Kings Rally In 4th To Hand Nets 6th Straight Loss, 112-101
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton scored seven of his 12 points in the fourth quarter on his way to a double-double, and the Sacramento Kings handed the stumbling Brooklyn Nets their sixth consecutive loss, 112-101 on Wednesday night.
Harrison Barnes scored 19 points and Haliburton had 11 assists to help the Kings stop a seven-game skid. Buddy Hield and Davion Mitchell scored 18 apiece.
Nic Claxton had a career-high 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Brooklyn. James Johnson added 18 points.
James Harden, who has been nursing a sore right hand and a hamstring injury, was held to four points, his fewest since scoring five against the Chicago Bulls on May 15, 2021.
The Nets' skid is their longest since a seven-game slide Dec. 26, 2019, to Jan. 7, 2020. Brooklyn, which played at NBA-best Phoenix on Tuesday night, hasn't won since beating the Spurs in San Antonio on Jan. 21.
The Kings trailed by eight at halftime and were down 86-83 going into the fourth quarter.
Haliburton converted a three-point play as part of a 9-0 run to open the final period. He made a 17-footer to put the Kings up 97-91, then later drove through the lane to make it 101-93.
Johnson's dunk cut Sacramento's lead to 107-101 but Chimezie Metu had a three-point play, made two free throws and then blocked a shot by Patty Mills.
Claxton got the Nets going early with 11 points in the first quarter. Kyrie Irving added a pair of 3-pointers to put Brooklyn ahead 31-23.
Haliburton's jumper closed the Kings to 45-43 but Irving made a short jumper and Mills followed with a pair of 3s.
Sacramento got close again in the third and had a chance to cut Brooklyn's lead to two when Claxton blocked Haliburton's shot from behind and scored on the other end. The Nets' big man dunked a few moments later to make it 71-65.
TIP-INS
Nets: Harden was whistled for a technical foul in the fourth quarter. … LaMarcus Aldridge sat out a second straight game because of a left ankle sprain.
Kings: Haliburton's double-double was his 13th this season. … Mitchell had nine points in the third quarter. … De'Aaron Fox missed his sixth straight game because of left ankle soreness. … Marvin Bagley III (left ankle sprain) did not play for the second consecutive game.
UP NEXT
Nets: Face the Jazz in Utah on Friday.
Kings: Play the Warriors in San Francisco on Thursday. Golden State has won three straight against Sacramento, including twice this season.
