DeRozan Delivers Season-Best Night, Hayes and Raynaud Step Up
DeMar DeRozan set his season high with 41 points and 11 assists to lead Sacramento to a 116-111 victory against Utah, in a matchup between the two weakest teams in the Western Conference.
Mar 15, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard-forward DeMar DeRozan (10) passes the ball against the Utah Jazz during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
Photo Credit : © Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
DeMar DeRozan delivered an exceptional performance Sunday night in Sacramento, scoring 41 points along with 11 assists to help the Kings beat the Utah Jazz 116-111. The veteran guard achieved his best offensive outing of the season, reaching the 40-point mark for the first time since February 2, 2025.
A historic performance for DeRozan
The six-time All-Star was remarkably efficient, converting 11 of his 21 field goal attempts. This performance marks the 417th time in his career that he has scored at least 20 points while maintaining a field goal percentage of at least 50%. DeRozan, who recently surpassed legend Tim Duncan for 18th place among the NBA‘s all-time leading scorers, continues to write his own history.
DeMar DeRozan is ON FIRE 🔥
He has 35 points midway through the 4th quarter.pic.twitter.com/DzrpSAv6ys
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 16, 2026
Precious Achiuwa also shined with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Killian Hayes, who had extended his contract with Sacramento earlier in the day, contributed 16 points and 8 assists. For his part, Maxime Raynaud finished the game with 8 points and 12 rebounds.
A tight finish despite Kings’ dominance
The Kings took a 110-99 lead with 4 minutes and 45 seconds remaining thanks to a shot by Plowden. However, Utah did not give up and came back to 110-107 with three minutes left, thanks to consecutive 3-pointers by Sensabaugh and Harkless.
DeRozan proved decisive in crucial moments, making three free throws in the final four minutes, including one with 14.9 seconds on the clock to seal the victory. For the Jazz, Cody Williams led the offense with 34 points, supported by Brice Sensabaugh (22 points) and Isaiah Collier (21 points).
This victory allows the Kings (18-51) to secure their fourth win in five games, in a difficult context where both teams were shorthanded. Utah only had nine players available, while Sacramento had only eight. The Kings will face San Antonio next Tuesday, while the Jazz will travel to Minnesota on Wednesday.
With a background in sports management, Nicolas Flamecourt covers NBA news with a particular passion for the North American league, which he has been following for several years. He also covers the NCAA, including news and scouting of future prospects, and regularly conducts interviews with French players as well as players competing in Europe.
Comments (0)