Tag: Sacramento Kings

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NBA (Basketball)

Jamal Murray’s clutch shot secures a thrilling victory for the Nuggets against the Kings

Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings

Jamal Murray scored a team-high 28 points and made the game-winning shot with 8.6 seconds left, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 130-129 win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

Nikola Jokic achieved his 140th career triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists, helping the Nuggets secure their third straight win.

The Nuggets, who had a 23-point lead in the second quarter, fell behind by 10 points with 4:10 remaining in the game but made a strong comeback.

The Kings took a 129-128 lead with 20.5 seconds left after a dunk from DeMar DeRozan, prompting the Nuggets to call a timeout.

Murray then made a 17-foot shot, assisted by Jokic, to give Denver the lead for good. DeRozan missed a 6-foot shot at the buzzer, and the Nuggets won.

Sacramento quickly recovered after falling behind 24-6 early and 44-21 in the second quarter. Doug McDermott hit three 3-pointers, and DeRozan scored 11 points, including three three-point plays, as the Kings outscored the Nuggets 47-41 in the second period.

Nikola Jokic preps to shoot in the game

Sacramento went into halftime trailing 75-68, setting the stage for a close second half.

With 4:10 left in the game, the Nuggets were down 119-109 but went on a 14-3 run to take a 123-122 lead on a 10-foot shot by Jokic with 1:15 remaining.

The teams exchanged quick baskets, with DeRozan’s dunk giving the Kings a one-point lead before Murray’s go-ahead shot for Denver.

Jokic finished with his 10th triple-double of the season, leading the league. He is now third all-time in triple-doubles, behind Russell Westbrook (200) and Oscar Robertson (181). Westbrook also came close to a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds.

Aaron Gordon added 24 points, Julian Strawther scored 13, and Michael Porter Jr. had 11 for the Nuggets.

Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox was the leading scorer with 29 points, while Domantas Sabonis had 28 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.

Malik Monk finished with 25 points and a team-high 10 assists for the Kings. DeRozan had 17 points, McDermott scored 16, and Keon Ellis added 12.

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NBA (Basketball)

Domantas Sabonis and the Kings manage to beat the Pelicans

Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans

Domantas Sabonis scored 32 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan scored 16 of his 29 points in the third quarter as the Sacramento Kings defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 111-109 on Thursday night.

DeAaron Fox and Keegan Murray each scored 18 points for the Kings, who outscored the Pelicans 38-28 in the third quarter.

CJ McCollum led New Orleans with a game-high 36 points, Trey Murphy III had 21, and Dejounte Murray added 20.

The Pelicans started the third quarter strong with consecutive field goals from Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray, pushing their lead to 59-53. DeRozan responded by scoring 14 points in just over two minutes, helping the Kings take a 69-67 lead.

Yves Missi tied the game with a layup, but Sabonis hit a 3-pointer and converted a three-point play to give Sacramento a 79-73 advantage.

McCollum responded with a three-point play, but Keon Ellis made two free throws, and Keegan Murray added a basket to extend the lead to 10. McCollum hit a basket at the buzzer, leaving the Kings with a 91-83 lead at the end of the third quarter.

After McCollum made a 3-pointer, Sacramento scored seven straight points to build a 12-point lead at 98-86. McCollum scored 14 points to help New Orleans get within two points with 1:24 left.

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

The Pelicans had two chances to tie the game, but McCollum missed a shot, and Malik Monk blocked Dejounte Murray’s attempt.

Sabonis scored six points during a 14-0 run that gave Sacramento an early 16-7 lead. Murphy scored the last nine of his 16 points to bring the Pelicans within 28-26 by the end of the first quarter. Sabonis had 12 points and eight rebounds in the opening period.

Murphy didn’t score in the second quarter, but jumpers by Brandon Boston Jr. and a basket from McCollum helped give New Orleans a four-point lead. The score was tied three times before Daniel Theis’ 3-pointer gave the Pelicans their largest lead of the half at 47-41.

Fox’s layup tied the game again before Dejounte Murray’s basket gave New Orleans a 55-53 lead at halftime.

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NBA (Basketball)

Kings defeat Jazz with ease

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

Kevin Huerter scored 26 points off the bench, and De’Aaron Fox added 21 points and nine assists as the Sacramento Kings easily defeated the Utah Jazz 141-97 on Sunday night.

Huerter made 10 of 14 field-goal attempts, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range. He had 23 points through three quarters, including five of the Kings’ last eight points in the third quarter, which helped Sacramento build a 31-point lead.

