Domantas Sabonis' triple-double powers Kings past Wizards

Field Level Media|published: Tue 19th December, 01:00 2023

Dec 18, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) scores a layup against Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford (21) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. credits: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Domantas Sabonis had 28 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, and the Sacramento Kings scored a combined 85 points in the second and third quarters en route to a 143-131 victory over the visiting Washington Wizards on Monday night.

All five starters scored in double figures while Malik Monk chipped in with 10 off the bench for the Kings, who recorded a season-high for points while extending their winning streak to three games.

Jordan Poole scored 28 points, including a season-high eight 3-pointers, for the Wizards, who have lost the first two games of a four-game trip against Western Conference teams.

Bouncing back from a hard-fought 112-108 defeat at Phoenix on Sunday, the Wizards led by as many as six early in the first quarter and were still up 40-37 with 7:23 left in the second quarter.

The Kings outscored the Wizards 29-16 to end the half and take a 66-56 lead at the break.

Sabonis, who notched his third triple-double of the season, led all scorers with 20 points at the half. De'Aaron Fox added 16 points and Keegan Murray added 10 in the first two quarters.

The Kings continued the momentum to begin the third quarter, outscoring the Wizards 29-13 to take a 95-69 lead with 5:42 left in the frame. Sacramento shot 76.2 percent from the floor in the quarter, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Fox finished with a game-high 30 points and added six assists and three steals. Murray shot 4-for-7 on 3-pointers and added 25 points.

Harrison Barnes chipped in 19 points and Kevin Huerter scored 11 points for the Kings, whose season-high point total had been 132 in an overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers in October.

Poole shot 10-for-18 overall and 8-for-13 on 3-pointers and finished two points shy of his season high.

Kyle Kuzma had 27 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Tyus Jones put up 16 points to go with a team-high nine assists for Washington, which allowed 140 or more points for the sixth time this season.

Mike Muscala and Bilal Coulibaly added 11 points apiece off the bench for Washington.

—Field Level Media

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