After a 122-116 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the Sacramento Kings were 15-24 and sat 3.5 games out of 10th in the Western Conference standings. To make matters worse, Sacramento lost young forward Marvin Bagley III to a hand injury.
Fast forward less than two weeks later, and the Kings are only a game out of a play-in position and just 2.5 games out of seventh after going 6-1 over their last seven. Head coach Luke Walton inserted Tyrese Haliburton into the starting lineup in place of Bagley, and the rookie has stepped up to the plate, averaging 15.