Facing both a must-win game for their play-in hopes and a Brooklyn Nets squad with only pride and next season to play for, the Sacramento Kings took advantage for a 107-77 victory in Brooklyn. Domantas Sabonis led the way with 19 points, 20 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 blocks, while recording his 61st consecutive double-double of the season. De’Aaron Fox had 20 points and 5 rebounds, Keegan Murray added 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Sacramento’s defense held the Nets to just 34.9% shooting from the field and a season-low point total.
The Kings started slow but hit the gas midway through the first, ending the period on a 19-4 run in the final 5 minutes. Sacramento got a huge lift from the bench trio of Davion Mitchell, Trey Lyles, and Colby Jones, who all took big advantage of their opportunities and teamed with Sabonis to close out the first quarter and hold a 29-19 advantage they would never relinquish. Lyles finished with 14 points and 10 boards, Mitchell had 12 points on a pair of threes and a gorgeous hesitation drive to the basket, and Jones had 7 points, 4 boards, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in a career high 22 minutes.
Cam Thomas led the Nets with 21 points, while Trendon Watford added 16 points off the bench – but the rest of the Nets, including season-leading-scorer Mikal Bridges (8 points on 3/6 from the field tonight) were kept quiet throughout the contest. The Nets are eliminated from the Eastern Conference’s play-in competition, and started a pair of rookies – big man Noah Clowney and wing Jalen Wilson – alongside Bridges, Thomas, and Dennis Schroder (4 points on 1-12 shooting). While the Nets had no quit in their game on Sunday, they weren’t ever able to get into an offensive rhythm. Even when the Kings started the second half by shooting 0-10 from the field – and didn’t score their first point in the third period until Lyles hit a floater with 6:35 to go – the Nets couldn’t take advantage and pull within more that 14 points.
With the victory, Sacramento now sits at 45-33 on the year and wait to see the outcome of the Los Angeles Lakers v. Minnesota Timberwolves matchup tonight. A loss by the Lakers, who are without LeBron James for the contest, would put the Kings in the 8th seed and 1 game over Los Angeles with 4 contests to go. The Kings are also one game behind the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans for the 6th seed, and Sacramento will face both squads at Golden 1 Center this week.
The Kings head to Oklahoma City for a Tuesday matchup with the Thunder, who sit at 53-25 and are comfortably locked into a top-3 seed come playoff time. Sacramento will also face back-to-back contests against the Pelicans and Suns at Golden 1 Center on Thursday and Friday.
