DeMar DeRozan gets buckets.
He’s been doing it his whole career. He did it again Sunday night.
DeRozan posted season highs of 41 points and 11 assists to help the Sacramento Kings open a four-game homestand with a 116-111 victory over the Utah Jazz before a crowd of 15,132 at Golden 1 Center.
DeRozan, who ranks 18th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 26,573 points, went 11 of 21 from the field, 1 of 3 from 3-point range and 18 of 21 at the free-throw line. He surpassed his previous season high of 39 points, which came in Wednesday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
“He’s like a comfy blanket,” Kings coach Doug Christie said. “It doesn’t surprise me. You watch him go about his business, you watch him work and then you see him play, it’s the same thing.”
Precious Achiuwa scored 20 points on 10-of-15 shooting while grabbing 11 rebounds for the Kings (18-51), who have won four of their last five games. Sacramento improved to 4-9 in back-to-back situations 24 hours after beating the Los Angeles Clippers.
Achiuwa, who signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Kings in November, said he hopes to return to Sacramento next season.
“I love Sacramento,” Achiuwa said. “The city has embraced me. The team has embraced me, the organization from the front office to my teammates to the coaching staff. I would love to be here.”
Killian Hayes, appearing in his 11th game for the Kings, posted season highs of 16 points and eight assists, going 5 of 9 from the field and 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Earlier in the day, Sacramento signed Hayes to a two-year deal after bringing him in on a 10-day contract.
“This is what I’ve been working for all year to get back in the league,” Hayes said. “I’m just super grateful to be here.”
Cody Williams scored 34 points for the Jazz (20-48), which has lost four of five and 11 of 13. Brice Sensabaugh scored 22 points. Isaiah Colllier added 21 points.
The Kings started Sunday’s game with eight men in uniform. They finished the game with seven players after rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford fouled out with nearly six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but that was all they needed to beat the Jazz.
Both teams were shorthanded with eight players on each side ruled out due to injuries – or rest in the case of Kyle Filipowski, a 22-year-old forward who played 25 minutes two nights earlier in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Utah was missing Ace Bailey (concussion protocol), Filipowski (rest), Keyonte George (hamstring), Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee), Walker Kessler (shoulder), John Konchar (calf), Lauri Markkanen (hip) and Jusuf Nurkic (nose).
Sacramento was missing Devin Carter (calf), Drew Eubanks (thumb), De’Andre Hunter (eye), Zach LaVine (finger), Malik Monk (ankle), Keegan Murray (ankle), Domantas Sabonis (knee) and Russell Westbrook (foot).
Utah started Andersson Garcia, an undrafted rookie appearing in his third NBA game after signing with the Jazz on Wednesday.
The Jazz led 28-26 at the end of the first quarter. The Kings went into the halftime break with a 54-49 lead after shooting 47.8% in the second quarter while holding the Jazz to 40% shooting.
Sacramento staged a 14-5 run to go up by 12 on two free throws by DeRozan early in the second half. Utah came back to cut the deficit to one at the end of the third quarter.
The Kings went up 99-90 after outscoring the Jazz 10-2 to start the fourth quarter. They led 105-93 following two free throws by Daeqwon Plowden with 6:21 to go.
Utah got within three on a 3-pointer by Elijah Harkless with 3:18 remaining. The Jazz cut the deficit to two when Achiuwa was called for goaltending with 2:01 to play, but Sacramento held Utah scoreless over the last two minutes.
Up next
The Kings will continue their homestand when they play host to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
The Spurs (49-18) will be on the second night of a back-to-back after visiting the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. They are second in the Western Conference, 3 ½ games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Victor Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. De’Aaron Fox, who will visit Sacramento for the second time since being traded to the Spurs in February 2025, is averaging 19.1 points and 6.3 assists.
The Spurs have beaten the Kings twice this season, both times in San Antonio, winning 123-110 on Nov. 16 and 139-122 on Feb. 21.
Jason Anderson is The Sacramento Bee’s Kings beat writer. He is a Sacramento native and a graduate of Fresno State, where he studied journalism and college basketball under the late Jerry Tarkanian.