Kings' stars lead way to win over Clippers

Field Level Media|published: Mon 26th February, 24:31 2024

Feb 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) passes the ball against Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (40) and forward Domantas Sabonis (10) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. credits: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

De'Aaron Fox responded to a technical foul with a late flurry, Domantas Sabonis recorded his 20th triple-double of the season and the visiting Sacramento Kings took advantage of Paul George's absence to turn back the Los Angeles Clippers 123-107 on Sunday night.

Sabonis finished with 17 points and game-highs in rebounds with 15 and assists with 12, helping the Kings win a third straight. He's only the sixth player in NBA history to record at least 20 triple-doubles in one season.

Norman Powell had 21 points, while Kawhi Leonard and James Harden added 20 apiece for the Clippers, who sat out George with a sore left knee.

Sacramento led the entire second half, but saw the Clippers draw within 94-89 when Harden hit three consecutive free throws with 9:24 to play, one of the foul shots resulting from a technical foul assessed to Fox, who was charged with a foul on the play.

Fox then immediately countered with a short jumper, forced Harden into a turnover that Fox converted into a layup and tied up Harden for a jump ball, after which Malik Monk hit two free throws for a 100-89 lead with 8:24 to go.

Seeking a second straight win for the first time since Feb. 4-5, the Clippers drew within five on two more occasions, but got no closer.

The last time, at 103-98 after an Ivica Zubac dunk with still 6:41 to play, Monk and Harrison Barnes buried 3-pointers, sandwiching a Monk floater, in an eight-point burst that left the Clippers in the dust for good.

Fox wound up with a game-high 33 points, nine coming after his fourth-quarter technical foul. He also found time for seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.

Barnes totaled 22 points, Kevin Huerter 15, Monk 12 and Keegan Murray 11 for the Kings, who outscored the Clippers 45-24 on 3-pointers. Barnes (four), Huerter (three) and Murray (three) combined for 10 of Sacramento's 15 threes.

Powell shot 5-for-9 on 3-pointers for the Clippers, but Harden (2-for-10) and Leonard (0-for-3) combined to go just 2-13 as the team finished at 29.6 percent.

Leonard led the Clippers with eight rebounds to complement four steals, while Harden had a team-high eight assists to go with five rebounds.

Zubac had 16 points and Terance Mann had 14 for Los Angeles, which was going for a third straight win over the Kings this season.

—Field Level Media

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