Why Mike Brown says win over Grizzlies was one of Kings’ best; big night for Malik Monk

The Sacramento Kings have largely struggled defensively during Mike Brown’s 113 regular season games as head coach. The team finished with the seventh-worst defense in the NBA during his first season — and entered Sunday’s New Year’s Eve affair with the Memphis Grizzlies improved slightly at 18th overall while the team hopes to make the leap from playoff hopeful to Western Conference contender.

Brown, known for being a defensive coach, has often called his team’s offense “fool’s gold” if it isn’t backed by strong play on the other end of the court.

Which makes what he said after bullying the Grizzlies on their home floor, 123-92, all the more notable.

“That was probably the best defensive performance we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Brown said in the aftermath at FedExForum.

The Kings limited the Grizzlies to 36.6% shooting, the lowest of any opponent this season. They held Memphis to 32 points in the paint, 18 points below their average since star point guard Ja Morant returned from his 25-game suspension to open the season. They outrebounded Memphis 59-34.

For a team that has often won by outscoring opponents with De’Aaron Fox’s fourth-quarter bursts and Domantas Sabonis’ playmaking, Brown was excited to see his team win in a largely different way against a Western Conference foe with playoff experience.

“It continues to let our guys know that if we take care of the controllables defensively — and I talk to our guys about the controllables, and we have to communicate defensively,” Brown said. “We have to play with physicality without fouling defensively, and we have to give multiple efforts until we finish the possession.

“Those three things, we 100% control.”

Sabonis was dominant on the offensive end, posting his sixth triple-double of the season, but his 19 defensive rebounds ended possessions for Memphis. He was named the defensive player of the game, dawning the Kings’ celebratory crown for the third time this season, tying Fox for the team lead.

But it was guard Chris Duarte who arguably had the most difficult task of the night. Duarte was elevated to the starting lineup over the struggling Kevin Huerter, in part, to provide defense against opposing ballhandlers. Duarte on Sunday was charged with slowing Morant, who was averaging nearly 27 points since coming back from suspension.

Morant came into the game fourth in the NBA, averaging 16.3 points in the paint. Morant made just one field goal in the paint on Sunday, while making just four of his 12 shots. Seven of his 17 points came from the free-throw line.

“You just want to be physical, you want to show (them) bodies,” Fox said. “... (Duarte) was ready. There have been times when he hasn’t been in the rotation, where he comes off the bench. Tonight, he gets the start, and if you get the start with a matchup like that, that’s as difficult a matchup as their is in the league, and I think he was excellent. He guarded him without fouling, trying to keep him in front of him. He just gave us a boost at that end of the court.”

Malik Monk shows out in front of friends, family

Monk, the Kings shooting guard who is among the top Sixth Man of the Year candidates, is from Lepanton, Arkansas, which is roughly 40 minutes west of Memphis. He said after Sunday’s win he had about 40 friends and family members in the stands.

Monk scored a season-high 27 points, which came on 10-of-13 shooting in just 21 minutes on the floor.

But perhaps the highlight of his night was giving his shoes away to a friendly face wearing a Monk No. 0 jersey. The recipient of the sneakers was named Hansen Tyler, the nephew of Carson Tyler, whom Monk became close with in middle school.

Overall, Monk downplayed wanting to have a big game with friends and family in attendance.

“I just felt good,” Monk said. “Shots were going in. I was just able to make them today, man.”

Fox, Monk’s closest friend and confidant on the team, knows how much playing well in front of his loved ones meant to him.

“Any time you come back and you’re close to home, you definitely want to have a great game,” Fox said. “To be 10 for 13 (shooting), five assists, five rebounds, you couldn’t ask for much more with zero turnovers. I think he was excellent for us.”

Monk shows maturity

Monk posted his fifth game with at least 20 points and five assists, the most among NBA reserves.

There was also a moment in the first half in which the entire Kings bench was upset with officiating, at which point Monk told everyone to sit down and stop complaining, which Brown cited as a sign of Monk’s maturity.

“Malik’s personality, just as a human being, he’s just a great, great man,” Brown said. “For him to perform in front of his family like that, it’s just a testament to how hard he’s working and how hard he’s worked since he’s been here.”