The Kings’ lead grew to 37 points in the fourth quarter after Huerter and Fox hit back-to-back shots with about nine minutes remaining. Sacramento’s lead reached as much as 46 points before the game ended.

Domantas Sabonis contributed 19 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists to support his teammates. He made 8 of 13 shots from the field. DeMar DeRozan finished with 18 points, shooting 8 of 14.

Doug McDermott added 18 points for Sacramento, making his first six 3-point attempts when the Kings put their bench players in to finish the game.

San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz

Sacramento took control early, starting the second quarter with a 14-4 run and outscoring Utah 36-22 in that period. Huerter led the Kings in the first half, hitting 4 of 7 3-point shots.

The Jazz were led by Keyonte George, who scored 25 points on 8 of 13 shooting, with 14 of those points coming in the first half. John Collins added 19 points and seven rebounds, while Walker Kessler grabbed 14 rebounds and scored eight points.

Collin Sexton was the only other Jazz player in double figures, scoring 15 points on 4 of 8 shooting. Lauri Markkanen struggled, scoring only eight points on 2 of 9 shooting.

The Kings made 57 of 100 field-goal attempts (57 percent) and 22 of 44 3-pointers (50 percent). They outscored the Jazz 19-7 in fast-break points and 44-32 in points in the paint.

Sacramento also forced 20 turnovers by Utah while committing only eight turnovers themselves. The Jazz shot 38 percent (31 of 80) from the field and 35.7 percent (15 of 42) from beyond the arc.

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NBA (Basketball)

Kings and Jazz meet, both looking to gain some momentum

Sacramento Kings (NHL)

The Sacramento Kings and the visiting Utah Jazz will both be looking for their second straight win when they play each other on Sunday.

The Kings have won two of their last three games, including a 140-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. Domantas Sabonis played a key role in the win, scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Demar DeRozan also contributed 23 points. Sacramento had a 10-point lead at halftime and outscored the Spurs by 17 points in the second half to seal the win.

“Two out of our last three games, we’ve done a great job sharing the basketball,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “We had 33 assists on 51 made field goals. I thought our sprays were really, really good tonight to the guys along the three-point line. We touched the paint, we got it out.”

“I like the looks (we’ve gotten). The one thing that we have to continue trying to do is when we touch the paint, when there are shooters that are open, we have to trust our teammates and spray the basketball. When we do, it’s usually good results.”

De’Aaron Fox is leading the team with an average of 26.6 points, which is eighth in the NBA before Saturday’s games, shooting 48.7 percent from the field.

Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers

DeRozan is scoring 22.7 points per game, and Sabonis is adding 20.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. The Kings are also getting 16.3 points from sixth man Malik Monk and 12.4 points from Keegan Murray.

The Jazz, who had lost nine of their last 10 games, ended a five-game losing streak on Friday with a 141-99 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Nine players scored in double figures for Utah, with Johnny Juzang leading the way with 22 points off the bench on 8-of-14 shooting. John Collins also scored 20 points for the Jazz, who shot a season-high 55.2 percent from the floor in the big win.

“There’s a lot to be learned from a game like this in terms of the connectivity of the group,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “That when we really do trust each other and the concepts, that everybody can be involved in the game, I think there’s a lot of guys tonight that will get on the bus feeling pretty good about themselves and how they played tonight.”

The Jazz have five players averaging at least 15 points per game. Lauri Markannen is scoring 19.2 points, Collins is averaging 17.9 points, Colin Sexton is contributing 16.9 points, Keyonte George is adding 15.5 points, and Jordan Clarkson is scoring 15 points. Walker Kessler is also contributing 11.1 points, leads the team with 10.9 rebounds, and averages 2.8 blocks.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Sacramento Kings’ well-rounded performance proved too strong for the depleted San Antonio Spurs

Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs

DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points, and Domantas Sabonis added 22 points and 16 rebounds to help the Sacramento Kings secure a 140-113 victory over the struggling and shorthanded San Antonio Spurs on Friday.

The Kings were up by 10 points at halftime and then went on a 19-4 run in the third quarter to extend their lead to 18 points, finishing the quarter with a 14-point lead. Sacramento kept the Spurs at least 14 points behind in the fourth and earned their second win in three games.

Both teams were playing their second game in a back-to-back series.

Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox each scored 22 points for Sacramento, while Keegan Murray added 17 and Kevin Huerter contributed 16 points off the bench.

Julian Champagnie led San Antonio with a career-high 30 points, but the Spurs lost their third straight game, which is their longest losing streak of the season. Stephon Castle scored 15 points, while Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan each had 14. Chris Paul finished with 11 points and 13 assists in the loss.

DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan (NBA)

San Antonio played without star center Victor Wembanyama, who missed his second straight game due to a bruised back, and guard Devin Vassell, who is managing a right foot injury. The Spurs also lost Zach Collins, who was ejected just three minutes into the second quarter.

The Spurs started strong, leading by 13 points when Paul made a pull-up jumper with 2:37 remaining in the first quarter. The Kings responded with a 14-1 run to end the period, tying the game at 33.

Sacramento carried the momentum into the second quarter, taking a 12-point lead when Huerter made a running layup with 5:51 left. The Spurs cut the deficit to 59-53 with 3:24 remaining on a 3-pointer by Sandro Mamukelashvili, but that was as close as they would get. The Kings led 69-59 at halftime.

Champagnie scored 19 points for San Antonio in the first half, while DeRozan led Sacramento with 16 points.

San Antonio got within three points early in the third quarter after a 3-pointer by Castle, but that run only motivated Sacramento. The Kings led 93-76 after a layup by Sabonis with 4:14 remaining in the period.

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NBA (Basketball)

Grizzlies’ bench shines in win against Kings

Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings

The Memphis Grizzlies received 60 points from their bench and overcame the ejection of star Ja Morant late in the game to beat the Sacramento Kings 115-110 on Thursday night.

Marcus Smart came off the bench to score 18 points, while Desmond Bane, a starter, also had 18 points, leading the Grizzlies to their sixth straight home win.

Santi Aldama recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Jake LaRavia, another reserve, finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Kings were led by DeMar DeRozan, who scored a game-high 26 points, and Malik Monk, who added 23 points. De’Aaron Fox contributed 18 points and six steals, while Domantas Sabonis posted 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Morant was ejected after picking up his second technical foul in just 82 seconds in the fourth quarter. The second technical came after a controversial shooting foul on DeRozan with 6:45 remaining, when the Grizzlies were leading 98-97.

Morant had a rough night, making only 2 of 13 shots, including missing all six of his 3-point attempts, and finishing with just eight points in 28 minutes.

Ja Morant celebrates a three pointer

The Kings led early in the fourth quarter, but Memphis rallied behind Bane and the bench. Bane hit a pull-up jumper to give Memphis a 112-108 lead with 1:33 left, and Smart added three free throws in the final 1:18.

Sacramento had a strong third quarter, pushing ahead 78-71 with six minutes left. But Memphis, led by their bench, responded with a 15-0 run to take an 86-78 lead. Bane and Aldama each hit a 3-pointer during the run.

The Kings finished the quarter with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 86 heading into the fourth.

The first half was equally close. The Grizzlies trailed by 12 points midway through the second quarter after Monk hit a 3-pointer to give Sacramento a 56-44 lead.

Smart helped Memphis close the half with a 16-4 run, and the Grizzlies took a 63-62 lead into halftime. Smart contributed 11 of the bench’s 34 first-half points, along with four assists.

The Grizzlies were also without Luke Kennard (illness) and had hoped to get 7-4 rookie center Zach Edey back soon. However, after working with the G-League team, the Grizzlies determined that Edey would need more time to heal from his ankle injury.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Domantas Sabonis scores 27 points to lead Kings past Rockets

Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets

Domantas Sabonis led the Sacramento Kings with 27 points, and DeMar DeRozan scored 13 of his 16 points in a strong third quarter to help the Kings defeat the Houston Rockets 120-111 at home on Tuesday night. The win ended the Rockets’ chance to be the top seed in the West for the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

Despite the loss, the Rockets finished first in the West Group A with a 3-1 record, securing a spot in the conference’s final four. Since no group winner went undefeated, tiebreakers were used to determine the top three seeds, and the Rockets ended up between the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and third-seeded Golden State Warriors. The Rockets will host the Warriors in a quarterfinal next week.

Houston started strong, leading 28-19 in the final minute of the first quarter with 3-pointers from Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, and Fred VanVleet.

However, the Kings took control from there. They scored the last eight points of the second quarter to cut the lead to one at halftime. Sacramento then outscored Houston 42-29 in the third quarter, taking the lead for good.

Rockets offered Jalen Green, draft picks to Nets for Mikal Bridges, but were turned down
Jalen Green (NBA)

Malik Monk and Keegan Murray each hit two 3-pointers, alongside DeRozan’s big scoring effort in the third, giving the Kings a 96-84 lead going into the final quarter.

The Rockets couldn’t get closer than six points in the final 12 minutes.

De’Aaron Fox added 22 points for Sacramento, which won its first NBA Cup game after four tries. Monk also contributed 17 points and a game-high 12 assists. Sabonis added seven rebounds and four assists.

