When 175 points aren’t enough
Kings’ 176 points are third-most ever
LOS ANGELES — There were a couple moments Friday night when Sacramento coach Mike Brown wishes he could have enjoyed being a part of the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.
Brown and his Kings though were able to savor something that is more important in the long run — a hard-fought victory.
Malik Monk scored a career-high 45 points, De’Aaron Fox had the goahead basket and finished with 42 and Sacramento outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers 176-175 in double overtime.
It is only the second time in the NBA’s 76-year history that both teams have scored at least 170 points. Detroit beat Denver 186-184 in triple overtime on Dec. 13, 1983, in what remains the highest-scoring NBA game.
The Kings are third on the scoring list with the 176 points and the Clippers fourth. A team has scored 170 points in a regular-season game only seven times.
“From a fan’s standpoint, I can see how this game would have been a lot of fun to watch,” Brown said. “There was unbelievable shot making and great defense. There was high-level talent that was on display. Kudos to the players.”
Sacramento and Los Angeles also combined for 44 3-pointers, tied for the most in a game in NBA history.
Both teams also shot at least 58% from the field and were 80% or better from the foul line.
“I thought was a great game. A lot of momentum shifts,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
The Clippers had a 175-169 advantage with 1:57 remaining before the Kings scored the final seven points, including Fox’s jumper with 36.5 seconds remaining.
The Clippers had the final shot, but Nick Batum missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Kings also overcame a 14-points deficit late in the fourth quarter and six-point deficits in both overtime periods.
“We just stuck with it. We got down 12 at one point but just had our heads up. We knew they were going to let us back in,” Monk said.
It was the first time in franchise history the Kings have had two players score at least 40 points in a game. It is the second time it has happened in an NBA game this season after Cleveland’s Caris LeVert and Donovan Mitchell did it against Boston.
Fox — who also had 12 assists and five steals — is just the 12th player since 1973-74 with 40 points, 10 assists and five steals in a game.
The last to do it was James Harden in 2019.
Kawhi Leonard scored a seasonhigh 44 points for Los Angeles and Paul George added 34. Leonard had 21 points in the third quarter, which tied his career high for points scored in a quarter.
Russell Westbrook started and made his Clippers debut after he cleared waivers Wednesday. He had 17 points, 14 assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes before fouling out with 1:49 remaining in the second overtime.
Saturday’s games
RAPTORS 95, PISTONS 91: In Detroit, New Mexico State alumnus Pascal Siakam had 29 points and eight rebounds for Toronto in its fourth straight win. Gary Trent Jr. scored 19 points and Scottie Barnes added 12 as the Raptors won for the seventh time in eight games.
GRIZZLIES 112, NUGGETS 94: In Memphis, Tenn., Ja Morant had 23 points and seven rebounds as the Memphis coasted in a matchup of the Western Conference’s top teams. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 15 points and 13 rebounds as Denver’s four-game winning streak came to an end. Denver’s 94 total points was a season low.
CELTICS 110, 76ERS 107: In Philadelphia, Jayson Tatum buried a go-ahead 3-pointer for Boston with 1.3 seconds left, Joel Embiid didn’t get his desperation heave off in time to tie and the Celtics held on to beat Philadelphia. Tatum finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Embiid finished with 41 points and 12 rebounds.
HORNETS 108, HEAT 103: In Charlotte, N.C., Gordon Hayward scored 21 points, rookie center Mark Williams posted career highs with 18 points and 20 rebounds and surging Charlotte beat Miami for its season-best fourth straight win. Tyler Herro had 33 points on six 3-pointers and Jimmy Butler added 28 points as Miami lost its fourth straight.
KNICKS 128, PELICANS 106: In New York, Julius Randle scored 28 points to lead New York to a rout of New Orleans as the Knicks celebrated the golden anniversary of their 1972-73 NBA championship team. Six players scored in double figures for New York, which won its fifth straight. Brandon Ingram scored 19 points for the Pelicans, who lost their third straight.
PACERS 121, MAGIC 108: In Orlando, Fla., Myles Turner scored 24 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 15 points and 14 assists as Indiana shot 59% in the second half and won for the fourth time in 21 games. Franz Wagner led Orlando with 21 points.