NBA: Domantas Sabonis helps Kings beat Wizards

Photo from Sacramento Kings Twitter

De’Aaron Fox went for a game-high 26 points, Domantas Sabonis contributed to his second consecutive win and the Sacramento Kings opened a three-game road trip with a 123-110 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

Sabonis, acquired ahead of the trade deadline in a six-player deal with the Indiana Pacers, contributed 16 points and team-highs in rebounds with 11 and assists with seven for the Kings, who have won four of six since a seven-game losing streak.

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Playing without Kristaps Porzingis, acquired Thursday from the Dallas Mavericks, as he continues to recover from a bruised right knee, Washington was paced by Kyle Kuzma’s 22 points and Corey Kispert’s 20 in the ninth loss in their last 11 games.

Seeking a second consecutive win after having beaten the Brooklyn Nets 113-112 on Thursday, the Wizards dominated the first half, leading by as many as 13 before settling into a 65-59 lead at the break.

The game flipped for good in Sacramento’s favor in the middle of the third period, when Davion Mitchell hit a game-tying 3-pointer and Harrison Barnes added three straight points, the last one on a technical free throw, capping a 9-0 Kings run that turned a six-point deficit into an 83-80 advantage.

Sacramento led 92-88 at period’s end, then gradually pulled away in the fourth period. Fox had a 3-pointer, a three-point play and a midrange jumper as part of a 17-8 start to the period that opened a 109-96 lead.

Sabonis’ double-double was his second for the Kings. He had 22 points and 14 rebounds in a 132-119 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

All five Kings starters scored in double figures in this one, with Fox and Sabonis joined by Barnes with 21 points, Moe Harkless with 17 and Justin Holiday with 12.

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Chimezie Metu chipped in with 10 points off the bench, making all three of his shots and helping the Kings finish at 56.6 percent, well ahead of Washington’s 46.6 percent.

All 12 of Holiday’s points came from beyond the 3-point arc. His 4-for-6 effort contributed to the Kings’ impressive 42.9 percent accuracy on 3-pointers.

The Wizards placed seven players in double figures, including all five of their starters. Joining Kuzma and Kispert in the distinction were Thomas Bryant (13), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (11) and Raul Neto (10).

Kuzma led Washington in rebounds with eight and assists with seven.

Rui Hachimura (13) and Deni Avdija (10) also scored in double figures for the Wizards off the bench.