NBA: Malik Monk in clutch mode, Sacramento survives late scare against the Nets

A tight game… and a breathless finish

One of those nights where it all comes down to the final minutes. Every possession mattered. One player grabbed control.

In Sacramento, the Kings scraped out a huge win over the Nets (126-122). Not flawless. They kept their cool. And above all, Malik Monk was blazing when it counted.

Malik Monk, on fire in the clutch

He waited. Then he struck.

32 points overall. Crucially, 10 in the final five minutes. Where games are won. Where nerves snap.

Two threes. Perfect free throws (9/9). Possessions managed with authority. Monk took the game by the throat.

When Sacramento needed him, he showed up. Didn’t flinch.

A tense finish down to the final possession

108-105 to the Kings. The score was tight; the game tilted.

Monk drained two deep threes, then added points at the line. The lead grew, but Brooklyn kept fighting.

Traoré cut the gap from the line. 123-122. Seconds left. Everything was still possible.

Then Devin Carter drew the foul. Two free throws. Two makes. 126-122.

Final possession for the Nets. A chance to tie or keep hope alive.

But Traoré stepped out of bounds. Turnover. Game over.

Cruel. Final.

Raynaud and the supporting cast deliver

Behind Monk, Sacramento found help.

Rookie Maxime Raynaud posted another solid double-double: 22 points, 10 rebounds. Always around the ball, always busy.

Maxime Raynaud 22 PTS, 10 REBS, 2 ASTS, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 75% TS on 10/13 FG vs Net

Is averaging 28/7.7/2.3 with 1.0 BPG on 61.8% FG https://t.co/TKBEkhvpiZ pic.twitter.com/hPJJnxIyPd

— NBA Performances (@NBARewinds) March 23, 2026

Precious Achiuwa bullied the glass with 14 points and 15 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan ran the offense and handed out assists (8), without forcing it.

Not a one-man win. Still, one man made the difference.

Brooklyn believed… then cracked at the worst moment

The Nets never gave up.

Ben Saraf (22 points), Ziaire Williams (18), Nolan Traoré (17). Contributions, energy, a real will to fight back.

But in the clutch they missed that extra edge — the clarity, the precision.

And against a hot player like Monk, the smallest mistake costs big.

Very costly.

Sacramento breathes easy, Brooklyn sinks deeper

This win ends a two-game skid for the Kings. It doesn’t fix everything, but it helps.

More importantly: even in a rough season, Sacramento can show up in crunch time.

For Brooklyn, the slide continues. Another loss. The same frustrating feeling of getting close… and never finishing.

A night defined by composure

This game might not go down as a classic.

But it says something essential about the NBA.

In the final minutes, it’s not always the plays that decide the outcome.

It’s the players.

And Sunday night, Malik Monk reminded everyone he’s one of the guys who step up when the game speeds up.

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