Monk and Fox emerge in the final moments to guide the Kings to a 115-104 victory over the Timberwolves.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Malik Monk delivered an impressive performance with 27 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, while De'Aaron Fox contributed 26 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 115-104 victory over the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday evening.

In the final five minutes, Monk and Fox outscored the Timberwolves 17-2, showcasing their dominance. Domantas Sabonis also played a crucial role, recording 27 points and 12 rebounds, helping Sacramento end a four-game losing streak. The Kings significantly outperformed Minnesota in the paint, scoring 64 points to the Timberwolves' 36, and secured 12 offensive rebounds compared to Minnesota's four. Anthony Edwards was the standout for the Timberwolves, scoring 29 points, although he struggled with his shooting, finishing 9 for 24 from the field. After a promising start to the season at 6-3 and reaching the 2024 Western Conference finals, Minnesota has now lost four consecutive games and seven of their last nine.

Key observations for the Kings include Monk's apparent full recovery from a right ankle sprain that sidelined him for seven games. The 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year finalist made two consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping Sacramento overcome a 12-point deficit. For the Timberwolves, despite Mike Conley returning to the lineup after a three-game absence due to a toe sprain, the team continues to face challenges in establishing chemistry. The trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns, which brought in Julius Randle (21 points, nine rebounds) and Donte DiVincenzo (five points), has produced inconsistent results as they work to integrate with Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and the rest of the team.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Jae Crowder, a seasoned NBA veteran who signed with the Kings earlier that day, made his first appearance since the 2024 playoffs with Milwaukee. His three-pointer at the buzzer of the first quarter narrowed the Wolves' lead to 33-31, and he celebrated by pointing at the home team's bench before joining his new teammates.

In terms of statistics, Edwards started strong, making his first four three-pointers and scoring 14 points within the first nine minutes of play. He entered the game leading the NBA with an average of 4.8 made three-pointers per game.

Looking ahead, both teams are set to participate in NBA Cup group play games on Friday