LOS ANGELES (AP) — There were a few moments Friday night when Sacramento coach Mike Brown wished he could have enjoyed being a part of the second highest game in NBA history.
However, Brown and his Kings could celebrate something that matters more in the long run – a hard-fought victory.
Malik Monk posted a career-high 45 points, De’Aaron Fox had the go-ahead basket and finished with 42, and Sacramento overtook the Los Angeles Clippers 176-175 in double overtime.
It’s only the second time in the NBA’s 76-year history that both teams have scored at least 170 points. Detroit defeated Denver in triple overtime on December 13, 1983, 186-184, in what remains the NBA’s highest-scoring game.
The Kings are third on the scoring charts with 176 points and the Clippers are fourth. Only seven times has a team scored 170 points in a regular season game.
“From a fan’s perspective, I can see how much fun it would have been to watch this game,” Brown said. “There was incredible shooting performance and great defense. There was high caliber talent on display. Kudos to the players.
Sacramento and Los Angeles also combined for 44 3-pointers, the most in a game in NBA history.
Both teams also shot at least 58% from the field and were 80% or better off the foul line.
“I thought it was a great game. Lots of momentum shifts,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.
The Clippers had a 175-169 advantage with 1:57 remaining before the Kings scored the final seven points, including Fox’s jumper with 36.5 seconds remaining. The Clippers had the last shot, but Nico Batum missed a 3-pointer on the buzzer.
The Kings also overcame a 14-point deficit late in the fourth quarter and a six-point deficit in both overtime periods.
“We just stuck with it. We got down 12 at one point but just had our heads up. We knew they would let us back in,” Monk said.
It was the first time in franchise history that the Kings had two players score at least 40 points in a game. It’s the second time it’s happened in an NBA game this season, after Cleveland’s Caris LeVert and Donovan Mitchell did it against Boston.
Fox – who also had 12 assists and five steals – is only the 12th player since 1973-74 with 40 points, 10 assists and five steals in a game. James Harden last did it in 2019.
“We just had to grind this game. We stayed on the second night of a back to back but it is what it is. We have a younger team than them,” Fox said.
Kawhi Leonard posted a season-high 44 points for Los Angeles and Paul George added 34. Leonard had 21 points in the third quarter, tying his career-high for points scored in a quarter.
“I thought he did a great job getting to the point with the 3-pointers and attacking the basket,” Lue said of Leonard.
Russell Westbrook started and made his Clippers debut after clearing waivers on Wednesday. He had 17 points, 14 assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes before fouling in the second overtime with 1:49 minutes remaining.
RALLY KINGS
Los Angeles held a 145-131 advantage with 4:25 minutes remaining before the Kings rallied to force a 22-8 run into overtime. Monk forced overtime with a 3-pointer from the corner with 1.1 seconds left.
Sacramento’s key sprint late in regulation was 10 straight points that put it 147-146 by 1:22.
The Clippers held a 162-156 lead with 3:04 remaining in the first overtime before the Kings scored six straight goals to level it. Monk hit two free throws with 20.4 seconds left to level it at 164. Los Angeles had a shot at winning it, but Leonard couldn’t place a tip on the buzzer.
LEONARD’S NIGHT
It’s the sixth 40-point game in Leonard’s 10-year career and his second since joining the Clippers in the summer of 2019. He’s been off the field 16 of 22, including six 3-point games in 46 minutes.
HARD NIGHT
Sacramento center Domantas Sabonis only played 31 minutes after being in trouble for most of the night. He recorded his four fouls in the first half and then pulled out his fifth at 6:46 in the third quarter.
Sabonis, who hit his seventh triple-double in Thursday night’s win over Portland, was fouled in the first overtime with 3:09 to go. He finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
TIP ONE
Kings: Are 6-4 in the second game of back-to-backs. … Sacramento had a season high with 18 steals. …. Keegan Murray had 15 points. … Chimezie Metu has hit a season high with nine rebounds.
Clippers: Batum had 19 points including five 3-pointers in the French Heritage Night. Fans who entered the arena received a Batum figurine with the French flag on it. … Norman Powell had 24 points off the bench. … Ivica Zubac was not able to play because of a right calf strain.
NEXT
Kings: On Sunday in Oklahoma City.
Clippers: Sunday in Denver.
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