Barnes, Kings nip Nuggets
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Harrison Barnes scored six of his season-high 30 points in overtime, Buddy Hield hit two free throws with 9.5 seconds left and the Sacramento Kings rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 100-97 Saturday.
Sacramento trailed by 17 at halftime and didn’t lead until Barnes made a jumper early in overtime. Gary Harris’ 3-pointer put the Nuggets up 95-94, but Barnes answered with two free throws and scored on a short lean-in shot.
Harris made two free throws before Hield answered with two of his own to help Sacramento end a six-game losing streak against Denver.
The Nuggets failed to get off a shot in the final 15 seconds.
“That’s largely my role, to come in to help where needed,” Barnes said. “Some nights it’s scoring. Some nights it’s rebounding, some night it’s defense. Some nights it simply just making the right play. That’s something I try to do consistently for this team.“
Nemanja Bjelica had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings. Richaun Holmes added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Hield had 21 points despite an off-night shooting.
Harris scored 18 of his 25 points in the first quarter. Will Barton added 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Jamal Murray scored 15 points. The Nuggets missed a chance to win in regulation when Holmes blocked Murray’s shot from behind at the buzzer.
Sacramento was behind 75-67 entering the fourth. Hield, who struggled with his shot for much of the game, made consecutive 3s and scored on a driving layup to tie it at 90.
“Tonight, (Barnes) showed again why he’s so important to us on both ends of the court,” Kings coach Luke Walton said. “It was a good, solid win for our group, one that we needed and we worked for.“
BUCKS 137, HORNETS 96
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points but his double-double streak ended at 19 games when he grabbed nine rebounds while playing only 20 minutes as host Milwaukee coasted over Charlotte.
Milwaukee (17-3) won its 11th straight game and matched its highest point total of the season. The Bucks held a 17-point halftime lead and extended it to 101-75 entering the fourth quarter, allowing the reigning MVP to sit out the final period.
Antetokounpo’s streak of double-doubles to open a season left him short of Bill Walton’s record of 34 with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1976-77. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also had 29 for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975-76.
The Bucks put nine players in double figures and finished November with a franchise-best 15-1 record.
Devonte’ Graham led the Hornets (8-13) with 24 points and Terry Rozier added 19.
76ERS 119, PACERS 116
Joel Embiid had 32 points and 11 rebounds and Ben Simmons had three steals in the final 13.9 seconds to lead host Philadelphia over Indiana.
Simmons finished with 15 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and four steals. Tobias Harris scored 22 points for Philadelphia, which won its third straight while improving to 9-0 at home.
T.J. Warren had 29 points and Malcolm Brogdon added 28 for the Pacers, who had won five straight.