De’Aaron Fox sparks Kings with 28 points in return from injury

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — De’Aaron Fox made a triumphant return after a two-week absence due to an ankle injury, scoring 28 points and dishing out six assists to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 132-120 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night. The win also marked a milestone for Kings coach Mike Brown, who secured his 400th career victory.

Domantas Sabonis contributed 23 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds for the Kings, while Keegan Murray had a standout performance with a season-high 25 points, including five 3-pointers. Murray expressed his satisfaction with the team’s cohesive performance, stating, “It felt like tonight was kind of a night we’ve kind of been waiting on, where we put it together on the same night. It felt like it flowed really well and it felt good for everyone.”

Despite the loss, Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 22 points, with Caris LeVert adding 21 points and Max Strus scoring 19. However, it was Sacramento’s balanced offense that shone, with six players reaching double figures. The night, however, belonged to Fox, who received “MVP!” chants from the crowd in the second half.

Fox wasted no time making his presence felt, scoring the first points of the night with a driving layup just 11 seconds into the game. The talented guard, who was an All-Star last season, continued to make an impact with a reverse layup and a crucial 3-pointer, helping the Kings to a 33-25 lead.

“It felt good just to be able to go out there and contribute,” said Fox. “When I got up today and wasn’t sore, I felt I was good to go. I felt well enough to go out there and affect the game.”

And affect the game he did. Fox maintained his strong performance into the second quarter, providing a much-needed spark to the Kings’ offense in the third quarter. His highlight reel included an emphatic one-handed dunk off a bounce pass from Malik Monk.

Coach Brown, who led the Kings to the playoffs in his first season with the team, praised Fox’s impact, stating, “His play and our play is going to start getting him the recognition he deserves. The crazy part is he’s just scratched the surface of who he can be. When he gets there, look out.”

Brown’s milestone win against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, capped a memorable evening. Reflecting on the achievement, Brown expressed gratitude, saying, “You feel all of the emotions: Fortunate, blessed, lucky. It has a lot to do with the people all around me. It for sure is an honor to be a part of something like that in this league.”

Despite a late surge from the Cavaliers, Fox’s three-point play in the final minutes secured the Kings’ victory. Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged the team’s failure to execute the game plan, stating, “If you allow teams like this, with the firepower that they have, to play freely, they’re going to get it going.”