NBA: Curry hits 50 as Warriors advance, Butler hurt in Heat win

NEW YORK  -- Stephen Curry scored 50 points in a record-shattering performance Sunday to send the defending champion Golden State Warriors into the second round of the NBA playoffs while a Jimmy Butler ankle injury raised tensions for the triumphant Miami Heat.

Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, was nearly unstoppable as the Warriors won 120-100 at Sacramento to capture their best-of-seven Western Conference series 4-3.

"I just wanted to come out and look for shots early, get my teammates going throughout the game," Curry said. "But when I'm looking for shots, it usually works in our favor."

The 35-year-old guard delivered an incredible performance, hitting 20 of a career-high 38 shot attempts and going 7-of-18 from 3-point range and 3-of-5 from the free throw line.

"It was about being aggressive," Curry said. "I got 38 shots for a reason. We started to see where the holes were and I could be ultra aggressive and it worked."

Curry also added eight rebounds and six assists.

"Steph was elite. He put these guys on his back and said, 'We're not losing,'" Kings coach Mike Brown said. "Give Steph a ton of credit for doing exactly what he's supposed to do. Heck of a performance."

Curry's 50 points were a career playoff high and the most points in any NBA game seven -- breaking the old mark of 48 set by Kevin Durant for Brooklyn in a 2021 loss to Milwaukee.

"What an incredible all-time performance," Curry's backcourt teammate Klay Thompson said. "This is a game seven I'll forever remember as the Steph Curry game."

The Warriors next face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semi-final matchup starting on Tuesday. Golden State faced a James-led Cleveland in four straight NBA Finals, winning three of them.

"It's special from the first series we played him in Cleveland," Curry said. "We're blessed to be playing at this level still and excited about a new chapter."

In Sunday's other playoff contest, Butler scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Miami over the host New York Knicks 108-101 in their Eastern Conference second-round opener but suffered a right ankle injury.

The series continues Tuesday at New York but Butler's status will steal the spotlight until then.

"No idea," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "You just don't know with ankle sprains. I don't even know if we will know more by tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see. It will be a waiting game."

Asked how the ankle felt, Butler said, "Like a rolled ankle."

At Sacramento, the Kings had no answer for Curry in the winner-take-all battle. After 20 first-half points, he pressed the attack in the third quarter as the Warriors pulled away along with Kevon Looney, who grabbed 21 rebounds.

"It's huge for us," Curry said. "In each series he makes an impact. It's not loud. It's all the dirty work and we love him for it."

Thompson completed a four-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give Golden State a 91-81 edge entering the fourth. The Warriors stretched the lead to 104-83 with 6:30 remaining and cruised from there.

Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 22 points but had only six in the second half.

- Heat sizzle late -

There was an intense atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, which had not seen a second-round playoff contest since 2013.

The game and Butler's ankle turned when Butler fell to the court with the Heat up 95-92 and 5:05 to play.

As Butler planted his right foot to drive to the basket, falling Knicks defender Josh Hart's foot struck Butler's foot. Butler limped to the bench but returned to make two free throws and remained in the game.

"He did not want to come out of the game so we left him in," Spoelstra said.

Often standing in a corner far from the run of play, Butler was largely stationary.

"Find a way to win," Butler said of his reason for staying on the court. "Be out there. Be a presence. I didn't do too much except airball a three. But I'll take the dub (W)."

Butler's teammates stepped up. Gabe Vincent made a 3-pointer and Bam Adebayo and reserve Kyle Lowry, who scored 12 of his 18 in the second half, added hoops in a pivotal 7-0 run for a 104-94 Miami edge.

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Kings leave Warriors in hole

LOS ANGELES -- The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-106 to take a 2-0 lead over the NBA champions after a bruising Game 2 in their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series on Monday.

After edging a thrilling game one on Saturday, the Kings once again proved too much for the Warriors in another pulsating postseason battle between the two Northern Californian rivals in Sacramento.

De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis led the Sacramento scoring with 24 points apiece in a stormy encounter that saw Warriors stalwart Draymond Green ejected after stamping on the chest of Sabonis in the fourth quarter.

The victory leaves the Kings on pole position as the series heads to San Francisco for game three on Thursday.

"We came out here tonight and everyone fought, we were locked in," Sabonis told TNT television.

"It's playoff basketball. We're here to fight. Every time we step on the floor we're going to give everything for our team-mates and our franchise."

Sabonis was reluctant to be drawn on the explosive fourth-quarter tangle with Green that led to the Warriors veteran being tossed.

Green was ejected after appearing to aim a stamp on Sabonis's chest as the Kings player held on to his ankle as he lay on the court.

"We were both fighting for the rebound, we fell on each other, stuff happens, it's basketball. We've got to move on to the next play," Sabonis said.

Green pinned the blame on Sabonis. "I've got to land my foot somewhere," Green said. "I can only step so far when I'm pulling my leg away. It is what it is."

Steph Curry led the Warriors scoring with 28 points while Andrew Wiggins finished with 22 and Klay Thompson 21.

However the Warriors were left ruing a litany of 20 turnovers that gave up cheap points to Sacramento, who led from early in the second quarter.

