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Those in attendance at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night were treated to Knicks history. Twice. Courtesy of Josh Hart.

Hart, who is having a career season in his third year with the Knicks, posted his ninth triple-double of the season after his 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists lifted New York to a 128-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The significance of nine is it puts Hart as the top triple-double getter in Knicks single-season history after his performance Tuesday night broke Walt "Clyde" Frazier's record of eight.

The former Knick great, and current broadcaster, posted those eight triple-doubles back during the 1968-69 season. A record that stood for more than 55 years until Hart's all-around play this season put him in the record books.

"Any time you get a record, it's pretty special because of the greatness of this league," coach Tom Thibodeau said of Hart's record after the game. "To do what he’s doing, is a testament to what he's put into it. Also, his teammates and feeding off each other."

“It’s just a blessing. I got a great group of guys, great, high-character group of guys," Hart said of his record. "Means I at least played nine good games so far out of 60-whatever [games]. It’s just a blessing, can’t say more than that."

Hart is never one to make personal accomplishments about himself, no matter how great they are. A humbling character for a player who is a bulldog on the court while doing it all without the accolades -- he's never been named to an All-Star game -- or the name recognition of some of his teammates.

And yet, you ask his coaches and teammates what Hart means to this team and they won't be able to stop singing his praises.

"It’s hard to describe what he is to the team," Thibodeau said of Hart. "At times he’s a facilitator, a rebounder, a pace guy, he’s a hustle guy. And at the end, he’s done a number of things to help you win. The effort plays, that unites and inspires the team."

"The way he’s doing it is special," Karl-Anthony Towns said of his teammate. "I'm just happy that Josh gets stats on the sheet that show the impact he's making on the game. 

"There's much more stats that don't show up on the stat sheet that he does for our team. I’m happy he’s having this moment where the effort, the sacrifice and the work he puts in for our team to be the best version of ourselves is showing up…so he can get his respect and accolades. He deserves it."

Towns, one of those recognizable names on the Knicks, was a big part of Hart's second record-breaking night. The duo became the first Knicks teammates in their history to record a triple-double in the same game. It's also only the 17th time in NBA history that it's happened.

Hart has witnessed that sort of history in the past while a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Back in 2018, he was on the team that saw LeBron James and Lonzo Ball have that special night.

"Now full circle, I’m in the same situation with KAT," Hart said of the parallels from that night.

But in classic Hart fashion, his thoughts are on the Knicks' next game. The second of their back-to-back, this time against the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Just hope we can carry that for tomorrow," he said.

The Knicks defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 128-113, on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Here are some takeaways...

- Both teams came into this one shorthanded -- as Jalen Brunson remains out for New York and Mitchell Robinson sat on the first night of a back-to-back, while the Mavericks were missing eight players including star big man Anthony Davis, who returned from a groin injury Monday in Brooklyn.

- If you like offense, this one was for you. Both teams simply could not miss from the get-go, as they shot a combined 68 percent from the field, dished a total of 24 assists, and turned the ball over just one time during an opening quarter that ended with the Knicks leading by two.

- With Dallas missing their key big men, Karl-Anthony Towns was all over the place in the first half. The All-Star center was getting whatever he wanted on both ends of the floor -- contributing 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting while pulling in eight boards and picking up seven assists.

- Still, the shorthanded Mavericks refused to go away, and it was evened at 68 heading into the break. The Knicks simply had no answer for Naji Marshall, who tied the team's highest-scoring half of the season, missing just two of the 15 shots he took for a game-high 28 points.

- Dallas went cold opening the third, missing eight of their first 10 shots from the field, while the Knicks came out of the locker room with a full head of steam. Six straight points from Mikal Bridges helped New York push the lead into double digits for the first time in the game, and they never looked back from there.

- OG Anunoby led New York with his fourth 30+ point showing of the season (35). Bridges shot an efficient 9-of-14 from the field to finish with 21 points, Precious Achiuwa contributed 11 points off the bench, and Tyler Kolek was impressive again as he racked up a career-high nine assists.

- Hart (16 points-12 rebounds-11 assists) and Towns (26 points-12 rebounds-11 assists) became the first pair of teammates in Knicks history to record a triple-double in the same game. It was Hart's ninth of the season, which also passed Walt Frazier for a new franchise record.

