Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie addressed a challenging night following Sunday’s 115-98 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks at Golden 1 Center.
Christie highlighted the positive effort from a group that finally found rhythm late in the game. “We found a group that plays to our standard. And I told them in there like, I respect the hell out of you guys because that’s what it looks like. They competed at a high level. You damn have to communicate if you’re going to be flying around the floor like that. But that’s the standard that it takes to be a Sacramento King.”
On Zach LaVine’s return from a nine-game absence, Christie noted, “Tired? No, he looked really good. I much respect. NBA basketball is hard when you haven’t played for, you know, 48 hours, you lose a little bit of conditioning. But to come back on that stage and be aggressive, he played 35 minutes. He did a good job. Appreciate and happy to see him back.”
Christie also shared candid thoughts on the season’s ongoing injury challenges. “Jay, it is hard, man. You feel for your kids first and foremost. It’s just difficult,” he said when asked about the team’s ability to overcome setbacks.
The Kings trailed early as Milwaukee built a 62-42 lead by halftime, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 37 points and 11 rebounds in just 31 minutes. Sacramento briefly cut the deficit to five points with a 29-8 third-quarter run, but Milwaukee responded with an 18-5 stretch to regain control.
Christie praised the team’s competitiveness despite the loss. “They were playing with pace, space. They were sharing the ball. They felt us. We make them feel us. They competed at a high level. Anything else is not our standard. Tough, competitive, disciplined, professional, team-oriented, and accountable. Identities on offense and defense.”
The Kings fell to 8-28, extending their losing streak to five games, while Milwaukee improved to 16-20. Russell Westbrook led Sacramento with 21 points, and LaVine added 20 off the bench. Sacramento will host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday as it aims to halt its slide.
Christie’s remarks underscore his focus on maintaining standards, fostering accountability, and supporting his players through injuries while rebuilding team rhythm.