Golden State clawed their way back from a 14-point third-quarter deficit to tie it at 93-93 midway through the fourth.

But Sacramento responded to pull clear down the stretch and close out a gutsy win.

"We didn't play well enough to win a playoff game on the road," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "With that said, it was a tie game with a few minutes left.

"We know we have to play better, and we will play better. These guys are champions. The way our guys fought showed what they're made of."

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Kings edge Warriors in playoff thriller as Sixers, Celtics roll

WASHINGTON -- De'Aaron Fox scored 38 points and Malik Monk added 32 off the bench in leading the Sacramento Kings to a 126-123 victory over Golden State for their first NBA playoff triumph in 17 years.

The Kings, who had not reached the post-season since 2006, seized a 1-0 lead over the defending champions in a Western Conference best-of-seven first round series that continues in Sacramento on Monday.

In Eastern Conference playoff series openers on Saturday, the New York Knicks edged host Cleveland 101-97, Boston routed Atlanta 112-99 and Philadelphia beat Brooklyn 121-101.

Fox made 13-of-27 shots in his playoff debut, 4-of-8 from 3-point range, and 8-of-12 free throws then after the victory pushed the button to send the Kings' laser light -- symbolic of a Kings victory -- from the outside of the arena.

Monk sank 8-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-4 from 3-point range plus all 14 of his free throws. He made two late free throws to create the final margin and Stephen Curry missed a final 3-point shot for the Warriors to force overtime.

Reserve Trey Lyles added 16 points and NBA rebounds leader Domantas Sabonis had 12 points and 16 rebounds for Sacramento.

"Our bench came in and they did a hell of a job tonight, especially Malik and Trey. They ignited us," Fox said.

"We knew we had to go out and be physical -- try not to foul because this is probably the best free throw shooting team in the league -- and get it done on the defensive end and we got some key stops."

Fox caught fire in the second half and Sacramento used a late 7-0 run for a 119-114 lead that put the hosts ahead to stay.

"In the second half, I got into a rhythm, my teammates continued to hit me in my spot and I just did what they want me to do," Fox said.

Curry led Golden State with 30 points while Klay Thompson added 21.

At Cleveland, Jalen Brunson scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half to lead New York's victory while the Cavaliers were led by 38 points from Donovan Mitchell.

A late Brunson miss was rebounded by New York's Julius Randle, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and that set up two clinching Knicks free throws by Quentin Grimes.

"They just kept fighting," Brunson said. "We kept our composure. Made plays down the stretch, made a couple of huge stops. We just kept fighting, kept sticking together and stayed poised."

NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid had 26 points while NBA assists champion James Harden added 23 points and 13 assists in the Sixers' romp.

The host Sixers, who led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage, sank a club playoff record 21 3-pointers in 43 attempts.

"(That) was a good win for us," Harden said. "We'll be watching film. Game two is going to be the toughest game of the series for us. We'll be ready to go."

Cameroonian star Embiid went 7-of-15 from the floor and 11-of-11 from the free throw line.

- 'Keep pushing' -

Harden hit 7-of-13 from 3-point range and helped eight Sixers in all make 3-pointers.

"Just finding ways to impact the game possession by possession," said Harden, a former Nets backcourt star.

"It's the playoffs. Things don't go the way you want as much as you want them to. You've got to keep pushing, keep fighting, and I'm happy we got a win."

Philadelphia made a club one-half playoff record of 13 3-pointers on the way to a 67-58 halftime edge.

Brooklyn's Mikal Bridges scored a game-high 30 points, but only seven in the second half.

The Celtics ripped visiting Atlanta 112-99 behind 29 points and 12 rebounds from Jaylen Brown and 25 points and 11 rebounds from Jayson Tatum.

Brown played with a wrapping on cut fingers and a protective mask he has had for two months due to a facial fracture.

"Got to come out and be ready to go," he said. "My team depends on me. My city depends on me. I don't make no excuses. I come out and play ball."

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Steph Curry saves Warriors against Sacramento

LOS ANGELES — Golden State ended their five-game losing streak but only after a brilliant fourth-quarter performance from Stephen Curry against Sacramento.

Curry scored 17 of his 47 points in the final frame as the Warriors outscored the Kings 37-25 to sneak a 116-113 win.

"Whatever it takes to get a win at this point," Curry said. 

"There was a sense of desperation coming off that road trip struggling like we did... we still can show that championship kind of grit and competitiveness to pull out a game like that.

"We know how to do it -- I just needed to light the fire a little bit."

In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid drained a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw line in a 33-point display as the 76ers outgunned the Phoenix Suns 100-88.

Embiid's shooting accuracy was backed with a red-hot contribution off the bench from Georges Niang, who sank seven three-pointers in a 21-point contribution. Tobias Harris also scored 21 points for the Sixers.

Devin Booker led the Phoenix scoring with 28 points, while veteran playmaker Chris Paul hobbled off with a sore right heel. The Suns said Paul was removed from the game as a precaution.

Embiid was satisfied with his free throw accuracy as he returned after a three-game absence due to illness.

"If they're going to keep fouling me I have to make my free throws," Embiid said. 