- 2024 second-round pick Kevin McCullar Jr. officially made his NBA debut, and he logged his first career points.

Game MVP(s): Hart and Towns

The duo combined to put together an incredible 42 points, 24 rebounds, and 22 assists.

Highlights

KAT dropped ‘em 🫢 pic.twitter.com/DPqv9sUiMk

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) March 26, 2025

KAT dished out 6 assists in the first quarter pic.twitter.com/RqRr1v72ID

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) March 26, 2025

Kolek finds KAT! pic.twitter.com/e88U5iSCZo

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) March 26, 2025

OG knocks it down 👌 pic.twitter.com/DqV4xDrZtE

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) March 26, 2025

Whats next

New York has a quick turnaround as they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Why Christie remains optimistic despite Kings' four-game losing skid originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Following the Kings’ 121-105 loss to the Thunder on Tuesday night, interim coach Doug Christie made it a point to use Oklahoma City as an example.

For one thing, Christie is a believer that the two teams likely will cross paths in the NBA playoffs. That’s certainly rounding into shape, as the Kings’ four-game losing streak has tumbled them down the Western Conference standings, while the Thunder remain on fire after becoming the first NBA team to reach 60 wins this season.

Christie also wanted his players to take not of how well the Thunder played and the intricacies of what they did so successfully. In Christie’s mind, OKC was the perfect embodiment of who he envisions the Kings becoming.

“If you mess up, they take full advantage of it very single time,” Christie said. “And we’re going to get there because we keep demonstrating we can. Now it’s, are you willing to go through the pain it takes to do it? That’s really what it’s all about.

“It’s painful as hell and that’s why not everybody does it. But it’s not easy and sometimes you don’t feel good. There’s a lot of different things that go into it.”

Christie was correct in pointing out that the Kings have played at a high level at various times this season, but he was equally on point when he noted that the consistency isn’t there, whether it be from game to game or quarter to quarter.

The loss to the Thunder was a perfect example of Sacramento’s up-and-down tendencies, only this time it was down-then-up-then-down-again.

The Kings were out of sorts in the first half and limited to 42 points. It wasn’t their worst half of the season, but it sure seemed and felt that way. Keegan Murray said part of the problem was lack of attention to detail, something that has been a recurring theme in Sacramento.

Coming out of halftime, however, the Kings looked like an entirely different team while outscoring the Thunder 39-25 to make it a tight game until OKC pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Despite all of that, Christie found reasons for optimism.

He specifically pointed out the 47 3-pointers that the Kings chucked up against the Thunder, matching their season high and nearly twice the attempts they took the previous night while losing to the Boston Celtics. The Kings also had 32 assists on their 27 made buckets, their most in more than a week.

Christie emphasized both the good and bad to his players for several reasons.

“That’s a team that you’re going to face in the playoffs,” Christie told his players after the loss. “At some point you have to make a stand. To our guys credit, they did.”

As too often has been the case this season, it wasn’t enough.

“I’m not the moral victory guy, but there is a good team in that locker room and they are trying to find their way, and they’re trying to find their rhythm,” Christie said of the Kings. “They continue to fight, and I appreciate that. It doesn’t feel good right now but once they get that rhythm, watch out.”

In the aftermath if Monday’s loss to Boston, there was some talk about a bad vibe in Sacramento’s locker room. Keon Ellis had a different view, and Christie said he agreed that the feeling within the team is fine.

The need to get better, however, remains an issue, as does the ability to sustain the success for long stretches.

“I’ve told you guys, 80 percent isn’t enough. We’re a 90 percent-plus team,” Christie said. “What our guys have to understand is the consistency to which you approach something is everything for us. That means effort. That means attention to detail. That means extra efforts, possession game.

“That’s the team in the locker room. Unfortunately it’s not the team that continues to show itself for 48 minutes. I know that’s hard, but we’re not accepting anything less. There will be a time, and when that time comes you’ll feel it.”

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Kerr calls Warriors' matchup vs. Pelicans ‘biggest game of year' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Get the popcorn ready, the Warriors’ biggest game of the NBA regular season is coming up. 

