9 32.1% 100%
Memphis Grizzlies 0 0 12.3 10.7 0% 21.2%
San Antonio Spurs 0 0 11.3 11.7 67.9% 100%
Dallas Mavericks 0 0 10.5 11.5 0% 8.6%
New Orleans Pelicans 0 0 9.7 12.3 0% 0.2%

Eastern, ATL

SEASON-TO-DATE    WIN     LOSS   |   FORECAST    WIN     LOSS   

Eastern, ATL

POSTSEASON    WIN DIV     PLAYOFF

Eastern, CEN

SEASON-TO-DATE    WIN     LOSS   |   FORECAST    WIN     LOSS   

Eastern, CEN

POSTSEASON    WIN DIV     PLAYOFF

Eastern, SE

SEASON-TO-DATE    WIN     LOSS   |   FORECAST    WIN     LOSS   

Eastern, SE

POSTSEASON    WIN DIV     PLAYOFF

Western, NW

SEASON-TO-DATE    WIN     LOSS   |   FORECAST    WIN     LOSS   

Western, NW

POSTSEASON    WIN DIV     PLAYOFF

Western, PAC

SEASON-TO-DATE    WIN     LOSS   |   FORECAST    WIN     LOSS   

Western, PAC

POSTSEASON    WIN DIV     PLAYOFF

Western, SW

SEASON-TO-DATE    WIN     LOSS   |   FORECAST    WIN     LOSS   

Western, SW

POSTSEASON    WIN DIV     PLAYOFF