He said the Sixers (5-6) would overcome the injury absence of James Harden in daunting upcoming games against Atlanta and Milwaukee.

"We're going to miss him but it's next man up," Embiid said. "I've got to dominate offensively and defensively like tonight."

In Memphis, Jayson Tatum's 39-point display carried the Boston Celtics to a 109-106 victory over the Grizzlies.

Ja Morant scored 30 points for Memphis, including five three-pointers, but Tatum's dynamic performance sealed a battling win for the Celtics. 

Jaylen Brown added 21 points for Boston, with Al Horford and Marcus Smart scoring 15 apiece.

In Miami, Josh Hart drained a three-pointer on the buzzer as the Portland Trail Blazers snatched a 110-107 win against the Heat.

Miami looked to have done enough to force overtime after Max Strus's three-pointer with 6.2 seconds remaining tied it up.

But Damian Lillard launched one last drive up the court and found Hart, who unleashed his winning bucket as time expired.

Anfernee Simons led Portland's scorers with 25 points, while Jerami Grant added 23 and Lillard 19. Hart finished with 12.

"It was a good play by Dame (Lillard), he made an unselfish pass and I was able to knock it down," Hart said afterwards.

"Dame's a hell of a person and a hell of a player -- he trusts everyone who's wearing a Blazers jersey." 

In Dallas, Luka Doncic maintained his incredible scoring streak as the Mavericks edged past Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets 96-94.

Doncic scored 36 points in the win -- his ninth straight 30-point game since the season started last month. Kevin Durant led the Nets scoring with 26 points.

Agence France-Presse

Tatum, Brown lead Boston romp over Sacramento

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 62 points and the Boston Celtics made it two straight wins on their Western trip with a 126-97 pounding of the host Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Payton Pritchard made all five of his shots, including a 4-for-4 effort on 3-pointers, on a 14-point night off the bench as the Celtics overpowered the Kings with 56.1-percent shooting overall and 55.0-percent accuracy from beyond the 3-point line.

Domantas Sabonis compiled a 30-point, 20-rebound double-double for Sacramento, which lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.

Twenty-one of Tatum's 32 points came on seven 3-pointers in 10 attempts, helping Boston connect 22 times from beyond the arc.

Brown added 3-for-5 on 3's en route to 30 points for the Celtics, who opened a four-game trip with a 110-88 romp over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on Wednesday night.

En route to its 17th win in the last 20 games, Boston trailed only momentarily after scoring the game's first 11 points. Brown and Al Horford had two hoops apiece in the early flurry.

The Celtics went up by as many as 21 in the second quarter, 23 in the third and 29 in the fourth in completing a one-sided, season-series sweep. Boston had beaten Sacramento 128-75 at home in January.

Daniel Theis added 11 points for the Celtics, who got scoring from 11 different players.

Marcus Smart chipped in with a game-high eight assists to complement nine points, four rebounds and four steals, while Horford finished with a team-high nine rebounds to go with six points.

Sabonis' double-double was his 45th of the season, his eighth with at least 30 points and third with at least 20 rebounds. He had never previously had 30 points and 20 rebounds in the same game.

He also led the Kings with five assists.

Justin Holiday went for 21 points for the Kings, while Trey Lyles had 19, Davion Mitchell 12 and Chimezie Metu 10.

De'Aaron Fox sat out the game with a bruised right hand, while Harrison Barnes went scoreless in 24 minutes, missing all five of his shots.

-reuters-

NBA: Klay Thompson's seven 3-pointers carry Warriors past Kings

Klay Thompson passed Kobe Bryant on the all-time list with the sixth of his seven 3-pointers Thursday night as the Golden State Warriors used a long-distance assault to thump the Sacramento Kings, 126-114, in San Francisco.

Thompson finished with a team-high 23 points, Stephen Curry had 20 and Jonathan Kuminga 18 for Golden State, which won its league-best eighth in a row en route to becoming the NBA's second 40-game winner. The Warriors trail only the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference and league standings.

Thompson shot 7-for-9 on 3-point attempts, improving his career trey total to 1,829, passing Kobe Bryant (1,827) and moving within one of Chauncey Billups (1,830) for 19th on the NBA's all-time list.

Rookie Davion Mitchell had a season-best 26 points and Harrison Barnes scored 25 for the Kings, who were playing for the second consecutive night. Sacramento beat the visiting Brooklyn Nets, 112-101, on Wednesday to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Thompson, who hadn't made more than five threes in any of his first 10 games after a 2 1/2-year layoff caused by Achilles and ACL injuries, scorched the net for four in a 2:20 second-quarter flurry that turned a 34-25 game into a 46-28 run-away.

He finished with seven or more for the 31st time in his career, the first time in fewer than 25 minutes. Thompson was pulled after 24 minutes in the one-sided win.

Curry sank 4 of 7 from 3-point range, helping build the Warriors' team tally to 20, equaling their fourth-highest total of the season. He also had seven assists, tying Thompson for team-high honors.

Damion Lee (14 points), Jordan Poole (12), Andrew Wiggins (12) and Kevon Looney (10) also scored in double figures for the Warriors, who topped 120 points for the fifth time in their past six games.