On Friday, Golden State, on a two-game losing streak and hanging on to the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference by half a game, will visit the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. 

With 10 games remaining in the regular season, coach Steve Kerr recognizes what’s on the line come Friday. 

“ … I think Friday is the biggest game of the year for us,” Kerr told reporters after the Warriors loss on Tuesday. 

“We’ve lost two games in a row, very poor performances. It’s time. We got to bounce back, and that’s what good teams do. And I’m confident that we will do that.” 

After starting a six-game road trip on a bad note – especially considering star guard Steph Curry’s injury absence – the Warriors are in a pressure situation to right the ship. 

As it stands, Golden State boasts a 41-31 record, 2 1/2 games behind No. 5 seed Los Angeles Lakers and half a game above the Los Angeles Clippers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Warriors veteran forward Draymond Green, who is no stranger to making memorable late-season and playoff runs, echoed Kerr’s call to action.

“Come out and play well, “Green said on what the Warriors should do against the Pelicans. 

Logically, the last thing any member of the Warriors wants is to spiral in the dying weeks of the season. 

“[You] lose two in a row, you don’t want to spiral,” Green added. “This is the wrong time of the year to spiral, so we got to come out and take care of this road trip, moving in the right direction.

“We’re 0-2 to start this trip. We need to make sure to right the ship.” 

On the bright side, the Warriors are unbeaten against the Pelicans this season. Could Kerr and Co.’s biggest game of the season also result in a sweep?

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Dray states opponents like Heat become ‘best team in NBA' vs. Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

On Tuesday night, the Miami Heat didn’t play like a team with just one win in its last 11 games.

Instead, the Heat spoiled Jimmy Butler’s anticipated return to South Beach by making 17 of 25 3-point attempts en route to a 112-86 win over the Warriors at the Kaseya Center.

But, as Draymond Green noted postgame, this isn’t a new phenomenon for Golden State. With their decade-long stretch of dominance in the NBA, the Warriors have earned the privilege of getting their opponents’ best effort on a routine basis.

That was especially true for the Heat, who had some added motivation for Butler’s first game back in Miami since their dramatic breakup earlier this season.

“We got to make sure that we are approaching every game like we’re playing against the best team in the NBA, because that’s who teams turn into when they play us,” Green told reporters after the game. “They play out of their minds.

” … It’s crazy. But in saying that, it’s the NBA. Everybody has got talent, so whether they’re a team with a winning record or not, everybody’s got talent and can beat you on any night. We got to make sure we figure these games out.”

"We got to make sure that we are approaching every game like we're playing against the best team in the NBA, because that's who teams turn into when they play us."

Draymond Green explains how the Warriors' mindset must change after tonight's loss to the Heat pic.twitter.com/i2cI53stLp

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 26, 2025

With 10 games left in the regular season, the Warriors have several more teams remaining on their schedule that are out of NBA plyoff contention but inevitably want to play spoiler for Golden State’s own postseason hopes.

That continues with Friday’s upcoming matchup against the 20-53 New Orleans Pelicans, though the Warriors hope to have star guard Steph Curryhealthy enough to play then. A pair of contests against the 31-40 San Antonio Spurs and another with the 32-40 Portland Trail Blazers still loom over the next few weeks, too.

Leading the Los Angeles Clippers by just half a game for the Western Conference’s No. 6 seed as of Tuesday night, Golden State can’t afford to drop any more meetings against sub-.500 opponents in order to avoid the NBA play-in tournament.

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Butler's Heat chapter slammed shut long before Warriors' lifeless loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

MIAMI – Boos and cheers alike met Jimmy Butler in his return to the Kaseya Center on Tuesday night. 

A mixture of both as a Miami Heat tribute video honoring Butler played during pregame introductions. Boos whenever Butler touched the ball once the game began, and cheers whenever he missed a shot or made a mistake. The loudest cheer of all regarding Butler was a play involving Andrew Wiggins, the main player the Warriors traded to the Heat to acquire Butler on Feb. 5. 

