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NBA (Basketball)

NBA Roundup: Spurs edge out Kings in De’Aaron Fox’s debut in Sacramento

De’Aaron Fox (NBA)

Victor Wembanyama made a crucial free throw with 2.9 seconds left, and De’Aaron Fox had an impressive debut with the Spurs as San Antonio pulled out a 126-125 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.

Fox, who was traded from the Sacramento Kings on Monday in a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls, scored 24 points on 11-of-22 shooting and made 13 assists. One of his missed shots led to a Wembanyama dunk that gave the Spurs a 125-123 lead with 30.4 seconds left.

Trae Young from Atlanta scored a floater with 8.5 seconds left to tie the game, but Onyeka Okongwu fouled Wembanyama during the next possession. Wembanyama purposely missed his second free throw, and Young missed a 45-foot shot as time expired.

Wembanyama finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who won despite being outshot from the field (52.7 percent to 50.5 percent). Devin Vassell added 20 points, and Jeremy Sochan contributed 15 points off the bench as San Antonio won for the third time in 10 games.

Young led all scorers with 32 points, added 12 assists but had nine turnovers. Okongwu scored 30 points, De’Andre Hunter added 22, and Dyson Daniels scored 19 as Atlanta lost for the ninth time in 10 games.

Thunder 140, Suns 109

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 50 points to lead Oklahoma City to a home victory over Phoenix.

It was the third 50-point game in Gilgeous-Alexander’s career, all within the last seven games. Oklahoma City also got 17 points from Aaron Wiggins and 13 from Jalen Williams.

Bradley Beal, a key player for Phoenix early in the game, scored 25 points off the bench. Devin Booker scored 19 points, and Royce O’Neale added 18 points.

Timberwolves 127, Bulls 108

Anthony Edwards scored 49 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Minnesota earned a victory over Chicago in Minneapolis.

Naz Reid added 22 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 15 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 12 points.

Coby White led the Bulls with 20 points, who played on short rest after beating the Miami Heat the previous night. Josh Giddey scored 19 points, and Nikola Vucevic added 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Wizards 119, Nets 102

Bilal Coulibaly achieved his first career triple-double in a solid performance as Washington beat Brooklyn for its first three-game winning streak of the season.

Coulibaly finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 11 assists. He was part of a balanced team effort, with seven Wizards players scoring in double figures, led by Jordan Poole with 19 points.

Washington Wizards (NBA)

Washington made 40 of their 44 field goals with assists to help the team’s offense. Poole had eight assists, and Bub Carrington contributed a career-high 10 assists with 16 points.

The Nets had their three-game winning streak broken. Keon Johnson led them with 25 points, while Cameron Johnson scored 17 points in his first game back after an ankle injury.

Jazz 131, Warriors 128

Jordan Clarkson scored 31 points, and Keyonte George added 26 points as Utah made a strong comeback to defeat Golden State in Salt Lake City.

Golden State had a 122-111 lead with three minutes left, but Utah scored on 10 straight possessions and made several key defensive plays to win the game.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 32 points.

Nuggets 144, Pelicans 119

Michael Porter Jr. tied his career high with 39 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Nikola Jokic finished with 38 points and 10 assists in Denver’s big win over New Orleans.

Christian Braun scored 23 points for Denver, which tied its season high in points and won both home games against New Orleans.

Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 28 points, and Trey Murphy III added 25 points and nine assists, but New Orleans lost their seventh straight game.

Magic 130, Kings 111

Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combined for 54 points to help Orlando beat Sacramento and spoil Zach LaVine’s debut with the Kings.

Wagner scored 31 points, including five 3-pointers, and Banchero added 23 points with nine assists. Orlando ended a four-game losing streak with the win.

Domantas Sabonis had 21 points and 13 rebounds for Sacramento, where LaVine, who was recently traded from the Chicago Bulls, scored 13 points on 4-for-13 shooting.

Bucks 112, Hornets 102

Damian Lillard scored 29 points, and Bobby Portis added 23 points as Milwaukee ended its four-game losing streak by defeating Charlotte.

Brook Lopez contributed 14 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 13 points, and Taurean Prince added 11 points. The Bucks shot 50.6 percent from the field and played without their leading scorer and rebounder, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Hornets lost their sixth straight game despite 23 points from Nick Smith Jr. Miles Bridges and KJ Simpson each scored 15 points, while Moussa Diabate grabbed 13 rebounds.

