NBA: Zach LaVine fires 43 points, Kings storm back vs Pistons
Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (8) reacts after scoring a basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Zach LaVine scored a season-high 43 points, DeMar DeRozan added 37 points and the visiting Sacramento Kings beat the Detroit Pistons 127-117 on Monday for their third straight win.
Domantas Sabonis recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for Sacramento (39-40), which erased an 18-point first-half deficit. Off the bench, Jonas Valanciunas added 10 points and 12 rebounds.
LaVine, who was 8-of-11 shooting from 3-point range, made six 3-pointers and scored 30 points in the second half for the Kings, who led 119-112 on Trey Lyles’ layup with 3:32 left in regulation.
READ: NBA: Kings keep postseason hopes alive with win over Cavaliers
Kings' trio DOMINATES on the road.
👑 LaVine: 43 PTS (17 in 4Q), 8 3PM
👑 DeRozan: 37 PTS
👑 Sabonis: 19 PTS, 15 REB, 10 ASTThey come back from 18 down to hold on to the West's #9 seed! pic.twitter.com/akgpWe0xyX
— NBA (@NBA) April 8, 2025
Detroit pulled within 122-114 with 2:05 left before LaVine scored the next five points to seal the Kings’ victory. LaVine’s eight 3-pointers matched a season high.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit (43-36) with 35 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the field. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 19 points, Ausar Thompson added 15 and Malik Beasley had 14 off the bench.
With their fourth loss in five games, the Pistons are 1 1/2 games behind the fifth-place Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Eastern Conference.
Sacramento, which shot 51.6 percent from the field and 40.7 percent (11 of 27) from 3-point range, moved a game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference.
The Kings led 38-37 at the end of the first quarter behind DeRozan and LaVine, who scored a combined 21 points for the period.
READ: NBA: Jordan Poole helps Wizards beat slumping Kings
Sacramento guard Malik Monk exited late in the opening quarter with left calf soreness and did not return.
Detroit began the second quarter on a 19-4 run and led 56-42 with 7:25 left in the second quarter. DeRozan had 22 points in the first half to lead Sacramento, which trailed 72-62 at intermission. Hardaway led the Pistons with 14 points at the break.
The Kings held a 97-94 lead at the end of the third quarter after LaVine drilled a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining.
Sacramento held the Pistons to 45 points in the second half on 40 percent shooting, including 31.2 percent (5 of 16) from beyond the arc.
LaVine has scored a total of 80 points in the last two games for the Kings, who beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 120-113 on Sunday night.