Kuminga and Looney were Golden State's top rebounders with a game-high seven apiece.

Mitchell's 26 points were four more than his previous high, set in October in a home game against the Warriors. He also found time for a game-high eight assists.

Maurice Harkless added 18 points to complement six steals, Damian Jones had 17 points and Tyrese Haliburton 10 for the Kings.

Sacramento lost despite shooting 52.5 percent from the field. Golden State bettered that at 56 percent.

-reuters-

NBA: Jazz aim to continue dominance over Kings

The Utah Jazz opened their campaign in the manner you would expect from a team that compiled the best record in the league last season.

Now Utah looks to improve to 2-0 when it visits the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

The Jazz dealt with the disappointment of a second-round playoff exit after last season's 52-20 record but there was no residue remaining on Wednesday when they opened with a 107-86 home victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Jazz held the Thunder to 37.4 percent shooting, and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert was in midseason form with 16 points and 21 rebounds.

"You can't control if you make shots or not but you can control how you play defense," Gobert said afterward. "I think if we control what we can control every night and focus on that, we're going to win a lot of games."

Gobert was one of six Utah players to score in double digits. Bojan Bogdanovic led the way with 22 points.

Among the double-digit scorers were reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson (18 points) and fellow reserve Joe Ingles (14).

Also thriving off the bench was Hassan Whiteside with 10 rebounds in his Utah debut.

"We have five (bench) guys that can be starters on most other teams in the NBA," Bogdanovic said. "Our bench is our biggest strength."

The other two Utah players who reached double figures were the starting backcourt of Donovan Mitchell (16 points) and Mike Conley. Mitchell was just 6-of-17 shooting and Conley finished 4 of 12.

Sacramento opened its season with a 124-121 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, but the team has routinely struggled with Utah.

The Jazz have won 13 of the past 15 meetings, including all three of last season's matchups by an average of 29 points.

Utah set a franchise record for points when it demolished the Kings 154-105 in Sacramento on April 28.

The Kings will look to compete much better against the Jazz after holding off Portland. Sacramento held an 18-point, final-quarter lead but had to survive a last-second missed 3-pointer from Damian Lillard to leave victorious.

Harrison Barnes carried the Kings with career highs of 36 points and eight 3-pointers. Coach Luke Walton was thrilled to see Barnes take 11 3-point shots.

"I've challenged Harrison, I want him to get eight threes up a night," Walton said afterward. "He's a very good shooter, and there's no reason he can't make those shots.

"We needed all those points. And that's really how we want to see Harrison playing all the time."

De'Aaron Fox added 27 points and eight assists, and Richaun Holmes had 21 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento. Buddy Hield scored 17 points and made four 3-pointers to tie the franchise career mark of 1,070 set by Peja Stojakovic (1998-2006).

One player who never left the bench was former No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III. The player the Kings infamously selected over Luka Doncic in the 2018 NBA Draft isn't part of the rotation.

Agent Jeff Schwartz blasted the Kings earlier this week for their "mismanagement" of Bagley. Walton, though, isn't interested in a debate.

"I'm not getting into any of that," Walton said. "For me, we're a team. We know we have a plan. We know what that plan is and we're going to need everyone this season."

-Field Level Media-

NBA: Harrison Barnes, Kings hold off Pacers

Harrison Barnes scored a season-best 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting and collected eight rebounds to help the Sacramento Kings post a 127-122 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

De'Aaron Fox added 21 points and nine assists, and Buddy Hield scored 18 points on a season-high six 3-pointers as Sacramento won for just the second time in its past seven games.

Richaun Holmes recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six blocked shots for the Kings. Tyrese Haliburton added 12 points for Sacramento, which shot 56 percent from the field and was 15 of 32 from 3-point range.

Domantas Sabonis registered 28 points and 11 rebounds and has notched double-doubles in all 10 of Indiana's games.

Malcolm Brogdon had 24 points and nine assists, and Doug McDermott and Victor Oladipo scored 21 apiece for the Pacers, who lost their second straight game.

Barnes made two free throws to give the Kings a 118-117 lead with 1:45 remaining. Hield buried a 3-pointer 36 seconds later, and Fox drove down the lane to slam home a ferocious left-handed dunk to make it 123-117 with 33.4 seconds left.

Oladipo scored on his own dunk with 29.7 seconds remaining before Sacramento closed out the victory.

McDermott was 8-of-10 shooting for Indiana, which shot 48.5 percent from the field and made 13 of 39 from 3-point range during the opener of a five-game road trip.

Holmes and Haliburton knocked down 3-pointers in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to give Sacramento a 103-93 advantage.

But Indiana charged back and Oladipo scored five straight points and Sabonis added a three-point play to tie it at 110 with 5:22 left.

Oladipo again scored five straight points a short time later to give the Pacers a 115-113 edge with 3:34 left.

Hield connected on a 3-pointer to give Sacramento the lead with 2:33 remaining, but Oladipo scored on a layup 41 seconds later to put Indiana back ahead.

Fox buried a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Kings a 65-64 halftime lead.

