‘Crazy’: Fox, Monk lift Kings over Clippers in second-highest scoring game in NBA history
When it was all over, Kings guards De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk were asked about the Los Angeles Clippers’ addition of Russell Westbrook and the statement Sacramento made in winning one of the most thrilling games the NBA has ever seen.
“Thoughts about Westbrook or thoughts about us?” Fox asked. “I don’t give a f--- who’s over there. It doesn’t matter. You see the league, the talent in this league. There are a lot of talented teams. Obviously, he added talent to this team, but we come in and worry about us.”
Monk offered his thoughts as well, saying: “We’re here, too, and we’re coming at everybody.”
The Kings made a statement alright, spoiling Westbrook’s Clippers debut with a wild 176-175 double-overtime victory Friday night at Crypto.com Arena in the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. The only time two teams have scored more points was Dec. 13, 1983 — nearly 40 years ago — when the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime.
The Kings were down by 14 with 4:25 to play in the fourth quarter. They were down by six with 3:04 to go in the first overtime and trailed by six again with 1:57 to play in the second overtime. Somehow, they still found a way to win.
“Our guys just kept fighting,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “I’m really, really proud of them tonight because this is the type of stuff that I’m looking to see if we have. Now, let’s sustain it.”
Monk came off the bench to score a career-high 45 points for the Kings (34-25), who moved a season-best nine games over .500 with 23 games remaining in the regular season. Monk sent the game to overtime with a game-tying 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, a play that was designed by Kings assistant coach Jay Triano.
“I told Jay, ‘Jay, get ready for a 3,’ and he drew up a hell of a play,” Brown said. “The guys executed it and Malik hit a big-time shot.”
Fox had a season-high 42 points with five rebounds, 12 assists and five steals. He has scored 30 or more in six consecutive games — a Sacramento-era franchise record — and eight of his last nine games.
As good as Fox was offensively, making 17 of 27 field-goal attempts, it was his play at the other end of the floor that earned him the team’s defensive player of the game chain.
“Down 14, he had two, three, maybe four steals, deflection after deflection, that turned into points,” Brown said. “The 42 points is unbelievable. ... Malik was unbelievable. The shot he hit to send the game into overtime … him and Foxy, between the two of them, 87 points. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that. That is remarkable.”
Kings center Domantas Sabonis finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes before fouling out with 3:09 to play in the first overtime.
Kawhi Leonard scored 44 points for the Clippers (33-29). Paul George had 34 points and 10 rebounds. Westbrook had 17 points and 14 assists while committing seven turnovers.
Asked about the game afterwards, Leonard said: “Crazy. Everyone was making shots out there – 3s, layups, getting to the free-throw line. Yeah, it was ridiculous.”
The Kings strengthened their hold on the third seed in the Western Conference as they try to end the longest playoff drought in NBA history after 16 consecutive losing seasons. They are now 1 ½ games behind the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies, two games ahead of the fourth-place Phoenix Suns and 2 ½ games ahead of the fifth-place Clippers.
The Clippers returned from the All-Star break with reinforcements for the stretch run in the Western Conference playoff race. They made moves to acquire Mason Plumlee and Eric Gordon at the trade deadline and then picked up Westbrook on the buyout market.
Westbrook started in his first game with the Clippers. He received a huge response from the crowd when he was introduced in the starting lineup. Westbrook missed his first two shots before a live-ball turnover led to a fastbreak layup and his first basket for the Clippers, tying the game midway through the opening period.
The game was tied at 40 at the end of a high-scoring first quarter. Sabonis picked up two early fouls, an omen of things to come for the Kings.
Sabonis scored three times to fuel an 11-0 run that gave Sacramento a 66-64 lead in the second quarter, but he was whistled for his third foul with 3:19 remaining in the half. Brown elected to leave Sabonis in the game, but that immediately backfired when Sabonis was called for his fourth foul 11 seconds later.
The Kings challenged the offensive foul call on Sabonis, but the challenge was unsuccessful. Sabonis had 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and one blocked shot despite being limited to 14 minutes in the first half.
The Kings trailed 80-76 at the break. The Clippers started the second half with a 9-2 run to take an 89-78 lead. The Kings battled back to cut the deficit to four, but then Sabonis was called for a charge – his fifth foul – with 6:46 to play in the third period. Brown received a technical foul while arguing vehemently against the call.
Los Angeles led 117-110 at the start of the fourth quarter. The Clippers were up by 14 with less than four minutes remaining when Sabonis scored on a putback dunk to spark a 22-8 run that sent the game to overtime.
The Clippers appeared to be on the verge of victory in the first overtime and again in the second overtime, but the Kings wouldn’t quit. Harrison Barnes made two free throws to cut the deficit to four with 1:46 to play in double overtime. Monk made a 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining and then Fox hit the go-ahead jumper with 43.3 seconds to go.
The Clippers had one last chance to win the game, but Nicolas Batum missed a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds to play.
Fox and Monk met at midcourt to celebrate the win. Brown joined them, exchanging handshakes, hugs and a few fiery words.
“We could have cashed it in on numerous occasions, but the way they fought and their belief in what we were trying to do was big time,” Brown said. “I felt it from those guys and I wanted them to see my appreciation for what they did on the floor tonight.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2023 at 4:25 AM.
