Zach LaVine exploded for a season-high 42 points in 31 minutes, Malik Monk recorded a double-double, and the Sacramento Kings gradually pulled away from the visiting Charlotte Hornets for a 130-88 victory Monday night.
LaVine hit 16 of his 19 shots, including 8 of 9 from 3-point range, en route to the 22nd 40-point game of his career.
The 42 points were 10 more than LaVine had posted in the best of his seven prior games since being acquired from the Chicago Bulls in a trade earlier this month.
LaVine went scoreless for over six minutes to start the game before ripping off 10 consecutive Kings points in a flurry that helped produce a 34-23 lead by quarter’s end. He added another 12 points in the second period, helping the hosts go up 65-45 at the break.
A two-point third quarter seemed to take the steam out of a big night, but LaVine drilled four 3-pointers during a quick burst in the final period, in which he padded his point total by 18 points.
LaVine’s eight 3-pointers helped the Kings outscore the Hornets 60-30 from beyond the arc. Sacramento made 20 of 38 from deep.
The Kings shot better than 50 percent both overall (54 percent) and on 3-point tries (52.6 percent).
Monk provided a helping hand with a game-high 10 assists to go with 13 points and two blocks. DeMar DeRozan had 18 points for Sacramento, and Keegan Murray added 10.
Domantas Sabonis led all rebounders in the game with 10 to complement seven points and seven assists for the Kings, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Miles Bridges had 23 points to pace the Hornets, who were playing their seventh consecutive road game and suffered their second straight loss of at least 42 points. On Saturday, Charlotte fell by 53 points at Portland.
LaMelo Ball logged 13 points, six rebounds and a team-high nine assists for the Hornets. Nick Smith Jr. also had 13 points, Jusuf Nurkic contributed 12 to go with a team-high nine rebounds and three steals, and Moussa Diabate scored 12 points.
Playing the front end of a Northern California back-to-back, the Hornets shot just 35.3 percent overall, including a 10-for-40 clip from 3-point range.
–Field Level Media
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