Giddey, Buzelis Returns Not Enough as Bulls Fall to Sacramento Kings

The returns of Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Jalen Smith and Patrick Williams were spoiled by the league-worst Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, who handled the Chicago Bulls, 126-110.

Sacramento holds the NBA's lowest win percentage with a 15-50 record and had won just two of its previous 22 games. The Kings did not trail over the final three quarters.

Malik Monk scored 30 points off the bench and Russell Westbrook notched a triple-double with 23 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. Rookie center Maxime Raynaud's 26 points and 11 boards helped the Kings gash Chicago in the paint, 68-36.

Collin Sexton scored 28 points with a career-high seven triples, but did not play in the fourth quarter due to a lower left leg contusion. Matas Buzelis added 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the loss.

Josh Giddey picked up his 16th triple-double in a Bulls uniform to surpass Scottie Pippen for the second-most in franchise history. The Australian point guard, who finished with 15 points, 12 boards and 11 dimes on Sunday, trails only Michael Jordan (28) for the Chicago Bulls record.

Chicago drops to 26-38 on the season and remains the No. 12 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Both teams traded blows early, and the Kings closed the first quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 30-25 lead after one. Sexton continued his recent explosion with a 4-of-4 start, including three made baskets from beyond the arc.

However, Sacramento dominated the paint, thanks to Raynaud. The Kings consistently found the 7-footer down low for 18 first-half points as Sacramento outscored the Bulls in the paint, 36-14.

Raynaud tipped a shot in during the final seconds to give his team a 65-51 advantage at the break. The Kings' lead grew as large as 17 points in the third quarter before Sexton took over with the hot hand, pulling Chicago back within single digits.

Sexton connected from long range four times on just five attempts in the third period alone. His career-high seventh triple of the night gave him 28 points overall, but the Bulls failed to complement Sexton's shooting streak with a stout defensive performance. Sacramento still managed to score 39 points in the third and extend its lead to 15.

The Kings maintained a double-digit advantage for the entirety of the fourth period. Westbrook earned the 208th triple-double of his career, while Monk attacked the basket and kept the pressure on Chicago.

Three games remain in the Bulls' West Coast road trip. The team faces the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, then has a Los Angeles doubleheader against the Lakers and Clippers on Thursday and Friday, respectively.