Kings eliminated, injuries mount
The Sacramento Kings are officially out of playoff contention for 2025–26 — the West is set and Sacramento won’t be playing in the postseason (sports.yahoo.com). Their 111–107 loss to Orlando on March 26 featured Paolo Banchero’s 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and the Kings lost Hayes early with a left pinkie issue after being already questionable for toe inflammation — injuries and a 28th-ranked offense helped seal their fate ( ).
The Kings’ elimination was clinched earlier in March — Sacramento was officially knocked out of postseason contention after a loss to the Charlotte Hornets on March 12. (si.com) Sacramento’s record sits at 19-55 and the club occupies the bottom slot in the Western Conference standings as of the March 26 game. (espn.com) Against Orlando on March 26, DeMar DeRozan delivered 33 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in the Kings’ losing effort. (nba.com) That line also produced a rare milestone: DeRozan became the oldest player in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 10 assists and zero turnovers in a single game. (si.com) Guard Killian Hayes had undergone an MRI after leaving the March 22 game against Brooklyn; imaging showed inflammation in his left toe and the team listed him day-to-day heading into the Orlando matchup. (sactownsports.com) The Kings upgraded Hayes to available for March 26, but he exited late in the first quarter with a left-hand issue and was sent to the locker room; the club had not provided a further update immediately after the game. (nba.com) (rotowire.com) Sacramento’s offense ranks near the bottom of the league — an offensive rating of roughly 110.8 places the team 28th in the NBA — and the Kings return to the court next on March 28 at Atlanta as they close out the regular season. (statmuse.com) (espn.com)