Sabonis had 16 at the break for the Pacers, while Barnes tallied 15 for Sacramento.

The score was tied at 74 after a 3-pointer by Oladipo with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter.

But the Kings answered with 10 straight points and later held an 89-77 lead after Hield's 3-pointer with 4:03 remaining.

Indiana trailed 97-93 entering the final stanza.

-reuters-

DeMar DeRozan helps Spurs pull away from Kings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — DeMar DeRozan scored 17 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to help the San Antonio Spurs pull away and beat the Sacramento Kings 129-120 on Friday night.


“He understands the important parts of the game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He feels it.”


Before the game, Popovich and assistant Becky Hammon stood for the national anthem while the remainder of the coaches and players for both teams knelt. Popovich talked at length after the game about the importance of keeping the focus on racial injustice and inequality, but did not explain why he chose not to kneel.

“Everybody has to make a personal decision,” he said. “The league’s been great about that. Everybody has the freedom to react any way they want. Whatever reasons I have, I reacted the way I wanted to.”

DeRozan shot 10 of 13 and had 10 assists for the Spurs, who shot 53.3 percent from the field.

Derrick White matched a career high with 26 points in San Antonio’s first game of the restart. The Spurs needed to find offense because LaMarcus Aldridge, the team’s No. 2 scorer, had shoulder surgery in April and will not play in the restart.


“He’s expanded his game,” Popovich said. “He’s one of our top defenders. Maybe even the top. He contests threes, he takes charges. He’s really developed into a fine player.”

DeRozan supported Popovich and Hammon.

“It’s all out of a positive side of their hearts,” DeRozan said. “Same way we kneel. Don’t away take nothing from those guys. Pop speaks up. When it comes to Becky, she’s there on the front line fighting for equality.”

De’Aaron Fox scored a career-high 39 points.

“We put a lot on him, but he shows in games like tonight what he’s capable of,” Kings coach Luke Walton said.

Bogdan Bogdanovic added 24 for the Kings, who are trying to break a 13-year playoff drought.

The teams flipped positions in the standings, with the Spurs moving a half-game ahead of the Kings. Both are in the cluster chasing the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference.

The Kings led 65-64 at halftime behind 20 points from Fox. The Kings shot 57 percent before the break. White scored 15 points in the first half.

San Antonio led 114-112 before DeRozan scored 10 points in the final 2:23 to help put the game out of reach.

“We knew he was coming, but we weren’t able to stop him,” Walton said.

TIP-INS
Kings: Announced Friday that Harrison Barnes and his wife Brittany are donating more than $200,000 to nonprofits that were created by the families of victims of police brutality and gun violence. … Were assessed a technical foul for delay of game in the third quarter.

Spurs: Rudy Gay scored 19 points and Lonnie Walker added 16. … The Spurs got assists on 32 of their 48 baskets.

DENTAL WORK
White took five charges and has a chipped tooth to show for it.

Popovich appreciated White’s effort.

“It’s hard for a coach to say, ‘Don’t take that charge.’ He’s a big guy. He’s OK.”


DeRozan joked that White was complaining about the tooth after the game.

“I’m pretty sure he can buy some new teeth,” DeRozan said.

YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS
San Antonio’s young players showed up. Keldon Johnson, a rookie wing player out of Kentucky, played a season-high 30 minutes and scored eight points. Guard Quinndary Weatherspoon, a rookie from Mississippi State, played in just his fourth NBA game. Both played most of the season with the Austin Toros, the team’s G League affiliate.

INJURY REPORT
Spurs guard Marco Belinelli left the game in the third quarter with a sprained ankle. Popovich did not have an update after the game.

UP NEXT
Kings: Play the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Spurs: Play the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

-Associated Press

NBA: Sacramento's Parker tests positive for COVID-19

Sacramento Kings forward Jabari Parker expects to be ready for the NBA season's restart despite recently testing positive for the coronavirus.

The 25-year-old journeyman issued a statement that read, "Several days ago I tested positive for COVID-19 and immediately self-isolated in Chicago which is where I remain. I am progressing in my recovery and feeling well. I look forward to joining my teammates in Orlando as we return to the court for the resumption of the NBA season."

Parker is with his fifth team in the past three seasons. Earlier this season, he played 32 games for the Atlanta Hawks, making 23 starts and averaging 15 points and six rebounds.

The Hawks traded Parker and center Alex Len to the Kings on Feb. 6 in exchange for center Dewayne Dedmon and two second-round draft picks. 

Parker appeared in just one game for his new team, finishing with four points and four rebounds against the Grizzlies on Feb. 20. He sat out Sacramento's last nine games before the NBA season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kings are among the six NBA teams currently outside of a playoff position who will join the 16 currently in postseason positions when the league assembles in early July near Orlando, Fla.

The 22 invited teams will each play eight regular-season games ahead of the postseason, which could include play-in games for the last spot in each conference depending upon how close the ninth-place teams are.

Sacramento (28-36) is 3 1/2 games behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies (32-33) in the Western Conference standings.

