Sacramento Kings Defeat Shorthanded Utah Jazz at Home

Kings capitalize on Jazz's injuries to win fourth matchup of the season

Mar. 15, 2026 at 7:53pm

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The Sacramento Kings defeated the Utah Jazz 118-109 at home on Sunday, taking advantage of the Jazz's injury-depleted roster. With key players Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, and Kyle Filipowski all out, the Jazz were forced to start an underwhelming lineup and struggled to keep up with the Kings, who were led by strong performances from DeMar DeRozan, Precious Achiuwa, and Maxime Raynaud. The win was the Kings' fourth in their last five games, while the Jazz continued their freefall, going just 2-9 since the All-Star break.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the growing gap between the Kings and Jazz, two of the Western Conference's worst teams this season. While Sacramento has shown signs of improvement, Utah appears to be fully embracing a rebuilding mode, resting key players and accepting losses in pursuit of a high draft pick. The Kings' victory at home as favorites also demonstrated their ability to take care of business against shorthanded opponents, an important skill as they try to climb the standings in the competitive West.

The details

The Kings were led by strong offensive showings from DeMar DeRozan, Precious Achiuwa, and Maxime Raynaud, who each scored at least 23 points. Daeqwon Plowden added 15 points off the bench, and Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double for Sacramento. The Jazz, meanwhile, were forced to start a lineup of Isaiah Collier, Elijah Harkless, Cody Williams, Brice Sensabaugh, and Oscar Tshiebwe, with Collier and Sensabaugh leading the way for the undermanned squad.

  • The Kings and Jazz met for the fourth and final time this season on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Since the All-Star break, the Jazz have gone just 2-9 and rank 25th in net rating.
  • The Kings have gone 5-7 since the break, including three wins in their last four games.

The players

DeMar DeRozan

A veteran scoring guard for the Sacramento Kings.

Precious Achiuwa

A versatile forward who had a strong game for the Kings.

Maxime Raynaud

A key contributor off the bench for the Sacramento Kings.

Lauri Markkanen

A starting forward for the Utah Jazz who missed the game due to injury.

Isaiah Collier

A guard who led the undermanned Utah Jazz in this contest.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Kings will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, while the Jazz will try to get healthier and develop their young talent as they focus on the future.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the divergent paths of the Kings and Jazz this season, with Sacramento showing signs of progress as a team on the rise, while Utah embraces a rebuilding mode and accepts losses in pursuit of a high draft pick. The Kings' ability to take care of business against an undermanned opponent at home was an encouraging sign as they try to climb the standings in the competitive West.