Kings edge Pistons, end nine-game losing streak
FILE — Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox celebrates in the closing moments of the Kings’ 113-109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
De’Aaron Fox scored 27 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 110-107 win Friday over the host Detroit Pistons to end a nine-game losing streak.
Harrison Barnes scored 21 points, and Marvin Bagley III and Richaun Holmes each added for Sacramento. Holmes also grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds.
Jerami Grant scored a game-high 30 points, and Saddiq Bey and Dennis Smith Jr. each added 17 points for the Pistons, who have lost five of six.
🦊 YEAH.
Swipa was unstoppable in the Motor City matchup 😤
27 PTS | 6 AST | 🎥 pic.twitter.com/ca1VZq9zWe
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) February 27, 2021
With the game tied at 101, a dunk by Barnes gave the Kings the lead with 1:08 remaining.
After a free throw by Grant, Barnes then hit a 3-pointer with 41.4 seconds left that put Sacramento up 106-102.
Detroit cut its deficit to 106-104 with 37.4 seconds left on a dunk by Josh Jackson, but Sacramento took a 107-104 lead with 11.3 seconds remaining on a free throw by Nemanja Bjelica.
On the ensuing inbounds, Sacramento elected to foul Grant, who made two free throws with 10.6 seconds left to make it 107-106.
Sacramento took a 109-106 lead with 9.2 seconds left on a layup by Bjelica, and then the Kings again elected to foul, putting Smith on the foul line with 8.1 seconds left.
𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙢𝙚𝙨 💥
🏠 19 PTS
🏠 17 REB
🏠 @Rich_Holmes22 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jZmaqwmB7X— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) February 27, 2021
Smith made the first and intentionally missed the second, but Sacramento got the rebound.
Barnes then split a pair of free throws 7.4 seconds left to give Sacramento a 110-107 lead.
On the next possession, Sacramento decided not to foul Detroit, which saw a game-tying 3-point attempt by Grant miss the rim and go out of bounds with 1.4 seconds remaining.
The Kings then ran out the clock.
Trailing 89-81 with 9:07 remaining in the game, Sacramento went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 91 with 6:08 left.
Sacramento held a 69-62 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter before Detroit responded with an 11-2 run to take a 73-71 lead with 4:08 left in the third.
