Kings’ Malik Monk has dunk bounce out off his own head in wild blunder vs. Warriors

Malik Monk just found a new way to miss a dunk.

The Sacramento Kings guard picked up a steal and had a clear path to the hoop late in the second quarter of their 123-117 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. But as Monk went to throw down a two-handed reverse dunk — something he’s surely done countless times before — he didn’t quite time it right.

The ball went through the rim, off Monk’s head and back out behind him. Naturally, that left him stunned as play went back the other way.

Just watch:

“Sometimes when you use your head, it doesn’t quite work out,” Mark Jones said on the ESPN broadcast.

Monk entered the night averaging a career-high 17.6 point, 3.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game this season, his third with the Kings. The former Kentucky star, who got his start with the Charlotte Hornets after they drafted him with the No. 11 overall pick in 2017, just signed a four-year, $77.9 million contract with the Kings that will keep him there through the 2027-28 campaign.

The Warriors, who entered the game with a 21-21 record, took a 17-point lead into the break at halftime. But Sacramento rallied out of the break and outscored the Warriors 37-20 in the third quarter. The Kings then surged ahead in the fourth, and used a long 10-0 run down the stretch to grab the six-point win.

Andrew Wiggins led the way with 25 points for the Warriors, who dropped to 21-22 with the loss. Stephen Curry had 14 points, all but two of which came in the first half, and 12 assists. He shot just 1-of-4 from behind the arc. Buddy Hield added 17 points. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 32 points and five rebounds. Domantas Sabonis finished with 26 points and 18 rebounds, and Monk added 20 points and nine assists.

While he’s likely going to remember that non-dunk for a long time, Monk and the Kings found a way to light the beam and get out of the game with a win. That has to help his blunder quite a bit.