Domantas Sabonis racked up 31 points and 17 rebounds and produced the game-winning points on a steal and dunk with 7.7 seconds to play as the host Sacramento Kings defeated the shorthanded San Antonio Spurs 131-129 on Thursday.
The Kings led by 20 points in the second quarter, by 12 at halftime and by five heading into the final period before San Antonio rallied to take a 114-106 advantage after a Blake Wesley basket with 7:59 to play.
The game was tied at 129 when Sacramento’s Malik Monk stepped back for a tying 3-pointer with 23.3 seconds left, giving the Spurs a chance at a final shot. But Sabonis stepped in front of a pass by Malaki Branham and rushed to the other end for the deciding dunk.
Sabonis also had nine assists, falling just short of a triple double. De’Aaron Fox poured in 33 points, 17 of them in the fourth quarter before fouling out with 57.1 seconds left, with Monk adding 18, Harrison Barnes scoring 17 and Keon Ellis hitting for 11 points. The Kings have won three of their past four games.
Devin Vassell led San Antonio with 30 points while Branham had 23. Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins hit for 22 points each and Wesley tallied 11. Tre Jones had a game-high 12 assists but the Spurs have dropped two straight games.
The game was the second of a road-home back-to-back for the Kings. San Antonio played without rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama, who is nursing a sprained right ankle.
Cedi Osman’s jumper with 52 seconds remaining granted the Spurs a 31-30 edge at the end of the opening period.
Sacramento opened the second period with an 11-0 run to take charge at 41-31 after a 3-pointer by Fox. That surge was all the impetus the Kings needed, building a 20-point lead when Fox’s dunk with 4:34 remaining capped a 12-0 burst. Sacramento carried a 71-59 advantage to the break.
Sabonis led all scorers before halftime with 17 points while Barnes and Monk had 11 and Fox hit for 10 for the Kings. Vassell paced San Antonio with 14 points at the half and Johnson added 10.
The Spurs cut their deficit to 77-73 when Collins hit a jumper with 7:35 to play in the third quarter. Branham had 13 points in the period, which ended with San Antonio trailing 100-95.
–Field Level Media