Malik Monk just found a new way to miss a dunk.
The Sacramento Kings guard got a steal and had a clear path to the rim late in the second quarter of their 123-117 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. But when Monk went for a two-handed reverse dunk (something he’s surely done countless times before), he didn’t do it at the right time.
The ball went through the rim, over Monk’s head and out behind him. Naturally, that left him stunned when the game turned upside down.
Just look:
“Sometimes when you use your head, it doesn’t quite work,” Mark Jones said on the ESPN broadcast.
Monk entered the night averaging 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game this season, his third with the Kings. The former Kentucky star, who started with the Charlotte Hornets after they selected him with the 11th overall pick in 2017, just signed a four-year, $77.9 million contract with the Kings that will keep him there through 2027. 28. Campaign.
The Warriors, who entered the game with a 21-21 record, took a 17-point lead into the halftime break. But Sacramento recovered from the break and outscored the Warriors 37-20 in the third quarter. The Kings then pulled ahead in the fourth and used a long 10-0 run down the stretch to take the six-point victory.
Andrew Wiggins led the way with 25 points for the Warriors, who fell to 21-22 with the loss. Stephen Curry scored 14 points, all but two in the first half, and 12 assists. He shot just 1 of 4 from behind the arc. Buddy Hield added 17 points. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 32 points and five rebounds. Domantas Sabonis finished with 26 points and 18 rebounds, and Monk added 20 points and nine assists.
While you’ll likely remember that non-dunk for a long time, Monk and the Kings found a way to turn on the light and come out of the game with a win. That has to help your blunder a little.