-reuters-

NBA: Mavericks ride return of Doncic to win over Kings

Luka Doncic recorded 33 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in his return from an ankle injury to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 130-111 victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

Doncic missed seven games with the injury and the Mavericks went 3-4 without the All-Star point guard. Doncic was 10-of-18 shooting -- including 3 of 7 from 3-point range -- and 10 of 12 from the free-throw line in 31 minutes before exiting with 6:26 remaining.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting and also contributed 13 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots. Tim Hardaway Jr. made five 3-pointers on his way to scoring 19 points, and Seth Curry added 18 for Dallas, which has a 33-22 record entering the All-Star break.

Buddy Hield posted 22 points and nine assists for the Kings, who have dropped back-to-back games after winning six of their previous eight contests.

De'Aaron Fox added 16 points, Kent Bazemore had 15 points and seven rebounds, Harry Giles III scored 11 points and Nemanja Bjelica had 10 points.

Sacramento (21-33) shot just 41.4 percent from the field and was 12 of 39 from behind the arc.

The Mavericks shot 56.5 percent from the field, including 17 of 40 from 3-point range.

Dallas led by 11 at the break before Porzingis scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the third quarter as the lead reached 23 during the stanza.

The Mavericks pushed their advantage to 19 when Porzingis knocked down a 17-footer to make it 78-59 with 6:58 left in the quarter.

Sacramento trimmed its deficit to 14, but Porzingis scored seven points during a 9-2 burst to give the Mavericks an 89-68 advantage with 3:27 remaining in the quarter.

Hardaway buried a 3-pointer to increase the lead to 93-70 with 2:22 left before Dallas took a 96-77 lead into the final quarter.

The Kings moved within 101-86 on Bazemore's three-point play with 10 minutes left. But the Mavericks answered with a 12-5 surge with Doncic capping it with a 3-pointer to make it 113-91 with 7:50 to play.

The lead topped out at 25 points.

Doncic looked spry in his first contest since Jan. 28 as he registered 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the first half as Dallas took a 63-52 lead.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Mavs sink Kings behind Doncic's triple-double

Luka Doncic established a career high of 17 assists to go with 25 points and 15 rebounds while leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 127-123 victory over the host Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

The triple-double was the 12th of the season for the second-year star as Dallas won its third consecutive game. Seth Curry made five 3-pointers while scoring 21 points for the Mavericks.

Dallas' Tim Hardaway Jr. added 18 points, Dwight Powell registered 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting and collected nine rebounds, Dorian Finney-Smith scored 15 points, and Maxi Kleber had 14.

De'Aaron Fox recorded 27 points and 12 assists for the Kings, who lost their third straight game. Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes added 25 points apiece, Marvin Bagley III had 12 points, and Nemanja Bjelica contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Dallas power forward Kristaps Porzingis (knee) missed his ninth straight game after he was ruled out shortly before game time.

Powell, who has received increased playing time with Porzingis sidelined, has made 44 of 54 field-goal attempts (81.5 percent) over the past seven games.

The Mavericks shot 51.1 percent from the floor, including 13 of 40 from 3-point range.

Sacramento shot 52.1 percent from the field and was 12 of 33 from behind the arc.

The Kings scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to pull within 108-99 with 10:56 remaining.

Dallas answered with a 9-2 push and took a 16-point lead on Curry's 3-pointer with 7:54 remaining.

Sacramento later pulled within 124-118 on a 3-pointer by Hield with 1:34 left.

Fox's basket moved the Kings within 125-120 with 19.2 seconds left. Doncic split two free throws for Dallas before Harrison Barnes drained a 3-pointer to pull Sacramento within 126-123.

Curry split two free throws with 8.9 seconds left, and the Mavericks held on.

Earlier, Hardaway connected on back-to-back 3-pointers and Doncic added a basket during an 8-0 spurt that saw Dallas open an 83-70 advantage with 8:18 left in the third quarter.

The lead reached 99-83 later in the quarter when Finney-Smith knocked down a 3-pointer and scored on a tip-in during a 34-second stretch.

Justin Jackson made a 37-foot 3-pointer as time expired in the third quarter to give the Mavericks a 108-93 lead.

Curry scored 16 first-half points, and Dallas held a 71-67 lead at the break. Hield tallied 16 for Sacramento before halftime.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Smart shoots Celtics past Kings in last minute

Marcus Smart connected on a driving layup with 31.1 seconds remaining and followed with a key steal to lead the host Boston Celtics past the Sacramento Kings, 103-102, Monday night.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 24 points, Jayson Tatum added 20, and Smart and Enes Kanter were also in double figures with 17 and 13, respectively, as the Celtics won for the second time in their past five games.

Boston played without point guard Kemba Walker, who was ruled out a couple hours before tipoff due to a neck sprain.

Buddy Hield enjoyed a big night for the Kings with a career-high 41 points and a franchise-record 11 3-pointers. Harrison Barnes added 20 points, and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 13 points and eight assists for Sacramento, which lost for the third time in its past eight.

Hield took over in the second half, scoring 21 of his team's 29 points in the third quarter alone. His 10th 3-pointer -- the most ever in a game against the Celtics -- got the Kings within 95-93 with 3:17 left in the fourth.

