The Kings withstood an ugly stretch of basketball in the third quarter and still had 18 turnovers, but the intensity and effort was there from the jump. Tonight was a game where the good heavily outweighed the bad and was a step in the right direction against the struggling Hornets.

Zach LaVine exploded for a season-high 42 points in 31 minutes, Malik Monk recorded a double-double, and the Sacramento Kings gradually pulled away from the visiting Charlotte Hornets for a 130-88 victory Monday night.

Zach LaVine scored a season-high 42 points in his finest game with Sacramento since being acquired in a multi-team trade near the deadline, leading the Kings to a 130-88 win over the Charlotte Hornets.