Cavaliers 118, Pistons 115

Darius Garland made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Cleveland a win over Detroit, continuing their streak of victories against the Pistons.

Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)

Garland’s basket came after Cleveland almost let an eight-point lead slip away in the final minute. Garland finished with 25 points, and Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 30 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks. Craig Porter Jr. added 16 points, and Max Strus had 15.

Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 38 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 points.

Grizzlies 138, Raptors 107

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 14 of his 32 points in the second quarter as Memphis beat Toronto.

Ja Morant added 26 points for Memphis, who has won four in a row and 10 of 11. Zach Edey, a Toronto-born rookie, had 13 points and 15 rebounds for Memphis. GG Jackson scored 17 points, Brandon Clarke had 13, and Scotty Pippen Jr. added 12 points.

Scottie Barnes had 11 points and nine assists for Toronto, who has lost two straight games.

Heat 108, 76ers 101

Tyler Herro scored 30 points, and Nikola Jovic added 23 points as Miami beat Philadelphia despite major changes to their roster.

The Heat had reportedly agreed to trade star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors during the first half. Even with this news, Miami held off Philadelphia to earn their fourth win in six games.

Jovic shot 8-of-9 from the field, and Bam Adebayo added 18 points and 13 rebounds for Miami. Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points for Philadelphia.

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Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero guide Magic to victory over Kings in Orlando

Franz Wagner dribbles in the game

Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero scored a combined 54 points, leading the Orlando Magic to a 130-111 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, spoiling Zach LaVine’s debut with his new team.

Wagner hit five 3-pointers to finish with 31 points, while Banchero added 23 points and nine assists. The Magic ended a four-game losing streak with this win.

Domantas Sabonis contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Kings, who started LaVine just two days after trading for him from the Chicago Bulls. LaVine finished with 13 points but struggled, shooting 4-for-13 and missing all four of his 3-point attempts. Sacramento shot 37 percent from beyond the arc, hitting just 10 of 27.

The Magic, playing their fifth straight road game, briefly trailed before a strong 37-point first quarter gave them an early lead. Wagner and Banchero combined for 18 points in that period.

Leading by just two points at halftime, the Magic exploded for 42 points in the third quarter. Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit 3-pointers early in the period to help Orlando extend its lead.

Zach LaVine (NBA)

Anthony finished with 14 points, while Goga Bitadze added 14 points as well. Anthony Black scored 15 and Tristan da Silva had 11 for Orlando, which shot 56.8 percent from the field and 51.6 percent from 3-point range, hitting 16 of 31.

Wendell Carter Jr. contributed eight points, eight rebounds, and two steals. The Magic will finish their Western road trip with a game in Denver on Thursday night.

For Sacramento, DeMar DeRozan scored 19 points, while Keon Ellis added 12 points and Malik Monk had 10. Newly acquired Sidy Cissoko was not in action for the Kings, who traded him to the Washington Wizards along with two second-round picks for Jonas Valanciunas.

Devin Carter came off the bench for Sacramento, scoring nine points with four assists and two steals. The Kings lost for the fifth time in their last seven games.

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NBA (Basketball)

Kings aim to bounce back from ‘unacceptable’ performance against Blazers in Sacramento

Sacramento Kings (NHL)

Sacramento Kings interim coach Doug Christie was direct about his team’s performance before their game against the in-form Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.

The Kings were beaten 130-111 at home by the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, which was the first game in a back-to-back set.

Christie was unhappy with how his team played on both ends of the court. He knows the Kings will need to improve in several areas when they face the Blazers, who are currently on a five-game winning streak.

“Unacceptable in a lot of different ways, especially on the defensive end,” Christie said. “Must, must be better. Must, must play with the level of energy, intensity, physicality, and aggressiveness that I want to see and (that) I think they’ve begun to expect from themselves. That wasn’t it.”

“You can use all the different excuses. I’m not going to do that — 19 turnovers for 28 points (conceded) — unacceptable. (Shooting) 51 percent for them from the 3-point line — unacceptable.”

Zach LaVine scored 13 points in his Sacramento debut, making 4-of-13 shots from the field, after being traded from Chicago.

Christie acknowledged that there would be an adjustment period for LaVine, but he wasn’t using LaVine’s first game with the team as an excuse for the Kings’ poor performance.