With the Warriors beginning the game uninspired and again having to swim upstream like their previous game against the Atlanta Hawks, Butler had his best chance of getting his new team going in what looked like a wide-open fastbreak. That didn’t stop Wiggins, who chased down Butler and blocked his dunk attempt, keeping the ball inbounds as it wound up going to the Heat. 

Heat fans loved seeing Andrew Wiggins block Jimmy Butler pic.twitter.com/0OhiHgFitN

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) March 25, 2025

That’s the kind of night Butler and the Warriors endured in a 112-86 loss against the Heat.

Did boos outnumber cheers? Yes, undoubtedly. Did the arena ever feel hostile or over the top? 

Not once.

“Miami is a great place to live, and some people don’t ever seem too amped up around here,” coach Steve Kerr said. “They’re living the good life. It really wasn’t that rabid of an environment. It was typical Miami.” 

Butler sat alone at the end of the bench as the pregame tribute video played, looking up to watch but showing little, if any, emotion. Iconic moments from his tenure that lasted over five seasons were remembered fondly as they should be. He sipped his cup, put his Chapstick on, waved to the crowd for a second, and then it was time to play the game.

Jimmy Butler watching the Heat's tribute video for him ❤ pic.twitter.com/1lXfL6HphN

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 26, 2025

Throughout the week and days leading up to Butler’s return, he maintained the message that Tuesday night wasn’t any different than the Warriors’ previous 71 games. Just another Tuesday night, in his words. The past chapter is meant to be closed, continuously turning the next page of his personal story. 

The same sentiment was shared in the visiting locker room by Butler after the loss, too. 

“Like I always say, I got a lot of love for the city, for the fan base here,” Butler said. “Video was nice. I won’t say that there’s a lot of emotions, though. I think I went into this day level-headed. We wanted to win the game, and it didn’t go as we planned.” 

Coaches and teammates commended how Butler handled himself. He personally thanked them before and after the game for how they went about the situation as well. His time in Miami the past few days has been spent around his children, being by the water and enjoying a combination of sunshine, Bigface Coffee and dominoes. 

The weirdest part of all for him was arriving to the game. Pulling into the visitor’s parking lot and finding his way to the opposite locker room he was used to going to since the summer of 2019. 

Jimmy isn't used to the visiting team's entrance in Miami 😅 pic.twitter.com/3XhflZsTpz

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 25, 2025

Before the game, Butler didn’t mingle with former teammates and coaches the way Wiggins did with the Warriors. There weren’t any daps between Butler and Bam Adebayo, or even he and Tyler Herro. He was only seen briefly conversing with two Heat players: Kevin Love and Terry Rozier. 

But that doesn’t mean all Butler’s love for the Heat is lost. 

“It took me back to some good times when I was wearing a Miami Heat jersey,” Butler said. “Very appreciative of those times to help me become the player that I am in this league, the individual that I am in this league. The teammate, the leader – all of those things. 

“I don’t think I could be who I am today without my opportunity here.” 

The Warriors going into Tuesday were 16-4 since trading for Butler, losing three games in which he played. The Heat have spiraled, going 5-16 post-Butler. Once the game began Tuesday night, though, records went out the door. 

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had his squad ready to roll. The Warriors trailed 7-0 through the first two minutes. They eventually woke up and made it a two-point game with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Not once did the Warriors lead. 

Miami led by as many as 28 points, holding the Warriors to their second-lowest scoring night of the 2024-25 NBA season. The Heat shot an astonishing 68 percent from three (17 of 25), further emphasizing the Warriors’ Swiss cheese defense the last two games, both losses to teams with losing records. On a night where Steph Curry was subjected to street clothes on the bench nursing a pelvic contusion that has kept him out of the Warriors’ last two losses, the three-ball made all the difference. 

Butler scored the Warriors’ first two points of the night but never got going. He finished with 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting and was a minus-19 in 29 minutes. 

The bizarreness of the box score wasn’t Adebayo’s game-high 27 points, or Herro’s 20, but Alec Burks adding 17 while going 5 of 7 from deep. The 13-year veteran who played 48 games for the Warriors in the 2019-20 season would have led Golden State in scoring Tuesday night. 

As the final buzzer rang, Butler didn’t even turn towards the Heat bench, opting to walk straight down the tunnel and back to the Warriors’ locker room. 

