NBA: Domantas Sabonis sees 20-20 again as Kings bounce Clippers

Date:

Share post:


Domantas Sabonis extended his post-merger NBA record of consecutive double-doubles with 22 points and 20 rebounds, and a dominant third quarter powered the Sacramento Kings to a 109-95 rout of the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday in a matchup crucial to Western Conference playoff positioning.

Sabonis came one assist shy of his 27th triple-double on the season while recording his 10th career 20-point, 20-rebound double-double. He was also key in Sacramento successfully attacking the rim to the tune of a 46-30 advantage for points in the paint and 20-4 for second-chance points.

The Kings’ dominance of the interior against a Clippers team playing without Kawhi Leonard, who sat out with knee soreness, helped the Kings (44-31) move into a tie with idle Phoenix for seventh place in the West.

Sacramento also moved within a game of sixth-place New Orleans for the conference’s last guaranteed playoff berth, and three games behind the Clippers (47-28). Los Angeles occupies the No. 4 spot, which comes with home-court advantage in the first round.

Behind Davion Mitchell, who made four first-half 3-pointers and scored all 14 of his points by intermission, Sacramento opened up a second-quarter lead of 16 points before Los Angeles battled back.

The Clippers, playing the last date of a four-game road swing, pulled to within five points going into halftime. But Los Angeles had no answer when Sacramento erupted in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 35-19.

The Kings went on runs of 9-0 and 14-3, the latter carried into the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, when their lead ballooned to 26 points.

De’Aaron Fox scored 20 points and dished seven assists to help a balanced offensive effort from Sacramento. Keegan Murray added 19 points and Trey Lyles came off the bench to score 15.

Russell Westbrook’s 20 points off the bench led Los Angeles. Paul George scored 18 points, Norman Powell added 17 and Ivica Zubac recorded a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double as the Clippers fell short of a perfect 4-0 road trip.

–Field Level Media

spot_img

Related articles

WNBA: Fever fire coach Christie Sides after two seasons

The Indiana Fever fired head coach Christie Sides on Sunday after a 20-20 season that ended in the...

WNBA: Natalie Williams out as Aces general manager

Las Vegas Aces general manager Natalie Williams, who helped build WNBA championship teams in 2022 and 2023, will...

NBA: James Harden, Clippers take aim at Warriors

Two teams that were flying high when they flew into town about 18 hours apart go head-to-head Sunday...

NBA: Chet Holmgren, Thunder out to continue strong start vs. Hawks

Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren was expected to take a step forward during his second season...

FREE

Get the most important breaking news and analyses for Free.

Thank you for subscribing

Something went wrong.