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The Sacramento Kings squared off with the LA Clippers for the third time this season on Sunday. Sacramento, which is winless against the host team, hoped to cut the series deficit to 2-1. De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis led the Kings again.
LA was shorthanded to start the game as the team held out Paul George due to a sore left knee. “PG-13” has not missed a game for the Clippers since Jan. 31. Without George, Ty Lue counted on Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Ivica Zubac to carry the Clippers.
Leonard and Zubac led LA's first-quarter charge, combining for 14 of the team’s 28 points. “The Claw” went 0-for-3 before finishing the period on a 4-for-4 tear. The Kings, despite Sabonis going 1-for-8, kept the Clippers within sight. Sacramento trailed 28-25 after the first 24 minutes of action.
Harrison Barnes and De'Aaron Fox got themselves going in the second quarter and combined for 26 points. Sabonis continued to struggle to put up points against Zubac but made his presence felt with nine rebounds and seven assists. Behind them, the Sacramento Kings held a 58-51 halftime lead.
The third quarter continued on the same theme. Barnes, Fox and Sabonis tried to push the Kings farther from the Clippers but Kawhi Leonard and James Harden kept LA in the game. Norman Powell also had a solid game starting for Paul George.
Both teams exchanged runs but Sacramento managed to win the said quarter 31-29 to take an 89-80 advantage going to the fourth period. Domantas Sabonis already had another triple-double, his league-leading 20th, with still a full quarter left.
The pivotal period happened with about eight minutes left in the game when Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown took out De'Aaron Fox for a rest. LA Clippers shot caller Ty Lue countered by putting Kawhi Leonard into the game with the Clippers trailing by eight points.
Instead of stagnating, the Kings scored on eight straight positions without their best scorer. Sabonis, Malik Monk and Harrison Barnes spearheaded the charge that pushed the lead to 16 points.
The Clippers gave up a few offensive rebounds that doomed their chances of mounting a rally. They also shot just 8-for-27 from deep, including several wide-open attempts from James Harden late in the game.
The Sacramento Kings held on to beat the LA Clippers 123-107 to get ther first victory of the season against their opponents.
Sacramento Kings vs LA Clippers game player stats and box scores
Sacramento Kings game player stats
LA Clippers game player stats
