Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) scores over Milwaukee Bucks middle Brook Lopez (11) within the first quarter of an NBA basketball recreation in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photograph/José Luis Villegas)
SACRAMENTO, California — De’Aaron Fox scored 29 factors and the Sacramento Kings beat Milwaukee 129-94 on Tuesday evening within the NBA for his or her first win over the Bucks in additional than eight years.
Sacramento had not defeated Milwaukee since Feb. 1, 2016, with the 15-game shedding streak being the longest lively streak for any staff.
“I believe defensively we did an excellent job,” Fox mentioned. “I believe that fueled our offense. Clearly we scored 130 factors, however even when we didn’t play that effectively offensively, if we’ve got even below-average recreation, rating 110, we nonetheless win this recreation by 15. … I believe this was some of the full video games that we’ve performed this 12 months.”
how did Cunning make this?!?! 😱 pic.twitter.com/E9dZgouNTh
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 13, 2024
READ: Damian Lillard hits buzzer-beater, Bucks stun Kings in OT
This recreation was by no means doubtful. The Kings by no means trailed and led by double digits for the reason that halfway level of the second quarter and constructed the result in 30 factors within the fourth quarter.
Domantas Sabonis had 22 factors and 11 rebounds, setting a Kings single-season report along with his forty seventh consecutive double-double. Jerry Lucas had set the mark in 1967-68.
“Night time in, evening out, he’s come up large for us,” Fox mentioned. “I believe individuals are proof against it. Nobody exterior of principally us talks about it. However that’s clearly a tough factor to do and there’s not many individuals have finished it. He comes able to play each evening.”
Malik Monk added 25 factors off the bench.
The Kings have received three of 4 and path Phoenix by only a half-game within the race for sixth place within the Western Convention.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 factors and 13 rebounds for the Bucks, who went 1-3 on a four-game California swing. Milwaukee shot 36.6% for the sport and missed 32 of 39 from 3-point vary.
“We deserved it tonight,” coach Doc Rivers mentioned. “It’s my fault. I didn’t get them ready the way in which I ought to mentally. At shootaround, guys had been speaking about planes leaving. As a workers, we talked about it after shootaround that if our focus is just not higher than this morning, it’s going to be an extended day. And it was an extended day. In order that’s on us.”
The one spotlight for Milwaukee was a putback dunk within the closing minutes by rookie Andre Jackson Jr., whose head bought above the rim on the play.
The Kings began quick offensively by making eight 3-pointers within the first quarter and constructing on the lead from there. Sacramento shot 66% within the first half and opened a 20-point lead late within the second quarter on a dunk by Sabonis.
The Kings led 75-56 on the half and had been in management the remainder of the way in which.
Each groups had been short-handed, with Keegan Murray lacking the sport for Sacramento after spraining his left ankle on Sunday in Houston and Khris Middleton lacking his fifteenth straight recreation for Milwaukee with a sprained left ankle.
Rivers mentioned that Middleton has resumed practising and is getting nearer to creating a return.
MarJon Beauchamp was additionally out for the Bucks with again spasms and Sacramento’s Trey Lyles left within the second quarter with a left knee harm and didn’t return.
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NEXT SCHEDULE
Bucks: Host Philadelphia on Thursday evening.
Kings: Host Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday evening.