KINGS CLINCH FIRST WINNING SEASON SINCE 2005-06
For the first time in 17 years, Sacramento has a winning team again.
Kings 101, Nets 96
Domantas Sabonis had 24 points and 21 rebounds, and the visiting Kings clinched their first winning season since 2005-06 by beating the Brooklyn Nets 101-96 on Thursday night.
De’Aaron Fox added 18 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Kings, who improved to 42-27, second in the Western Conference. They hadn’t finished above .500 since going 44-38 in 2005-06, the last of eight consecutive playoff appearances under Rick Adelman.
The Kings have had a losing record in the other 29 seasons since moving to Sacramento but are in good shape to end the NBA’s longest current postseason drought in their first season under Mike Brown.
“I think being here for over four years now, and seeing the bottom — the very bottom — and to see the frustration of fans and the people in the organization, I think it’s nice to be on the other side it,” veteran Harrison Barnes said. “A lot of people, they don’t get a chance to stay in an organization long enough to see the good times and the bad, they just see the bad side. So I consider myself fortunate to be able to be part of this moment.”
The Kings improved to 10-2 since the All-Star break by turning to their defense on a night their usually potent offense stalled while playing on the second night of a back-toback. They won Wednesday in Chicago when Fox’s 3-pointer gave them a 117-114 victory.
Sacramento held Brooklyn without any second-chance points and just two fast-break points with some defensive possessions that Brown said were among the best he’d seen all season.
“And to see that again in this situation, a back-to-back, was really, really encouraging,” Brown said, “because we’re going to have to win games like this come playoff time.”
Yes, it’s safe to talk playoffs again in California’s capital.
Sabonis had 20 points by halftime and the Kings led by as much as 17, but the Nets made it close.
Mikal Bridges scored 23 points for the Nets, who fell 11⁄2 games behind the New York Knicks for fifth place in the Eastern Conference and are just 11⁄2 ahead of seventh-place Miami as they try to avoid the play-in tournament.
Spencer Dinwiddie added 18 points and Nic Claxton had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Nets, back in Brooklyn after going 3-2 on their road trip and hoping to capitalize on a homeheavy schedule the rest of the way. Nine of their remaining 12 games are at Barclays Center.
Nuggets 119, Pistons 100: Nikola Jokic scored 30 points and Denver beat host Detroit to snap a season-high fourgame losing streak and clinched the Northwest Division. Rodney McGruder scored 20 for the Pistons, who have lost 12 of 13 games and have the NBA’s worst record.
Pacers 139, Bucks 123: Andrew Nembhard scored 24 points and Aaron Nesmith hit six 3-pointers and finished with 22 points as visiting Indiana rallied late and beat Central Divisionand Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 25 points. Jrue Holiday added 19 and Khris Middleton finished with 16 for Milwaukee.
Raptors 128, Thunder 111: Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 14 rebounds and Toronto extended its season-high home winning streak to six games with a win over Oklahoma City.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and Jalen Williams had 15 for the Thunder.
Suns 116, Magic 113: Josh Okogie made a go-ahead 3pointer midway through the fourth quarter and blocked Paolo Banchero’s attempt at a tying 3 in the final seconds as host Phoenix held on to beat Orlando to snap a three-game losing streak.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 19 points. Cameron Payne scored 18 points, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul each had 16 and Okogie finished with 15.
Markelle Fultz scored 25 points, Banchero added 18 and Cole Anthony 17 for Orlando.
Wednesday’s late result Clippers 134, Warriors 126:
Even in the midst of Stephen Curry putting on a shooting clinic during the third quarter, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers didn’t get rattled. They were able to weather Curry’s best punches, kept their lead and then pulled away from visiting Golden State in the fourth quarter.
Leonard continued his hot play with 30 points, Paul George had 24 and the Clippers overcame Curry’s 50-point night to beat the Warriors.