Domantas Sabonis' triple-double helps Kings thwart Thunder

Field Level Media|published: Sat 11th November, 24:54 2023

Nov 10, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter (9) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. credits: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Huerter and Keegan Murray combined for 52 points, Domantas Sabonis recorded his first triple-double of the season and the Sacramento Kings posted a 105-98 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA in-season tournament action Friday night.

Murray completed his first double-double of the season with a season-high 11 rebounds and Malik Monk chipped in with 12 points and eight assists off the bench as the Kings won their opener in the round-robin portion of West Group C.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went for a game-high 33 points for the Thunder, who suffered a second straight loss in the NBA's new made-for-November event.

En route to their second straight win, the Kings never trailed after running out to a 17-point, first-quarter lead. They turned a 13-11 game into a 24-13 lead in the middle stages of the first period with an 11-2 run during which Huerter hit two- and 3-point hoops.

The Thunder fell behind 32-15 in the game's 11th minute and fought an uphill battle the rest of the way. They got within five in the second period and two, 69-67, when Lu Dort dropped in a pair of free throws with 1:11 left in the third quarter.

But Monk hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the period to help the Kings extend their lead, and the visitors were never closer than five down the stretch.

Huerter paced the Kings with 28 points and Murray had 24, providing the firepower in the absence of star guard De'Aaron Fox, who sat out again with a sprained right ankle.

Sabonis' triple-double consisted of a season-best 13 assists to complement 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Gilgeous-Alexander also found time to lead the Thunder in assists with six and tied Chet Holmgren for team-high rebound honors with seven but missed both of his 3-point attempts. The Thunder went just 7-for-30 from beyond the arc, getting outscored 39-21 from deep.

Jalen Williams had 14 points, Josh Giddey 13 and Holmgren 12 for Oklahoma City, which saw a two-game winning streak come to an end.

—Field Level Media

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