“I don’t know what it’s like to return to a place,” Draymond Green said. “So I can’t necessarily speak to that, but I can imagine it’s emotional. He was fine. He was into the game, he didn’t make it about himself. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t get the win for him. 

“We played like s–t, but I thought he handled it well.” 

In the final moments of the Warriors’ loss, as Heat fans headed towards the exit, one older man stood out in particular. Wearing a Miami Vice blue shirsey, it appeared he was one of the few still supporting Butler with a pink No. 22 on the back. The nameplate was the difference. 

Instead of “Butler” across his back, using white athletic tape and black marker, the fan had written “Wiggins.” 

This night wasn’t about closure, nor was it really about honor. The book has been slammed shut on Butler’s time representing the Heat, and now he and the rest of the Warriors have to move on even quicker to avoid disaster over the final 10 games of the regular season.

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What we learned as Kings' third-quarter surge not enough to beat OKC originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SACRAMENTO – That was pretty painful.

One night after taking it on the chin in a loss to the defending NBA champs, the Kings had a chance to save face and prove they belong in discussions about the playoffs.

Instead of cementing that idea, Sacramento slept-walked to a 121-105 loss to the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at Golden 1 Center that extended the Kings’ losing streak to four games and opened the door to the very real possibility that they’ll be sitting at home when the postseason begins.

At 35-37, the Kings remain locked into the No. 9 slot in the Western Conference despite their recent skid, but their hold is tenuous at best. The Dallas Mavericks also lost but remain tied with the idle Phoenix Suns for the No. 10 position, both teams a half-game behind Sacramento.

Keegan Murray found a way to stand out, pouring in a season-high 28 points to go with six rebounds and three blocks. Zach LaVine showed signs of coming out of his shooting slump, scoring 19 points while going 7 of 16 from the floor. Keon Ellis added 12 points and four steals.

Make it eight for Threegan Murray 💦

pic.twitter.com/FIDL7TeoYs

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 26, 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points for the Thunder, who became the first team in the NBA this season to reach 60 wins. Oklahoma City has won 16 of its last 18.

The Kings end their homestand on Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers before embarking on their final road trip, a six-game swing going through Orlando, Indianapolis, Indiana, Washington, Charlotte, Cleveland and Detroit.

Here are the takeaways from Tuesday’s game:

LaRavia Legend Grows

Jake LaRavia’s legend seems to grow with every game he plays for the Kings. He had 11 points, two rebounds and three blocked shots in another blue-collar effort at the state capitol.

The No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, LaRavia had a nondescript career during his first two seasons in the league. But the 23-year-old forward has been an instant hit with Sacramento fans since being acquired in a February trade.

Anything LaRavia does is met by wild cheers from the G1C crowd, and Tuesday was no different. At one point, he split a trio of defenders in the key and flipped the ball over the rim and into the basket.

Jake makes it look easy 😅

pic.twitter.com/xsTmqBSCgr

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 26, 2025

Kings fans historically have gotten behind a player who has that do-whatever-it-takes mentality, and LaRavia embodies that fully. He showed that when he took a hard foul in the fourth quarter and crashed into the stanchion under the basket.

Perimeter Defense Goes Missing

The last time the Kings made a hard closeout on a 3-point shooter, it resulted in an injury to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum on Monday night. That might have played a role in how soft Sacramento’s perimeter defense was against the Thunder.

Rather than tightening up when the Thunder set up shots behind the arc, the Kings were reticent and stayed home, giving OKC multiple wide open opportunities.

The Thunder have been knocking down shots from the perimeter at a 37-percent clip all season, so that was nothing new for them.

The Kings didn’t defend the paint much better, surrendering 42 points in the key,

Is This The End?

This game had a bad feel to it from the beginning.

Save for a spirited push they made in the second half when they briefly got within nine points, it felt in many ways like the Kings were simply going through the motions rather than playing with the focus and intensity that comes during a playoff race. Communication on defense was an issue at times, and Sacramento didn’t have a lot of success with its half-court offense.

That they kept it together and didn’t fold up and go away quietly is a positive and bodes well as Sacramento heads into the home stretch.

