Mailk Monk makes history in playoff debut for Sacramento Kings
Malik Monk has been in the NBA since 2017, when he was the No. 11 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets.
He played for the Hornets from 2017 to 2021, then spent 2021 and 2022 with the Los Angeles Lakers. This past season, though, Monk has been a key piece off the bench for the Sacramento Kings, who snapped the NBA’s longest playoff drought this year.
Saturday night’s thrilling 126-123 Game 1 win over the Golden State Warriors was also Monk’s first-ever playoff game, and the former Kentucky star did not disappoint.
Monk came off the bench for the Kings and scored 32 points, setting an NBA record for most points off the bench in a playoff debut. It was also the most points by a Kings player off the bench in franchise history. (The below tweet says Monk scored 30 points, but the box score credits him with 32.)
Malik Monk with 30 points Saturday Night ties Ben Gordon for the most by a player in their playoff debut off the bench.
His 30 pts are also the most by a Kings player off the bench in a playoff game in Franchise history. pic.twitter.com/ak8ne0Zemv
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 16, 2023
Monk’s former Kentucky teammate, De’Aaron Fox, was also electric on Saturday night, scoring a game-high 38 points. The ex-Wildcats made even more history:
Only pair of college teammates to both score 30 points each in the same NBA playoff game:
? Malik Monk and De'Aron Fox
? Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler pic.twitter.com/v2FtTWa5pL— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 16, 2023
Game 2 between the Kings and Warriors is set for Monday night at 10 p.m. Eastern time and can be seen on TNT.
Can Monk and Fox continue to power a Sacramento run? Can the Kings take down the reigning champions? This series will be one to watch moving forward.