The Sacramento Kings snapped a rough stretch with a gritty 117-112 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden 1 Center on Monday, November 24, 2025 — and forward Keegan Murray, 24, didn’t mince words about what it meant. "A little content with the win once you come back from a losing streak," he said, "but I feel like we brought a really good energy tonight. Guys have a standard now that shows how we win and why we win." The victory, sealed after a wild fourth quarter and overtime, wasn’t just about points. It was about identity. And for the first time in months, the Kings looked like they’d found theirs.

From Road Struggles to Home Surge

Just 24 hours earlier, the Kings had eked out a 108-104 win in Denver against the Nuggets — a result Murray called "a big win." But that was only the first step. Before that, Sacramento had lost four of five games on a brutal road trip through the West, including defeats to Portland and Utah. The team entered this game at 12-14, clinging to playoff hopes but drowning in inconsistency. "We struggled a little bit on that road trip," Murray said at the postgame podium. "So to get back home… after winning in Denver… and having a night like this, crowd-wise was huge." The crowd didn’t disappoint. Golden 1 Center, with its 17,611-seat roar, felt alive — a stark contrast to the quiet, half-empty arenas they’d played in just days before. "I haven’t really experienced it when we’re losing," Murray admitted. "When we have this kind of record… it’s been great."

Defensive Discipline Turns the Tide

The Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards’ 43-point explosion, came out firing. But Sacramento’s defense — often the team’s Achilles’ heel — held firm in crunch time. Head coach Doug Christie, 54, pointed to a tactical shift that made all the difference. "We were able to switch 1 through 5," Murray explained. "That’s been big for us. It keeps us in our standard defense. Yeah, it’s fantastic." Christie echoed the sentiment. "We held Minnesota like 101 points in four quarters," he said, though the final score told a different story — 117-112, with the Kings outscoring the Wolves 16-9 in overtime. "Our rotations, our pressure… really good," Christie added. He singled out Murray: "He’s gotten more comfortable the longer he’s been here. He was a spark plug for us today." The key wasn’t just blocking shots — it was forcing bad ones. "At times we’re kind of trying to have them miss shots instead of force them to miss shots," Murray admitted. But on this night, the Kings pressured every pass, denied the paint, and stayed disciplined even when Edwards drove through traffic like a freight train.

DeRozan: "Now It’s About Consistency"

For veteran guard DeMar DeRozan, 35, this win wasn’t just about momentum — it was about proving the Kings could be more than a flash in the pan. "We were inconsistent too much," he said. "Now it’s about turning that tide and being consistent." DeRozan, who’s seen playoff battles and championship runs, knows what it takes to build something lasting. "These are the things that help to build and create the identity of fight and determination," he said, referencing the "bad losses earlier in this season." He didn’t celebrate the win as an endpoint — he called it a building block. "We just got to keep building on games and moments like this so we can establish that identity." The contrast between this win and their November 10 loss to the Pelicans — a game where Sacramento blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead — was impossible to ignore. This time, they didn’t fold. They held on.

The Bigger Picture: Can This Last?

The Kings’ 2025-2026 season has been a rollercoaster. They’ve shown flashes of elite offense — led by Murray’s 21-point, 9-rebound night — but defensive lapses have cost them games they should’ve won. This victory, however, carried a different tone. It wasn’t just about scoring. It was about execution under pressure. About communication. About belief. "I wasn’t there for half of it," Murray confessed about team film sessions, a rare admission of a lapse in preparation. But on the court, he made up for it. His energy, his defensive rotations, his willingness to dive for loose balls — it all added up. And when the final buzzer sounded, the locker room didn’t erupt in chaos. It felt… settled. Purposeful.

What’s Next?

The Kings next face the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 — a team with a top-5 offense and a roster built for fast-paced, high-stakes basketball. If Sacramento wants to stay in the Western Conference playoff race, they can’t afford another two-game winning streak followed by three losses. They need consistency. DeRozan said it. Christie said it. Murray said it. The data doesn’t lie: since November 1, the Kings are 5-8 when scoring under 115 points. But they’re 6-1 when holding opponents under 110. That’s not a coincidence. That’s a blueprint.