With 10 games left in the regular season, there’s still time to salvage things — but it will take a much better and extended effort than what was on display against the Thunder.

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Four days after playing the best NBA game of his young career, Bronny James did the same in the G League.

Starting for the Lakers' South Bay affiliate Monday night, the rookie scored a career-high 39 points in a 122-118 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo.

James made 14 of 21 shots, including four of eight from three-point range, and added four assists, four steals and one block in 38 minutes. He also committed seven turnovers, which tied for his most.

After the game, LeBron James posted a clip of his oldest son clearly enjoying himself on his big night.

SMILE THROUGH IT ALL YOUNG 🤴🏾!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 KEEP GOING!! https://t.co/xAWHGG6SI5

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 25, 2025

"SMILE THROUGH IT ALL YOUNG [prince]!!!" James tweeted.

On Thursday, Bronny played a season-high 30 minutes for the Lakers in the absence of several of top players — including his father and Luka Doncic — and finished with a career-best 17 points and five assists during a 118-89 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Read more:Stephen A. Smith: 'I might have been wrong' about Bronny James' NBA readiness

That performance prompted ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith to say he "might have been wrong" when he stated that Bronny belongs in the G League.

Bronny returned to his more limited role with the Lakers on Saturday night, scoring two points on 0-for-4 shooting in seven minutes during a 146-115 loss to the Chicago Bulls. After he returned to South Bay on Monday, the NBA squad continued to struggle with a 118-106 loss to the Orlando Magic.

With the Lakers losing three straight games, it will be interesting to see if they call up Bronny and give him more minutes. He has averaged 2.3 points and 5.9 minutes in 23 games with the Lakers.

Bronny putting on a show 🤩#SBLakerspic.twitter.com/Vh5Sff20VT

— South Bay Lakers (@SouthBayLakers) March 25, 2025

Bronny's previous high for South Bay was 31 points during a 122-110 win over the Rip City Remix on Jan. 24. He has averaged 22.4 points in 10 games in the G League.

Read more:Bronny James credits focus on his game for career-best 17 points during loss to Bucks

After his performance against Santa Cruz, James was asked on Spectrum SportsNet what he had been trying to prove on the court.

“Just that I belong out there," James said. "That’s all I’m trying to prove. A lot of people say I don’t, but I just come out, work every day, try to get better every day and prove myself every day.”

He added: "All the criticism that’s thrown my way, it’s just amazing to shut all that down and keep going.”

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Christie calls LaVine ‘incorrect' for Kings vibes comment originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Kings interim coach Doug Christie doesn’t agree with guard Zach LaVine‘s recent comments. 

Following Sacramento’s 113-95 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday night at Golden 1 Center, LaVine, visibly upset while speaking to reporters, referred to the Kings’ vibes as “not good” after falling under .500 for the first time since Feb. 7. 

Less than 24 hours later, while addressing the media prior to Sacramento’s matchup against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, Christie pointed to why LaVine’s comments were inaccurate. 

Or, as Christie said …

“He was incorrect,” Christie told reporters (h/t Sactown Sports 1140’s Brenden Nunes).

Sitting at 35-36, the Kings quickly are sinking in a tight West playoff race, winning just three of their last 10 games. 

The team’s struggles are reflected in LaVine’s most recent performances, averaging 12.7 points on 15-of-42 shooting (35.7 percent) from the field and 3 of 15 (20 percent) from 3-point range throughout Sacramento’s current three-game losing streak. 

As Christie alluded to, the Kings’ locker room atmosphere, with every excuse to feel down, was optimistic on Monday night. 

“I think when you ask a question like that, after you go through a little bit of a losing streak, it’s more about not being happy that you lost,” Christie added. 

“Like, I’m upset that I lost. But when I addressed them upstairs, everybody sat down, and the first thing I said was, ‘I’m happy to see that your vibe is right because I was about to say something.’ 

“But their vibe was spectacular. But that’s how it’s always been, and I know Zach takes this serious, and they all do, but there’s also understanding that your vibe ain’t only right when you’re winning… but I’m not about that, and that locker room ain’t going to be about that.

Like Christie, guard Keon Ellis echoed a sentiment that dispels any negative tension in Sacramento. 

