After suffering a last-second loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, the Sacramento Kings returned to Sacramento for another tough battle against one of the NBA’s best teams. This time, the Kings came out victorious thanks to a wild finish to an epic game.
Both teams exchanged clutch go-ahead buckets in the final minute. When Boston jumped ahead, Kings shooting guard Buddy Hield answered.
Hield made a costly mistake with 35 seconds left on an ugly pass into the stands that gifted the basketball to Boston with a one-point lead. Given a chance to seal the game, Kemba Walker missed a pull-up jumper, but Marcus Smart picked up the rebound for a second chance.
Kings center Richaun Holmes electrified the crowd with a game-saving block on Smart’s put-back attempt and the basketball seemed to hang in the air until Holmes pulled it down, with Smart grabbing his arm for the loose ball foul.
After Boston’s head coach Brad Stevens challenged the foul call, only to have it overturned, Holmes went to the free-throw line with 13.3 seconds left and a golden opportunity. He easily made both free throws to give the Kings a one-point lead, but the Celtics had one more chance to win the game.
Kemba Walker tried to find a look at the game-winning shot before kicking it out to Smart on the perimeter. Smart drove into the lane and put up a floater then could only watch as it bounced around the cylinder before rolling off to give the Kings a win.
The Celtics came into Sunday as a 2.5-point favorite against Sacramento. The Kings emerged victorious, even without star point guard De’Aaron Fox, and picked up a needed and shocking win thanks to an electric finish.