“That’s part of what’s going to happen,” Christie said. “We have to find our way. As a unit, they have to feel Zach out, Zach has to feel them out. But I’m not using any of that as an excuse.”

On Wednesday, Sacramento acquired backup center Jonas Valanciunas from Washington in exchange for Sidy Cissoko and two second-round picks.

Valanciunas had previously played with DeMar DeRozan in Toronto and with Domantas Sabonis on Lithuania’s 2016 Olympic team.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Sacramento Kings (NBA)

“It’s great. I’m excited,” said Sabonis, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds against the Magic.

“A fellow countryman with me. He’s all about this culture — he’s tough, he plays every game, I think he’s going to help us a lot off the bench. I know he’s going to play his heart out.”

Valanciunas could make his Kings debut against Portland, who will be without guard Matisse Thybulle due to an ankle injury.

The Blazers have won nine of their last 10 games, most recently defeating Indiana 112-89 on Tuesday. Anfernee Simons scored 22 points and Jerami Grant added 20 in the win.

Portland led by six points midway through the fourth quarter before finishing strong, outscoring the Pacers 30-13.

“Leads like this that are 10-12 points, they go away so fast in the NBA,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “But the way our defense is humming, when teams are playing against us — at least in particular now – that lead probably feels like a 20-something-point lead. It’s been tough to score on us.”

“That’s been my vision the entire time. I want to be that team that nobody wants to play against. Even when you come in and play well and win, you’ve had to fight so hard for that win, you have to go earn that. That’s what I want us to be at all times, home or on the road. I want teams to earn their keep against us. And we’re doing that right now.”

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Zach LaVine promises Kings fans he’ll be “right there with them” before his debut.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine drives to the basket as New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum guards during the first half of an NBA basketball game

Zach LaVine had a message for fans as he prepared for his Sacramento Kings debut on Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic.

He’s excited about the opportunity, doesn’t take it lightly, and is ready to do everything he can to help the team win.

“They take time to come here to watch the game, spend their hard-earned money to watch and cheer on the team,” LaVine said at his introductory press conference, just days after being traded from the Chicago Bulls. “I’m going to be right there with them and do everything I can for the city.”

LaVine, who was drafted 13th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014, expressed his affection for his new team.

He worked out for the Kings before being drafted. His family is originally from California, and he owns a home in Newport Beach.

In 2018, he signed a four-year, $78 million offer sheet with the Kings, which the Bulls matched.

Additionally, both LaVine and Kings interim coach Doug Christie are from Seattle.

“I’ve been a fan of (the Sacramento Kings) for a long time,” LaVine said. “I thought I was going to sign here six years ago. I’ve had a good relationship with a lot of guys who played here, and I understand the culture here from me being from the West Coast.”

Sacramento Kings (NHL)

LaVine, a two-time All-Star, was traded to Sacramento (25-24) as part of a three-team deal with Chicago and the San Antonio Spurs, who received former Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox.

The Bulls got Kevin Huerter from the Kings and Zach Collins from the Spurs. Jordan McLaughlin moved from Sacramento to the Spurs, Sidy Cissoko went from the Spurs to the Kings, and Tre Jones was sent from the Spurs to the Bulls. The Kings also acquired six future draft picks — three first-round picks and three second-round picks.

Kings general manager Monte McNair praised LaVine as an “incredible talent,” a strong shot-maker, and “somebody who puts his stamp on the court.”

LaVine is currently averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 34.1 minutes per game across 42 games. He ranks fifth in 3-point shooting percentage this season and holds the highest field-goal percentage from beyond the arc among players with at least 100 3-pointers made this season.

LaVine is reuniting with DeMar DeRozan, who played three seasons with the Bulls. They are excited to play together in the Western Conference.

“It just shows you how crazy this business works and how it comes around full circle,” DeRozan said. “I am excited for the guys who will play with him and I am excited for the fans to see what he is capable of doing.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Zach LaVine is set to make his debut for the Kings against the Magic in Sacramento

Zach LaVine (NBA)

The Sacramento Kings are hoping their second major in-season move works out as well as the first one.

Since Doug Christie took over as interim coach for the fired Mike Brown, the Kings have gone 12-6. Now, Sacramento has made another big move by trading for two-time All-Star guard Zach LaVine on Monday.

LaVine is expected to play in his first game for the Kings when they face the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

The Kings acquired LaVine in a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls. In the deal, Sacramento sent star point guard De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. The Kings also got second-year forward Sidy Cissoko from the Spurs in the seven-player, seven-pick trade. Sacramento received six of those draft picks.

LaVine missed his last three games with Chicago due to personal reasons. He now joins a Kings team that has lost four of their last six games after a strong stretch of 10 wins in 11 games. Before Monday’s games, Sacramento was tied for the second play-in spot in the Western Conference.

Despite the changes, Kings star Domantas Sabonis believes the key to keeping their success going is staying focused on the task at hand, even with the challenges.

“It’s been a crazy year, a lot of change,” Sabonis told the Sacramento Bee. “It (stinks), but we’ve just got to somehow come together, be professional and keep this thing moving forward.”

Before his absence, LaVine was playing well, averaging 26.4 points in his last five games, shooting 48.9% overall and 38.6% from three-point range.

LaVine has faced Orlando twice this season with Chicago, scoring a total of 19 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

Zach LaVine (NBA)

While the Kings are returning from a six-game road trip, the Magic are still on their own six-game journey, having lost the first four. They’ve failed to score 100 points in their last three losses to Portland, Utah, and Golden State.

Despite losing 104-99 to the Warriors on Monday, the Magic showed some fight. They were ahead 92-90 in the final minutes but couldn’t close it out. Cole Anthony had 26 points in the loss.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley didn’t think the final 14-7 run by the Warriors was the main reason for the loss.

“We always talk about it coming down to those final possessions. It’s never that,” Mosley said. “It’s a 39-point third quarter (by Golden State), where you let go a little bit, your communication breaks off, you don’t knock some shots down, you look at a 15-0 free-throw count.”

Orlando has struggled at the free-throw line during its four-game losing streak, being outscored 84-67. The Magic have attempted just 90 free throws, while opponents have shot 110.

Mosley made it clear that the Magic aren’t lacking aggression.

“We had 52 points in the paint, attacked the basket 47 times, and (shot) 10 free throws,” he said after the Golden State game.

This will be the first meeting between the Magic and Kings this season. The two teams will face off again in Sacramento on March 29.

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De’Aaron Fox trade situation feels familiar to Kings interim coach Doug Christie in Sacramento

Doug Christie gestures in the court in the 1st half

Kings interim coach Doug Christie knows firsthand what it’s like to be traded midseason. He experienced it during his time in Sacramento, where he played for most of his career. So, he understands what De’Aaron Fox went through when the Kings traded their star point guard to San Antonio as part of a three-team deal.

“Ever since the first time I saw him play, I was a big-time fan, and this doesn’t change anything as far as always rooting for him,” Christie said before the Kings’ 116-114 win against Minnesota. “I told him as much.”

Fox was drafted fifth overall by the Kings in 2017 and is currently averaging 25 points and 6.1 assists in his eighth season in the NBA. The Kings traded Fox, along with Kevin Huerter to the Bulls and Jordan McLaughlin to the Spurs. In return, Sacramento acquired Zach LaVine from the Bulls and Sidy Cissoko from the Spurs, along with three first-round and three second-round draft picks.

“Roller coaster, man,” Kings guard Malik Monk said. “We lost three of our brothers, two of them have been with us since I’ve been here. It’s a tough thing.”

De’Aaron Fox (NBA)

The trade added to the series of changes for the Kings, who are battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Coach Mike Brown was fired in December, and Christie has talked to some of the younger players about handling the business side of the game.

“I wanted to let them know that I’m here for you, your teammates are here for you,” Christie said. “That’s part of what this is. You’re not out there all alone.”

LaVine, who is averaging 24 points and 4.5 assists in his 11th season, may debut for the Kings against Orlando on Wednesday night. Christie said he’s not ready to compare LaVine to Fox just yet.

“Both of those guys are immensely talented and they bring similar but a little bit different stuff, so not until we actually have Zach will I go down that (road),” Christie said.

With Fox traded, Monk has stepped into the starting point guard role for Sacramento. He finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in the victory over the Timberwolves. While he’s no stranger to playmaking, Monk said the new role is still a big adjustment.

“It’s definitely a new opportunity and stage,” Monk said. “Starting at point guard is a big opportunity, and it’s a big thing to feel in this league for sure, especially what Fox did for the organization, for the city of Sacramento. I’m just trying to pick up where he left it.”