After a pair of Smart free throws, Hield drilled his 11th from deep to cut the Boston lead to one. Boston got a basket from Brown, but a Cory Joseph trey tied the score at 99. Following a Smart hoop, Bogdanovic hit a 3-pointer to give the Kings a 102-101 lead with 39.8 seconds remaining.

Smart responded with his game-winning layup before coming up with a steal on Bogdanovic with 27.8 ticks left. Though Tatum missed a 3-point try with 8.2 seconds left, the Kings were unable to score on a late shot by Bogdanovic, sealing the result.

The Kings grabbed the largest lead of the first half, up 39-28, on a Barnes 3-pointer with 6:31 left in the second quarter. The Celtics stormed back with a 15-2 run, going up 43-41 on an Enes Kanter basket with 2:26 to go.

After a Hield trey halted the Boston run, the Celtics ended the half with a 10-2 stretch to lead 53-46 at the break.

Barnes led all scorers with 14 at intermission while Tatum, Kanter and Brown were all at 11 for the Celtics.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA fines Hield $25K for kicking ball into stands

Buddy Hield paid the price for a Sunday night celebration.

The Sacramento guard kicked the ball into the stands after the Kings held on for a win over the visiting Boston Celtics, and the NBA handed him a $25,000 fine Monday.

It was the same penalty assessed to Patrick Beverley last month after the Los Angeles Clippers guard underhanded the ball into the stand following a win by his team.

On Saturday, the Kings survived when a last-second shot by Boston's Marcus Smart rolled off the rim at the buzzer, sealing Sacramento's 100-99 victory.

When the ball came down, Hield punched it to half court, then chased after it and booted it into the crowd.

NBA players are not allowed to "intentionally throw, kick, or send the ball into the stands for any reason." A technical foul is to be assessed if such an action occurs during a game, but the Sunday contest was already over by the time Hield showed off his kicking leg.

Hield, 26, was instrumental in the win, producing game highs with 35 points and four steals. He is averaging 19.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.9 steals through 12 games this season.

--Field Level Media

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Hot-shooting Suns cruise past Kings

Devin Booker scored 22 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 21 to lead a balanced attack as the host Phoenix Suns pulled away from the Sacramento Kings 124-95 on Wednesday in the season opener for both teams.

Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and new point guard Ricky Rubio contributed 11 points and 11 assists in his Suns debut after signing a three-year, $15 million free agent deal this summer.

Six Suns scored in double figures in coach Monty Williams' debut, and Booker handed out 10 assists.

Buddy Hield had 28 points and sank six 3-pointers, Marvin Bagley III scored 14 points, Harrison Barnes had 12 and Cory Joseph 10 for the Kings in coach Luke Walton's debut. Walton spent the previous three seasons as the Los Angeles Lakers' coach.

The Suns outscored the Kings 70-36 in the second half and shot 59.7 percent from the field in the half, climbing to 50 percent for the game. The Kings shot 39.1 percent and were 11 of 40 (27.5 percent) from the field in the second half.

The Suns broke the game open with a 34-15 run that began midway through the third quarter, jumping from a 64-64 tie to take a 98-79 lead with 7:37 left in the game.

During the surge, Phoenix reserve guard Jevon Carter made two consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 83-73 late in the third quarter. Reserve guard Tyler Johnson made two threes and a mid-range jumper to cap the run.

Hield, planning his first game since finalizing a four-year, $94 million max contract extension Monday, had 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting with five treys in the first half. He was 2-for-7 from the floor with one 3-pointer in the second half.

Kings guard De'Aaron Fox, limited by foul trouble, had eight points, five assists and five turnovers. He picked up three fouls in the first half and played only 27 minutes.

The Suns had 68 points in the paint to the Kings' 34.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA coach Walton sued for sexual assault of woman reporter: report

LOS ANGELES - NBA head coach Luke Walton is being sued by a woman who alleges he forced himself on her at a Santa Monica, California hotel, according to US media reports Monday.

Celebrity news outlet TMZ reported Walton had invited the woman, a sports reporter, to meet him at his hotel to discuss a book she was writing.

Citing court documents, it said the woman alleged Walton, with whom she had a previous business relationship, convinced her to go to his room and forced himself on her.

There, according to the lawsuit, he allegedly pinned her to the bed, kissed and groped her while she resisted, TMZ said.

It added the lawsuit says he eventually stopped and let her go but, as she walked away, grabbed her from behind and pulled her close -- before eventually allowing her to leave.

TMZ reported the incident took place before Walton became head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now coach of the Sacramento Kings, Walton was let go by the Lakers last week after coaching them for several seasons.

gph/ska

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Kings reach deal to hire Walton as coach - report

Luke Walton and the Kings have agreed to a multi-year contract to make him Sacramento's next coach, The Athletic reported.

Walton met with Kings general manager Vlade Divac on Saturday, and The Athletic's Sam Amick reported the two had reached agreement on a deal that is expected to run through the 2022-23 season.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said an official announcement could come this weekend.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Walton, 39, parted ways on Friday.

Walton compiled a 98-148 record in three seasons as the Lakers' head coach. Los Angeles missed the playoffs in all three campaigns.

