Buzzer Beater: Kings haul in a shocking win thanks to hot-shooting first half

With the Kings offense gone cold and chances of a shocking win over the Mavericks seemingly waning, Sacramento’s biggest play Sunday night was a rebound.

Richaun Holmes hauled in a loose ball after a shot from Dallas’ Luka Doncic hit the front of the rim with 4.4 seconds left. After a timeout following Holmes’ rebound, the Kings immediately hit Nemanja Bjelica cutting to the hoop for an easy basket and Sacramento stunned Dallas 110-106.

The Kings offense went cold in the final six minutes, scoring just two points before Bjelica’s bucket. Sacramento led by 20 points at halftime and by 16 points with 6:30 to go.

Then came a flurry of buckets, both inside and outside, as Dallas clawed back into the game while Bjelica rested on the bench. His final two points both stuck a dagger in the Mavericks’ hearts and gave Bjelica 30 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists. Buddy Hield enjoyed a hot shooting night, hitting 10 of 15 and 5 of 6 from 3-point range to finish with 26 points.

It felt like the Kings could kick the ball and it would go through the hoop in the first half. With time waning, Bogdan Bogdanovic’s shot skipped off the front rim, bounced off the back glass and dropped in. He cocked his head to the side and smirked. Not exactly according to plan but whatever.

Richaun Holmes had Mavericks defenders shaking their heads with three thundering putback dunks and an alley-oop for 12 points at the break. Hield was scalding, hitting 7 of 10 shots, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, for 18 points. And Bjelica hit 7 of 7 shots, including two 3-pointers.

As a bonus, the Kings had just three turnovers and no player had more than a single foul.

The last time the Mavs won a game they trailed by 20 or more at halftime was Dec. 30, 2008. Tim Hardaway Jr. hit 10 of 13 shots for 29 points as the Kings defense focused on slowing Doncic, who had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Doncic on a roll

The Kings got a firsthand look at super sophomore Luka Doncic, whom they skipped with the second-overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft in favor of Marvin Bagley III.

While Bagley is rehabbing from a broken thumb, Doncic on Saturday against the Pelicans tied Michael Jordan’s streak of 18 straight games with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. That mark is the best since the ABA/NBA merger.

Doncic is averaging 30 points, 10 rebounds and 9.2 assists a game this year. Bagley had 14 points and 10 rebounds in his one game this season.

Bagley update

Bagley still hasn’t played his second game of the year as he rehabs from a broken thumb he suffered in the season opener in Phoenix.

He was cleared by the team’s medical personnel last week to return to practice. The only holdup to returning to the lineup is Bagley says he doesn’t feel like he’s quite ready to play.

He says he want to get back to “feeling how I felt before I felt before (the injury),” Bagley said Sunday. “I’m near though. I’m gettin’ there. Right at the door.”

Familiar faces in Dallas

Harrison Barnes was greeted warmly in Dallas, his home for two and a half years. He chatted with an usher before the game. He shook hands with the TV crew. A few fans wore his jersey.

The Kings traded for Barnes last February. Part of the deal was Justin Jackson, who was drafted by the Kings in 2017. Jackson is averaging 6.4 points a game off the bench for the Mavericks.

Kings upcoming schedule

Dec. 9 at Houston Rockets, 5 p.m.

Dec. 11 vs. Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Dec. 13 vs. New York Knicks, 7 p.m.

Dec. 15 at Golden State Warriors, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 17 at Charlotte Hornets, 4 p.m.