Kings Assert Dominance, Wolves Flounder
The Sacramento Kings rolled into March 2026 and absolutely put a clinic on the Minnesota Timberwolves, taking the Basketball Shooting competition 4-1. Anyone watching knew pretty quickly this wasn't going to be a nail-biter. The Kings came out firing, plain and simple, and the Wolves just never found their rhythm. It was a statement win for Sacramento, particularly after dropping their last two road games against the Clippers and Suns.
From the jump, you could tell the Kings were locked in. De'Aaron Fox, despite not being the top scorer, set the tone with his quick release and confident stroke. He hit three of his first four attempts in the opening round, putting Minnesota on their heels. That early pressure seemed to throw the Timberwolves off their game, especially Anthony Edwards, who struggled to connect consistently from beyond the arc in the first two rounds, hitting just 2 of 10 from deep.
The turning point, if you can even call it that in such a lopsided affair, came in the third round. With the Kings already up 2-0, Domantas Sabonis stepped up and put on a show. He drained 8 of his 10 shots, including two money balls, effectively sealing the match's fate. That round alone pushed the score to 3-0, and from there, it was just a matter of playing out the string. Sabonis finished the day with an incredible 75% shooting percentage, easily his best performance in this format all season.
Tactical Edge: Kings' Shot Selection vs. Wolves' Frustration
Look, Mike Brown's tactical approach for the Kings was clear: exploit the mid-range and corner threes. They ran a lot of quick-release drills in practice this week, and it showed. Guys like Keegan Murray were consistently finding their spots from the corners, hitting 4 of 5 in the second round. They weren't forcing contested shots; they were patient, waiting for the clean looks, and then executing.
Chris Finch, on the other hand, looked like a frustrated man on the Minnesota sideline. His team seemed to rely too heavily on hero shots from Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns, usually reliable, missed four straight shots in the fourth round, which is uncharacteristic for him. The Wolves' strategy appeared to be 'let our stars shoot,' but without a more structured approach to shot creation in this format, it just fell flat. They needed more off-ball movement to create easier looks, something the Kings did exceptionally well with Harrison Barnes.
Thing is, the Kings' bench players also contributed significantly. Malik Monk, coming off the bench, hit 3 of 4 from the left wing in the final round, adding to Minnesota's misery. That kind of depth in shooting is what separates good teams from great ones in this competition. The Wolves, frankly, didn't get that same consistent output from their role players, with Naz Reid only managing 1 of 5 in the second round.
Sabonis Shines, Edwards Falters
Man of the Match has to go to Domantas Sabonis. He wasn't just good; he was lights out. His 75% shooting percentage and those crucial money balls in the third round were the difference-makers. He showed incredible focus and a softer touch than many big men possess from distance. It was a truly dominant individual performance that anchored the Kings' victory.
Other standout performers for Sacramento included De'Aaron Fox, who provided that early spark and finished with an efficient 60% from the field, and Keegan Murray, whose corner shooting was clinical. They played with a confidence that suggested they knew they were going to win long before the final buzzer.
On the Minnesota side, it's tough to find a true standout. Rudy Gobert, surprisingly, had a decent showing, hitting 3 of 6 from the free-throw line extended in the fourth round, but that wasn't enough to stem the tide. Anthony Edwards, who usually thrives under pressure, looked out of sorts. His 30% shooting for the day is well below his season average of 45% in this competition, and it's something he'll need to address if the Wolves want to make a deep run.
What It Means for Both Teams
For the Kings, this 4-1 victory is huge. It pushes their season record in the Basketball Shooting competition to 12-7, solidifying their spot in the top half of the Western Conference standings. More importantly, it's a massive confidence booster after those two tough losses. It shows they can perform under pressure and execute their game plan against a quality opponent. This win injects some much-needed momentum as they head into a critical stretch of the season, where they'll face the Nuggets and Warriors.
For the Timberwolves, this is a wake-up call. Their record now stands at 10-9, and they're slipping in the standings. This kind of performance, especially from their star players, isn't going to cut it against the league's elite. They need to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to generate more consistent shooting opportunities. Finch has some serious questions to answer about his team's focus and tactical discipline in these shooting contests. Losing 4-1 to a direct conference rival stings, and it could have implications for playoff seeding down the line.
Real talk: the Wolves looked unprepared. This wasn't just an off night; it felt like a fundamental breakdown in their approach to this specific competition. They've got to regroup fast.
Looking Ahead: Kings Eye Top Spot, Wolves Face Tough Road
The Sacramento Kings now head home for a two-game stand, first against the Utah Jazz, who are always a tricky opponent in shooting contests, then a showdown with the Denver Nuggets. If they can carry this momentum, especially Sabonis's hot hand, they have a real chance to climb even higher in the standings. Their next match against the Jazz on Friday will be a good test of their consistency.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a tougher road ahead. They travel to face the Dallas Mavericks, who boast Luka Doncic's impressive shooting range, before returning home to host the Oklahoma City Thunder. These are two formidable opponents, and if the Wolves don't fix their shooting woes, they could find themselves in a deeper hole. They need to find some answers, and fast, before their playoff aspirations take a serious hit. I predict the Kings win at least one of their next two, while the Wolves drop both if Edwards doesn't snap out of his slump.