The veteran came through off the bench but Milwaukee wallops Sacramento.
Zach LaVine stepped up as one of the leading scorers despite not getting the start. His 20 points alleviated pressure from Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan to score at will.
Except the Milwaukee Bucks ran up the score inside Golden 1 Center.
The Eastern Conference foe rolled to the 115-98 trouncing on Sunday night in Downtown Sacramento. The loss means Sacramento is yet to taste victory in the new year -- plus drops to a dismal 8-28 overall for 2025-26.
LaVine hadn't played in nearly a month. He last saw minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves back on Dec. 14 -- which saw him score 10 points in 16 minutes on that evening.
The veteran was awarded 36 minutes from Doug Christie in LaVine's first game back from his ankle injury. LaVine's presence became crucial especially during a 26-7 run Sacramento went on.
That run turned a 26-point Bucks lead into four with the deficit only 85-81. Kevin Porter Jr., however, broke up the run off his driving layup.
Milwaukee's lead later became 10 and the rout was back on from there. Giannis Antetokounmpo took over in the fourth -- scoring 12 points in that final period to put away the Kings.
Lavine scored the final two buckets for Sacramento off free throws. Dennis Schroeder also scored late --banking a late three-pointer before the final points from the white stripe.
LaVine led the bench charge, but Westbrook carried the Kings as the lead scorer with 21 points. Westbrook, though, only made one basket from behind the arc.
Schroeder ended with 13 points off the bench. Keegan Murray added 12 points but also endured a brief scare during the game. He hopped off the floor with a leg injury. He managed to squeeze in 27 total minutes in the non-conference contest in front of the home fans. DeRozan added 11 points as a starter.
The Kings shot 43% from the floor on the evening. But made just five baskets from behind the arc -- ending at a dismal 20% there.
Milwaukee outrebounded the Kings 48-38. Sacramento managed to grab more steals at 10 compared the four Milwaukee snatched. The Kings also blocked seven total baskets, with Westbrook leading there with three. Murray and Eubanks added two blocks.
The Bucks still pounded the Kings down low -- scoring 48 points in the paint while Sacramento tacked on 42.
Sacramento faces the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday in front of the NBC national audience.