Seven Kings players scored in double figures, including Murray and Kevin Huerter with 13 points each and Isaac Jones with 12.

Green led Houston with 28 points, while Alperen Sengun had 24 points, eight rebounds, and a team-high six assists. Tari Eason contributed 16 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, and three steals off the bench, and VanVleet scored 13 points.

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NBA (Basketball)

Spurs come from behind and surge in the 4th quarter to defeat Kings

San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings

Devin Vassell and Chris Paul hit three 3-pointers in the final moments, and Victor Wembanyama recorded his third career triple-double to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 127-125 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Wembanyama finished with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, with his last two points coming on a layup that gave the Spurs the lead at 115-113 with 3:56 left in the fourth quarter.

Vassell hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead to five points, then added another with 1:35 remaining, making it 121-115. Paul sealed the win with a 3-pointer with 20.7 seconds left, putting the Spurs up 124-119.

The Spurs struggled early, allowing 42 points in the first quarter and falling behind by as many as 17. They closed the gap to five points before halftime and finally tied the game at 74 midway through the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Julian Champagnie.

The game remained tied six more times, including 113-113 after a jumper by DeMar DeRozan with 4:22 left. Then, Wembanyama sparked the Spurs’ late push.

San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors

Wembanyama’s 11 assists marked a season high, earning him his first triple-double of the season. He also added three blocks.

Vassell scored 21 points, Champagnie had 19, Keldon Johnson contributed 17, and Paul added 13 points and 10 assists. The Spurs won their fifth game in the last six.

Wembanyama and Vassell each made five 3-pointers, helping the Spurs outscore the Kings 69-36 from behind the arc. San Antonio shot 51.2 percent from the field, while Sacramento shot 46.5 percent.

Domantas Sabonis led Sacramento with a double-double, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards. However, the Kings lost for the sixth time in their last seven games.

DeRozan led the Kings with 28 points, eight assists, and three steals. De’Aaron Fox had 23 points and nine assists, Malik Monk scored 19 points, and Isaac Jones added 12 points.

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NBA (Basketball)

Deandre Ayton and the Trail Blazers defeat the Kings with ease

Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings

Deandre Ayton scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Sacramento Kings 115-106 on Friday night in NBA Cup action.

Anfernee Simons added 21 points, nine assists, and five rebounds, while Deni Avdija contributed 20 points, nine rebounds, and five assists for Portland, which had lost four of its previous five games.

Dalano Banton came off the bench to score 17 points and make five steals. Shaedon Sharpe scored 14 points, and Toumani Camara added 11 points for the Trail Blazers.

Malik Monk scored 29 points and had nine assists off the bench, and De’Aaron Fox chipped in 22 points for Sacramento, which lost its fifth game in the last six. Domantas Sabonis posted a triple-double with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, marking his 62nd career triple-double and fourth this season.

Sacramento was missing DeMar Rozan for the second straight game due to a back injury.

The Trail Blazers are 2-1 in NBA Cup West Group A play, while Sacramento is 0-3. The Houston Rockets, with a 3-0 record, have already clinched the group.

Blazers’ Deandre Ayton Out vs. Nets After Ice Prevents Him From Leaving Neighborhood
Deandre Ayton (NBA)

Portland shot 51.1 percent from the field, including 29.7 percent from 3-point range (11 of 37). They also dominated in the paint, outscoring Sacramento 64-34.

Portland was without Jerami Grant (knee) and Scoot Henderson (quadriceps).

Sacramento made 44.9 percent of its shots, including 35.7 percent from 3-point range (15 of 42). The Kings also turned the ball over 20 times, leading to 24 points for Portland. Jae Crowder, in his second game with Sacramento, scored 10 points in 21 minutes.

Portland led by four points at halftime, and then scored nine consecutive points to extend their lead to 72-55 after a basket from Simons with 6:34 left in the third quarter.

Banton hit a three-pointer to make it 81-64 with 3:57 remaining in the third, and another three-pointer with 31.8 seconds left gave the Trail Blazers an 87-72 lead heading into the final quarter.

Avdija made a jumper, and Sharpe scored on a layup to push Portland’s lead to 107-88 with 5:27 remaining. Sacramento couldn’t mount a comeback after that.

Ayton and Banton each had 14 points in the first half, and Portland led 54-50 at halftime. Sabonis had 18 points for Sacramento in the half.