Keon Ellis' response to Zach LaVine saying the vibe "is not good" in the Kings' locker room.

"I think the vibes in the locker room are great, actually. I just think, on the court, we have to figure out how to come together a little more."

— Tristi Rodriguez (@tristi_r14) March 25, 2025

As the regular season comes down to 11 games –  including a six-game road trip with stops against the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons – Christie hopes his team walks together, shoulder to shoulder. 

Even when the results aren’t going Sacramento’s way.

“It’s going to be about trying to figure it out, trying to problem solve, uplifting my brother, supporting my brother, and that goes with however many games you lose,” Christie concluded.

“And at the same time, we’re elated and happy when we win. But it’s a process to what we have to go through. It’s a lot that’s happened here in a really, really short amount of time, and that’s just a reality, no excuse. 

“We expect to win every game that we go out there and play, because I think that we have the talent to do that, and when it doesn’t, it hurts, and it’s supposed to hurt…”

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What we learned as Butler's Miami return ends in ugly Warriors loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

Jimmy Butler III’s return trip to Miami was less a revenge game than another stain on the Warriors’ suddenly spiraling season.

Golden State trailed from the start, never got close enough to touch the Miami Heat and wound up on the business end of a 112-86 walloping that delivered all manner of ominous signals.

This loss, the Warriors’ second in a row following a 124-115 beating by the Atlanta Hawks, continues their sudden return trip toward mediocrity. They’ve lost three of their last five games, and this one was a profoundly unsatisfying conclusion to a game that came with tangled emotions.

Four Warriors scored in double figures, led by Jonathan Kuminga’s 15 points, but they were routed in every conceivable way.

Here are three observations from a nightmare on South Beach:

Butler vs. Wiggins

Two names were on the marquee at tipoff: Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins. They were traded for each other last month, and each was going to be a significant contributor to whatever happened on the court.

There wasn’t much of a battle, but Wiggins was superior. And his team won the war decisively.

The former Golden State NBA All-Star finished with 10 points (4 of 13 from the field, 2 of 4 from beyond the arc), five rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. He played 28 minutes and finished plus-2.

Wiggs picking up where he left off 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iKUwoyo0LX

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 26, 2025

Butler, who claimed this would be “just another game” on the schedule, coped with a mixture of cheers and boos throughout. He finished with 11 points (5 of 12 from the field, 0 of 2 from deep), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. He was minus-19 over 29 minutes.

Jimmy went to work on this and-1 🪣 pic.twitter.com/OWUv8uvNm1

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 26, 2025

Weakened Offense Expected, But Defense Also Putrid

Stephen Curry’s absence always compromises Golden State’s offense – and surely it did – but what is the excuse for the defense?

After consecutive games with porous defense, the Warriors realized they needed to upgrade their intensity. They were unable to do it.

The Heat cooked them in the first quarter, fired up a blowtorch in the second quarter and built 57-40 lead off 53.8-percent shooting from the field, including a preposterous 72.7 percent beyond the arc. Starting guards Tyler Herro and Alec Burks combined for 23 points on 8 of 10 shooting, including 5 of 6 from distance.

Miami shot 55.8 percent from the field, including 68 percent from distance.

Golden State in its two previous games allowed the Hawks to shoot 57 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent from deep, and the Toronto Raptors to post 56.4/42.3 percent splits.

Shoddy defense suddenly is becoming the biggest threat to the Warriors’ hopes of staying above the NBA play-in tournament fray.

Bench Came To Play

The only encouraging sign for Golden State came from the play of its bench.

With Buddy Hield, Gui Santos and Kuminga leading the way, the Warriors’ reserves punished those of the Heat, outscoring them 30-2 in the first half and 48-24 for the game. Hield scored 10 points and Santos had 13 on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3 of 6 beyond the arc. Santos and Gary Payton II (four points, 2 of 2 shooting) were the only two Warriors to shoot at least 50 percent.

How bad was the overall bench discrepancy? Golden State’s bench outscored its starters 30-10 in the first half and 48-38 for the game.

This was, for the starters, one of the lousiest performances of the 2024-25 NBA season.

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