McDermott scores 30 to lead Spurs past Kings 142-134
San Antonio Spurs forward Doug McDermott shoots over Sacramento Kings forward Kessler Edwards (17) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, April 2, 2023. Credit: AP/Randall Benton
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Doug McDermott scored 22 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and the San Antonio Spurs denied Sacramento a chance at clinching the Pacific Division with a 142-134 win over the Kings on Sunday.
After clinching their first playoff berth since 2006 on Wednesday night on the road, the Kings were hoping to wrap up their first division title in 20 years in front of their home fans but fell short against the struggling Spurs.
McDermott hit three free throws in overtime after being fouled on a 3-pointer by Keegan Murray to give the Spurs a five-point lead, then made back-to-back baskets to keep San Antonio ahead and help snap a six-game losing streak.
Julian Champagnie added a career-high 26 points and Tre Jones had 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for San Antonio.
De'Aaron Fox scored 28 points and Domantas Sabonis added 26 for the Kings, who remain two games behind Memphis in the race for second place in the Western Conference.
Fox hit a tying jumper with 36.3 seconds to play in regulation but Kevin Huerter missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer following a turnover by the Spurs.
The Kings were back home for the first time since ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history in a win at Portland on Wednesday. The team was greeted at the airport in the wee hours of Saturday morning by throngs of cheering fans.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich counsels guard Blake Wesley (14) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, April 2, 2023. Credit: AP/Randall Benton
Coach Mike Brown said before the game that assistant Doug Christie gave a speech about not letting down against a short-handed team playing out the string on a lost season. But it didn't appear to work as Sacramento looked sluggish and fell behind by 11 points midway through the third quarter.
The Kings responded with a 15-5 run and trailed only by four headed into the fourth quarter.
HONORING POP
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called it an “out of body experience” when he got the call from Jerry Colangelo telling him that he was part of the Hall of Fame class announced on Saturday.
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) and forward Trey Lyles (41) guard San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, April 2, 2023. Credit: AP/Randall Benton
Making the honor even more special for the NBA's winningest coach ever was the fact that his former point guard Tony Parker and former assistant Becky Hammon will be joining him.
“They’re pretty special,” Popovich said. “Pretty special in all kinds of ways. You already know that. It's kind of fun all of us doing it at once. It’s kind of weird, but kind of fun.”
TIP-INS
Spurs: Popovich got called for a technical foul in the third quarter. ... Champagnie's 22 points in the first half were the most by a Spurs rookie since Bryn Forbes also had 22 on April 7, 2017, against Dallas.
Kings: Fox scored 16 points in the fourth quarter for his league-high 26th game with double figures in the fourth. ... G Malik Monk (left leg soreness) didn't play. ... The attendance of 18,183 was the largest ever at Golden 1 Center and the 18th straight sellout.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Phoenix on Tuesday night.
Kings: Visit New Orleans on Tuesday night.
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