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NBA (Basketball)

Isaiah Hartenstein of the Thunder looks to make a difference in the game against the Kings

Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder

Isaiah Hartenstein’s return to the court has come at a crucial time for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With star center Chet Holmgren sidelined due to a fractured pelvis, Hartenstein has become a key player for the team. He will look to build on a strong season debut when the Thunder face the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

Hartenstein missed the first 15 games of the season after breaking his left hand. But he had a standout performance on Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers, scoring 13 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and blocking four shots in 29 minutes off the bench during Oklahoma City’s 109-99 win.

“He’s still a little bit rusty out there,” said Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “But he changed the game for sure. He’s an anchor. He sees everything, lets you know early and loud. And it’s great to have that behind you. It allows you to adhere to the ball, be aggressive, and be decisive defensively. Yeah, he was special.”

Hartenstein was signed by the Thunder in the offseason with a surprising three-year, $87 million contract. The big offer came after he had a career year with the New York Knicks, starting 49 games and averaging 7.8 points and a career-high 8.3 rebounds.

He was originally signed to be a supporting player in the frontcourt, but with Holmgren out for around two months after being injured against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 10, Hartenstein’s role is expected to expand.

Chet Holmgren (NBA)

Jalen Williams, who has been playing in the frontcourt while both Holmgren and Hartenstein were out, also praised Hartenstein’s work ethic during his recovery. Williams said Hartenstein kept working on his game, even without the use of his dominant hand.

“I think just coming in there day in and day out, knowing you have to condition and work on your game without your dominant hand, is tough,” Williams said. “He made the most of it, and now he’s coming back. I didn’t really see the ramp-up, obviously. We’ve been on the road or gone when he got the cast off. I assume he was working just as hard when he got the cast off.”

Monday’s game marks the start of a tough stretch for the Thunder, who will play 10 of their next 12 games on the road.

Meanwhile, the Kings are struggling, having lost three straight games, their worst losing streak of the season. They were defeated 108-103 by the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night.

Sacramento allowed 19 three-pointers, including 13 in the first half, and committed 16 turnovers that led to 24 points for Brooklyn.

“To give up 13 made 3s the way we did in the first half is tough to live with,” Kings head coach Mike Brown said. “On top of that, we turned the ball over. We had 16 turnovers for 24 points. Somehow, someway, we have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball.”

De’Aaron Fox had a great game, scoring 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He has topped 30 points in three of his last five games, averaging 39.4 points during that stretch, including a franchise-record 60 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 15.

However, Fox struggled in the fourth quarter against the Nets, taking just three shots, none of which went in, and scoring only one point. Sacramento was outscored 20-15 in the final period, shooting just 6 of 23 from the field and missing all seven of their 3-point attempts.

DeMar DeRozan (18 points) was 3 of 8 in the fourth quarter, and Domantas Sabonis (13 points, 18 rebounds) was 1 of 6.

“These guys have a lot of freedom out there to do what they want out there …,” Brown said about DeRozan and Sabonis. “I would not say those guys were in his way. But we would rather see Foxy stay aggressive, too.”

Last season, the two teams split their four matchups.

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Cam Thomas scores 34 points to lead the Nets to a comeback victory over the Kings

Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings

Cam Thomas scored a game-high 34 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 108-103 comeback win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Noah Clowney added 18 points off the bench, while Cameron Johnson chipped in 16 for the Nets, who had a 19-point lead in the second quarter but lost it, falling behind 94-90 in the fourth quarter before rallying for their second win in three games.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 31 points, but Sacramento lost their third consecutive game.

Thomas sparked the Nets’ comeback with a 3-pointer at 8:55 in the final quarter, and Ben Simmons followed with a dunk off an offensive rebound to put Brooklyn ahead 95-94. Thomas then scored two free throws and a layup, capping a 9-0 run, giving the Nets a 99-94 lead. The Kings couldn’t get any closer than three points after that.

The Kings made one last push after holding the Nets scoreless for almost three minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets (NBA)

Sacramento cut the lead to 107-103 with a free throw from Fox at 1:25 left, but Fox missed his second free throw, and the Kings missed their final four field-goal attempts. Jalen Wilson sealed the win for the Nets with a free throw with 9.7 seconds remaining.

Thomas shot 11-for-22 from the field, adding six assists. He made four 3-pointers, and Clowney added five more as Brooklyn outscored Sacramento 57-27 from beyond the arc.

Shake Milton contributed 10 points, and Nic Claxton grabbed seven rebounds for the Nets. Simmons had four points, shooting 2-of-3 from the floor. Brooklyn’s bench, led by Clowney and Milton, outscored Sacramento’s reserves 44-9.

For the Kings, Keegan Murray scored 21 points, DeMar DeRozan had 18, Kevin Huerter finished with 11, and Domantas Sabonis recorded 13 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists.