Kings outlast Clippers in 2nd-highest scoring NBA game
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, left, shoots as Los Angeles Clippers center Mason Plumlee defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill).
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Malik Monk scored a career-high 45 points, De’Aaron Fox had the go-ahead basket and finished with 42 and the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Clippers 176-175 in double overtime in the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.
Detroit beat Denver 186-184 in triple overtime on Dec. 13, 1983, in the highest-scoring NBA game. The Kings are third on the scoring list with the 176 points and the Clippers fourth.
The Clippers had a 175-169 advantage with 1:57 remaining before the Kings scored the final seven points, including Fox’s jumper with 36.5 seconds remaining. The Clippers had the final shot, but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 44 points for Los Angeles and Paul George added 34.
Russell Westbrook started and made his Clippers debut after he cleared waivers Wednesday. He had 17 points, 14 assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes before fouling out with 1:49 remaining in the second overtime.
BUCKS 128, HEAT 99
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo left late in the first quarter with a right knee issue to spoil his rapid return from a sprained wrist, but Milwaukee Bucks still trounced Miami Heat for their 13th consecutive victory.
Antetokounmpo was in the starting lineup just four days after heading to New York to have his right wrist examined. The two-time MVP was on the floor late in the first quarter when he passed the ball and immediately motioned to the bench as the Bucks called a timeout to enable him to head to the locker room.
Bucks officials said in the second quarter that Antetokounmpo had knocked knees with an opponent and wouldn’t return to the game. He had four points, four rebounds and four assists in just six minutes.
The Bucks still had no trouble extending the longest winning streak in the NBA this season. The Bucks pulled ahead for good four minutes into the game and rolled to their most lopsided victory of the season.
Jrue Holiday scored 24 points, and Bobby Portis had 18 points and 11 rebounds in his return from a sprained right medial collateral ligament that caused him to miss 11 games.
Jae Crowder, acquired at the trade deadline, made his 2022-23 debut and had nine points in 16 minutes. Crowder hadn’t played at all for Phoenix this season as the Suns attempted to deal him.
Jimmy Butler scored 23 points for Miami.
WARRIORS 116, ROCKETS 101
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Klay Thompson scored 42 points and matched his season high with 12 3-pointers, leading undermanned Golden State Warriors past Houston Rockets.
Donte DiVincenzo added 15 points as the Warriors hung tough in the second game of a road-home back-to-back following a 124-111 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
KJ Martin had 22 points and eight rebounds for the NBA-worst Rockets (13-46). They lost their eighth straight.
SUNS 124, THUNDER 115
PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 25 points, Chris Paul added 16 and Phoenix Suns beat Oklahoma City Thunder.
Surging Phoenix haven’t won 12 of 16 as they wait for superstar Kevin Durant to return from a knee injury to make his Suns debut.
Terrence Ross made a 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer to put the Suns up 94-87. Phoenix led the rest of the way and Booker’s 3-pointer with two minutes left gave the Suns an 11-point lead. It also gave the three-time All-Star 1,052 career 3-pointers, which set a franchise record.
Isaiah Joe led Oklahoma City with a career-high 28 points.
KNICKS 115, WIZARDS 109
WASHINGTON (AP) — Julius Randle matched his career high with 46 points and the New York Knicks overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 115-109 .
Jalen Brunson broke a 109-all tie with a bank shot in traffic with 42.1 seconds remaining, and the Knicks held on.
Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma each scored 23 points for Washington.
BULLS 131, NETS 87
CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 32 points on 12-of-17 shooting and Chicago Bulls drubbed Brooklyn Nets to snap a six-game skid.
Chicago held Brooklyn to a season low in points; their previous worst was 92 in a loss to Boston in December. The Nets lost by their biggest margin this season.
Cam Thomas led the Nets with 22 points.
HAWKS 136, CAVALIERS 119
ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young scored 34 points and Atlanta Hawks beat Cleveland Cavaliers in their first game under interim coach Joe Prunty.
The Hawks played their first game since coach Nate McMillan was fired on Tuesday. The team had three practices, including a shootaround session on Friday morning, under Prunty, who had been McMillan’s lead assistant.
Darius Garland led Cleveland with 33 points.
HORNETS 121, TIMBERWOLVES 113
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — LaMelo Ball had 32 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and the dagger 3-pointer down the stretch to lead Charlotte Hornets past Minnesota Timberwolves.
Gordon Hayward added a season-high 27 points and 13 rebounds and P.J. Washington had in 20 points for the Hornets. They won their third straight overall and stopped a seven-game road skid.
Bell bested Minnesota All-Star Anthony Edwards in a battle of two of the top three picks in the 2020 draft. Edwards had 29 points and eight rebounds.
