Kings hold on to end 14game losing streak to Spurs
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ending a 14-game losing streak that spanned nearly four years to the San Antonio Spurs didn’t mean as much to Sacramento as finishing its quick four-game homestand with an even record.
It’s understandable, since many of these young Kings were still in high school the last time Sacramento beat the Spurs.
Iman Shumpert made a tiebreaking jumper with 4:05 remaining, De’Aaron Fox and Nemanja Bjelica followed with 3-pointers and the Kings pulled away for a 104-99 victory on Monday night.
“Man, I don’t really care about the streak,” Sacramento center Willie Cauley-Stein said. “More or less that was a mustwin game. We have to defend home, you know? We slipped up and missed one last game so this one was a must-win mentality coming in. We got it.”
The Kings had lost two of their three games on
this homestand, including a 101-88 defeat to the Lakers on Saturday in the second half of a back-to-back.
Rested and back to its running ways, Sacramento took advantage of an injury-riddled Spurs team to beat San Antonio for the first time since Nov. 15, 2014.
It certainly left an impression on Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
“Their culture is changing,” Popovich said. “Guys are committed, guys are physical, taking some pride in defense. They look really good.”
Fox finished with 19 points and seven assists. Cauley-Stein had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 22 points for the Kings.