» FOX, KINGS HOLD OFF MINNESOTA

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings nearly let a 21-point second-half lead slip away Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but De’Aaron Fox wouldn’t let that happen.

Fox scored 31 points to lead the Kings to a 113109 victory over the Timberwolves at Golden 1 Center. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 21 points and Buddy Hield had 16 for the Kings (19-31), who have won four of their last six games.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves (1534), who have lost 12 in a row. Shabazz Napier had 17 points and seven assists.

Fox came out aggressively to help Sacramento hit Minnesota with an early scoring barrage. He attacked the Timberwolves in a variety of ways, starting with driving layups and dunks before stepping out to the 3-point line. Fox scored 11 points over the first five minutes. His second 3pointer of the game gave the Kings an 18-4 lead with 7:14 to play in the opening period.

The Timberwolves cut a 15-point deficit to six late in the first quarter, but the Kings reestablished a double-digit advantage in the second. They went up by 20 on a 3-pointer by Bogdanovic with 1:12 to play in the half and led 65-50 at the break.

Sacramento led 87-66 following a driving dunk by Fox with 5:21 to play in the third. Minnesota staged a 14-2 run to get within nine going into the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves got within two on a 3-pointer by Towns with 6:06 remaining, but the Kings withstood the charge.