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De’Aaron Fox is headed to San Antonio to team up with Victor Wembanyama in a three-team trade

De’Aaron Fox takes the ball forward in the 1st half

Victor Wembanyama has a new point guard: De’Aaron Fox is leaving Sacramento and heading to San Antonio.

Fox is a key part of a trade between three teams, which also sends two-time All-Star Zach LaVine from Chicago to Sacramento, Zach Collins from San Antonio to Chicago, and Kevin Huerter from the Kings to the Bulls, according to two people familiar with the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The trade is still pending league approval and won’t be finalized until then.

The trade also includes Jordan McLaughlin going from Sacramento to the Spurs, Sidy Cissoko moving from the Spurs to the Kings, and Tre Jones leaving the Spurs for Chicago. There are also multiple draft picks involved, with Sacramento expected to receive at least three first-round picks, one of the sources said.

The trade was agreed upon just before the NBA’s trade deadline on Thursday. This deal comes on the same day as another major trade, with Luka Dončić being sent from the Mavericks to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.

Fox’s move to San Antonio is a big deal for the Spurs. Wembanyama, the reigning Rookie of the Year, is continuing to rise in the league. He’s set to play in his first All-Star Game soon, is a strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, and could receive MVP votes.

It’s easy to see why Fox, who is eligible for an extension this summer, would want to join the Spurs. Playing with one of the best centers in the game — a 7-foot-4 player like Wembanyama, who’s hard for any defense to stop — is an appealing opportunity for any point guard.

Zach LaVine drives to the basket in the 1st half

Fox is currently averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists, and 5 rebounds per game this season for the Kings. He’s already been an All-Star and an All-NBA player, and now, in his eighth season, he gets a fresh start alongside Wembanyama.

The Spurs were able to make this trade without giving up too much. They kept their large collection of draft picks and didn’t have to part with key young players like rookie Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, or Keldon Johnson. The team also held on to veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, who are both in their first year with San Antonio.

It’s also a new beginning for LaVine, who heads to Sacramento to reunite with his former Bulls teammate DeMar DeRozan. He’ll also play alongside Domantas Sabonis, who is a regular All-NBA candidate.

LaVine is averaging 24 points per game this season, and he’s on track to hit that mark for the fifth time in his career. He’s a 20.7 points-per-game scorer over his career after playing for both Minnesota and the Bulls.

Huerter, who’s averaged 11.5 points per game in his career, first with Atlanta and then with the Kings, will also get a fresh start after coming off the bench 28 times in 43 games for Sacramento this season.

Collins has averaged 4.6 points with the Spurs, Jones 4.4 points, and Cissoko 1.3 points in 17 games with San Antonio. McLaughlin averaged 1.9 points in 28 games with the Kings.

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Aaron Wiggins shines with career-high performance as Thunder dominate Kings in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings

Aaron Wiggins had a career-best game with 41 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Sacramento Kings 144-110 on Saturday.

Before this game, Wiggins’ top career performances were 28 points in his rookie season (2021-22) and 10 rebounds the next season.

Wiggins started in place of All-Star Jalen Williams, who was out due to a right wrist sprain.

The Thunder have now won four of their last six games, while the Kings have lost four of their last five.

Oklahoma City’s 144 points were the most they’ve scored this season, and the most the Kings have allowed.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 29 points and nine assists but sat out the entire fourth quarter since the game was already under control.

By then, Wiggins had scored 14 points in the final quarter.

In their last game against Golden State, the Thunder struggled with 3-pointers, making only 9 of 39 attempts. Against Sacramento, they hit eight 3-pointers during a 46-point second quarter and built a 29-point lead before halftime.

Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics (NBA)

The Thunder started the second half with only a five-point lead but then went on a 29-9 run to take control.

Oklahoma City’s 82 points in the first half were their most in any half this season and just one shy of the most they’ve scored in a half since moving to Oklahoma City.

The Thunder finished with 19 made 3-pointers, with six each from Wiggins and Luguentz Dort, who added 20 points.

Isaiah Hartenstein (16 points, 14 rebounds) and Kenrich Williams (18 points, 11 rebounds) also recorded double-doubles alongside Wiggins.

The Thunder registered 37 assists on 57 field goals, just one assist shy of their season-high.

De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 20 points.

The Thunder, already missing Williams and Alex Caruso (ankle), faced another injury when Cason Wallace hurt his right shoulder late in the first quarter and didn’t return.