Since Rick Adelman left Sacramento in 2006 after eight seasons, the Kings have had nine head coaches.

The most recent was Dave Joerger, who was fired on Thursday.

Joerger led the Kings to a 39-43 record this season, good for ninth place in the NBA's Western Conference. It was their best record since 2005-06 -- the last time they qualified for the playoffs.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Harden hits 50, posts triple-double as Rockets trip Kings

James Harden recorded a 50-point triple-double, and the Houston Rockets fended off the hot-shooting Sacramento Kings for a 119-108 victory on Saturday at Toyota Center.

Harden posted his ninth 50-point game on the season while producing 50 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. 

With the Rockets clinging to a 101-100 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Harden sank three free throws, converted back-to-back floaters, and added a 3-pointer to extend the advantage to 111-102. 

Harden reached 50 points with two free throws with 48.8 seconds remaining. The 50-point triple-double was the fifth of his career.

Clint Capela added 24 points and 15 rebounds while Chris Paul chipped in 22 points and five assists for the Rockets. 

The Kings were officially eliminated from playoff contention after going 0 for 5 from behind the arc in the fourth quarter. 

The Kings entered the period 15 of 24 on 3s.

Bogdan Bogdanovic paced the Kings with 24 points off the bench while Buddy Hield added 21 points and De'Aaron Fox paired 18 points with 10 assists. Rookie Marvin Bagley III also posted a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

The early showcase from Harden was certainly MVP-caliber. 

With the Kings leading 15-14 midway through the first period, Harden fed a rolling Capela for a dunk before drilling a 3 and converting three free throws after getting fouled by Fox behind the arc. 

Harden then fed Capela for an alley-oop dunk, closing the opening period with 17 points and four assists.

But the Kings erased a 10-point deficit with a prolific perimeter display. In climbing out of a 27-17 hole, Sacramento strung together eight 3-pointers and two three-point plays, with Bogdanovic drilling four of those treys. 

That surge enabled the Kings to snag a 51-41 lead by the 8:02 mark of the second quarter, and the Rockets needed Harden to pull them back from the depths.

Harden tallied 10 consecutive points for Houston, flipping a five-point deficit into a 58-53 lead with 3:02 left in the half. 

He added a layup to push the lead to 63-60 at the break, a modest margin as Bogdanovic, Fox and Hield shot a combined 10 of 12 on 3s in the half.

Harden closed the half with 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Kings to acquire Barnes from Mavs

The Sacramento Kings are set to acquire forward Harrison Barnes from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for forwards Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph, according to reports from The Athletic and ESPN.

Barnes, 26, was on the court for the Mavericks as trade reports surfaced Wednesday night. 

He entered the day averaging 17.8 points and 4.3 rebounds a game for Dallas, where he has spent the past two-plus seasons after beginning his pro career with the Golden State Warriors.

The deal capped a busy day for Sacramento, which reportedly shipped guard Iman Shumpert to the Houston Rockets earlier in the evening as part of a three-way deal. 

The Kings acquired Alec Burks from the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of that trade.

In exchange for Barnes, the Mavericks welcomed Jackson, 23, and Randolph, 37, who has not played this season.

Jackson averaged 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 52 games (three starts) with Sacramento this season. The former North Carolina standout grew up in Houston and has appeared in 120 career NBA games (44 starts) since the Kings selected him with the No. 15 overall pick in 2017.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Thompson's put-back lifts Warriors over Kings

Klay Thompson capped a 31-point performance with a put-back of his own miss with 5.8 seconds remaining Saturday night to give the Golden State Warriors a 117-116 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Oakland, Calif.

Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 44 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, to help the Warriors outrace their Northern California rivals down the stretch en route to their second home win in two nights.

The Warriors snapped a four-game losing streak with a 125-97 triumph over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

Durant hit two free throws to break a 113-113 tie with 1:27 remaining, before the Kings rallied to a 116-115 lead on one foul shot by Marvin Bagley III with 1:08 to go and two more from De'Aaron Fox with 26.6 seconds left.

On the Warriors' next trip down the floor, Durant misfired but the rebound was deflected to Thompson, whose driving attempt in traffic was off the mark.

Thompson, however, was the first to the carom off the backboard, dropping the ball back into the hoop for the winner.

After a timeout, Buddy Hield missed on a driving banker, after which the rebound became stuck between the rim and backboard, requiring a jump ball with 2.1 seconds to go.

The Kings, attempting to beat the Warriors for the third straight time in Oakland, regained possession of the ball but couldn't get up another shot.

Durant's 44 points came on 13-for-26 shooting from the field, while Thompson connected on 12 of 26 shots.

They combined for 75 points with the rest of the Golden State roster combining for just 42.

Damian Jones had 13 of those 42 points.

Durant also found time for 13 rebounds and seven assists.

Hield had a team-high 28 points for the Kings, who hadn't played since winning 119-110 at Utah on Wednesday.

Bagley recorded a 20-point, 17-rebound double-double off the bench, while Iman Shumpert (14), Justin Jackson (12), Harry Giles (10) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (10) also scored in double figures.

Fox finished with nine points and a game-high nine assists.

source: news.abs-cbn.com