In an instant 2023 game of the year candidate, the Sacramento Kings came away with a huge win against the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night in a duel that took place in Crypto.com Arena in L.A.
The Kings and Clippers managed to score the second-most post in NBA history during their double-overtime matchup. Sacramento won, 176-175. The teams combined to score 351 points, 19 shy of the NBA record of 370 set on Dec. 13, 1983.
Facing a retooled Clippers lineup that just added future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook to the mix, the Kings didn't back down from the challenge.
Former Kentucky and now-Kings teammates, De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk became the first set of teammates to score more than 40 points each in the same game in franchise history. Combining to score 87 points, the two helped propel the Kings to their biggest win of the season.
Scoring 19 of the 23 points in overtime for the Kings, the duo took over when the team needed it the most. With clutch shot after clutch shot, Fox proved why he leads the NBA in clutch points.
Kings-Clippers had EVERYTHING
— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2023
- 2nd highest scoring game in NBA history
- 2nd time in NBA history both teams scored 170+
- Tied most 3PM in a game in NBA history
Kawhi: 44 PTS
PG: 34 PTS
Fox: 42 PTS
Monk: 45 PTS
Kings win 176-175 in 2OT. pic.twitter.com/ycPgcS2WXg
Monk wanted to use this game as a notice to the rest of the NBA, saying, "We gonna come out here and compete every single game and let the league know we're here."
"We gonna come out here and compete every single game and let the league know we're here." ️️️ pic.twitter.com/pXSoyFEX5A
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 25, 2023
While they didn't come away with the victory, Clippers Kawhi Leonard and Paul George did their best to keep up with the Kings duo, combining for 78 points.
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