The Philadelphia 76ers had a nine-point lead over the Sacramento Kings with just over three minutes remaining. Five Sixers turnovers and four missed shots later, the Kings had a 113-107 win.
a clutch king with a CLUTCH bucket https://t.co/HgGEYkCPHV pic.twitter.com/uSh0C3Rhum
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) January 2, 2025
Despite a series of turnovers and missed shots, the 76ers were clinging to a 107-105 lead late when Tyrese Maxey got his fourth steal of the game. Fifteen seconds later, DeMar DeRozan took the ball away from Maxey and scored the game-tying layup. After a Maxey miss, Guerschon Yabusele goaltended a Malik Monk shot to give Sacramento its first lead since the first quarter, and Monk stole the ball from Paul George.
It was either a remarkable comeback or a remarkable collapse, depending on your perspective. Monk scored 10 points and made all eight of his foul shots in the final quarter, while De'Aaron Fox had 14 points, thanks to six two-pointers. DeRozan had two steals in the final two minutes.
It wasn't even the first time the Kings closed out a half on a monster run Wednesday night. In the first half, Fox (35 points) hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer off a tapped-out rebound by Domantas Sabonis to complete a 20-6 run to tie the game at 57-57.
DE'AARON FOX AT THE 1H BUZZER
— NBA (@NBA) January 2, 2025
Kings close the 2Q on a 20-6 run to TIE the game! pic.twitter.com/DQKe3jFZCc
Philadelphia had trouble with the Kings' unorthodox closing lineup, featuring Sabonis, DeRozan and three guards. Specifically, Sixers forward Paul George had trouble. He scored 30 points in the game's first three quarters but none after subbing in with 7:26 left in the fourth. George committed three fouls and three turnovers, seemingly unable to score or stop fouling Monk.
Fox had no such fourth-quarter issues. He barely missed all game, shooting 13-of-16, but his 6-of-7 fourth quarter was key to the comeback win. He's leading the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring with 265 points, dwarfing second-place Donovan Mitchell's 215.
De'Aaron Fox's efficient shooting lifted the Kings to a big 4Q comeback!
— NBA (@NBA) January 2, 2025
35 PTS (13-16 FGM)
14 PTS in the 4Q (6-7 FGM)
The Kings close the game on a 15-0 run to steal the victory at home! pic.twitter.com/wIrHbC6DhW
The loss snapped the Sixers' four-game winning streak and was only their second defeat in their last eight games. They don't get much time to dwell on the blown game — they head down Interstate 80 to face the Golden State Warriors Thursday night, a team that also has a point guard known for his fourth-quarter scoring.
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