Domantas Sabonis extended his post-merger NBA record of consecutive double-doubles with 22 points and 20 rebounds, and a dominant third quarter powered the Sacramento Kings to a 109-95 rout of the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday in a matchup crucial to Western Conference playoff positioning.
Sabonis came one assist shy of his 27th triple-double on the season while recording his 10th career 20-point, 20-rebound double-double. He was also key in Sacramento successfully attacking the rim to the tune of a 46-30 advantage for points in the paint and 20-4 for second-chance points.
The Kings’ dominance of the interior against a Clippers team playing without Kawhi Leonard, who sat out with knee soreness, helped the Kings (44-31) move into a tie with idle Phoenix for seventh place in the West.
Sacramento also moved within a game of sixth-place New Orleans for the conference’s last guaranteed playoff berth, and three games behind the Clippers (47-28). Los Angeles occupies the No. 4 spot, which comes with home-court advantage in the first round.
Behind Davion Mitchell, who made four first-half 3-pointers and scored all 14 of his points by intermission, Sacramento opened up a second-quarter lead of 16 points before Los Angeles battled back.
The Clippers, playing the last date of a four-game road swing, pulled to within five points going into halftime. But Los Angeles had no answer when Sacramento erupted in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 35-19.
The Kings went on runs of 9-0 and 14-3, the latter carried into the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, when their lead ballooned to 26 points.
De’Aaron Fox scored 20 points and dished seven assists to help a balanced offensive effort from Sacramento. Keegan Murray added 19 points and Trey Lyles came off the bench to score 15.
Russell Westbrook’s 20 points off the bench led Los Angeles. Paul George scored 18 points, Norman Powell added 17 and Ivica Zubac recorded a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double as the Clippers fell short of a perfect 4-0 road trip.
–Field Level Media