Rookie Ben Saraf drops 22 points as Nets lose to Kings 126-122
Brooklyn Nets rookie guard Ben Saraf dropped 22 points and five assists in Sunday's 126-122 loss at the Sacramento Kings.
The Brooklyn Nets (17-54) began their second-to-last road trip of the 2025-26 NBA season with a matchup at the Sacramento Kings (19-53), another team beset by injuries at this point in the season. Brooklyn, like Sacramento, is hoping to finish the season on a strong note and while the Nets put up quite the fight, they weren't able to execute effectively in the fourth quarter. The Nets lost to the Kings on Sunday 126-122 in a game where neither team led by more than eight points, showing how competitive this game was from start to finish.
Rookie guard Ben Saraf had the best game of his first season in the NBA as he finished the contest with 22 points and five assists in 29 minutes off the bench while guard Malachi Smith had 18 points and four assists in 29 minutes off the bench. With the Nets missing center Day'Ron Sharpe for the rest of the season due to a thumb injury and center Nic Claxton being rested for this matchup, Brooklyn was incredibly small on the interior. However, Claxton and Sharpe being out paved the way for rookie forward Danny Wolf to start the game at center and he managed to drop nine points and four rebounds in 12 minutes before leaving the game due to a left ankle sprain.
Even with Wolf in the game, the Nets were at the mercy of Sacramento's frontcourt of rookie center Maxime Raynaud (22 points, 10 rebounds) and forward Precious Achiuwa (14 points, 15 rebounds). Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez did not have an update on Wolf's ankle sprain and with Brooklyn playing at the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday on the second night of a back-to-back, the rookie will likely miss that game. Ultimately, neither the Nets nor the Kings played much defense over the course of Sunday's game and Sacramento guard Malik Monk took advantage to the tune of 32 points and six assists in 30 minutes off the bench.
The Nets played an impressive game against a beatable opponent and the good news is that the younger players on the team are continuing to develop as this rebuilding season comes to a close. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Rookie Ben Saraf drops 22 points as Nets lose to Kings 126-122