As playoff positions start to matter, Kings score huge road win over Magic

In a key matchup for both conference’s playoff races, Sacramento picked up a pivotal road win Sunday (PHL).

 

The Kings grind out a close 109-107 win over the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center as playoff positioning intensifies in the closing stretch of the NBA regular season.

 

Free throws won the game for Sacramento, with De’Aaron Fox first making two for a 108-107 lead with 21 seconds to go.

 

Keon Ellis split his own free throws, but one was enough to seal the final tally as Paolo Banchero missed a well-contested three at the buzzer.

 

COUNT IT 🗣? ?
?
Fox fights through contact for the and-one opportunity. pic.twitter.com/iAliap6my1

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 24, 2024

 

 

Fox led the way for the Kings with 31 points eight rebounds, and three steals. Keegan Murray added 22, while Domantas Sabonis barely missed another triple-double with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists.

Ellis added a career-best 19 to help the Kings' cause.

 

Keon Ellis vs. the Magic ????
??
👑 19 PTS (Career-High) ??
👑 6 AST ??
👑 5 REB ??
👑 2 STL pic.twitter.com/xOFWpqKKlm

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 24, 2024

 

Sacramento improved to 41-29 for 7th place in the tight Western Conference. The Kings are half a game back of Phoenix for 6th, and three full games ahead of the Lakers for 9th.

Orlando saw its five-game winning streak snapped with the loss, but more importantly, the Magic took a hit in the East race for no. 3.

 

The loss put the Magic at 42-29. Less than two games separate Orlando, Cleveland, and New York in the fight for the East’s third seed.

 

Jonathan Isaac was the high man for the Magic with 25 points, while Banchero went for 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.