The Heat Is On: Kings Fried By Miami, 116-109
The Sacramento Kings entered Thursday night's game in Miami having not beaten the Heat on the road since 2001.
Unfortunately, they're going to have to wait until next year to break that streak.
Dwyane Wade had 24 points and Chris Bosh registered a double-double to lead the Miami over the Kings, 116-109.
With DeMarcus Cousins serving a one-game suspension for a forearm to the face of Al Horford, Sacramento was already chasing the game by the end of the first quarter, trailing by four. That deficit extended to ten by halftime, thanks to a nine-point outburst by Dwyane Wade in the second quarter.
The Kings opened the second half on a 6-0 run to pull within four, but the loss of Rudy Gay to a strained left shoulder with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter helped keep Sacramento from pulling any closer. Rajon Rondo pulled the Kings within five with less than 2:00 left, but Miami would seal the deal at the charity stripe.
Sacramento, who has struggled to take care of the ball this season, turned the ball over 18 times en route to a twenty-point deficit from points off turnovers.
Rondo narrowly avoided another triple-double with 14 points, 18 assists, and 9 rebounds. Ben McLemore chipped in with 17 points on 3-of-4 from beyond the arc for the Kings, who have lost two straight.
The Kings (4-9) continue their season-high five game road trip in Orlando on Saturday.