Chimezie Metu Hits 3 At Buzzer, Kings Beat Mavs 95-94

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Chimezie Met made a country 3-pointer astatine the buzzer to springiness the Sacramento Kings a 95-94 triumph implicit the Dallas Mavericks connected Wednesday nighttime successful the opener of a two-game acceptable betwixt the teams.

Dallas led 94-92 with 33.2 seconds remaining aft Jalen Brunson’s abbreviated jumper and 2 escaped throws from Kristaps Porzingis. After Harrison Barnes missed a layup for Sacramento, and the Mavericks were called for a 24-second violation, Kings constituent defender De’Aaron Fox drove down the lane and passed to Metu successful the close corner. The assemblage astatine Golden 1 Center erupted aft Metu’s changeable dropped done the net.

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Fox had 16 points and 5 assists. Barnes and Davion Mitchell scored 14 apiece, and Tyrese Haliburton added 12 points and 10 assists.

Brunson scored 25 points for Dallas. Porzingis had 24 points and 7 rebounds. The Mavericks person mislaid 14 of 21 to the Kings.

The teams volition conscionable again Friday successful Sacramento.

Marvin Bagley III, the No. 2 wide prime successful 2018 making his 2nd consecutive commencement this season, had 8 consecutive points successful the 2nd quarter. Davion Mitchell — caller retired of the wellness and information protocols — made a 3-pointer to enactment the Kings up 55-43.

Dallas trailed by 13 aboriginal successful the third. past went connected a 20-6 run.

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WELCOME BACK OLD FRIEND

Isaiah Thomas mightiness person been wearing a Mavericks jersey but the assemblage astatine Golden 1 Center did its champion to marque him consciousness astatine home. Thomas, who signed a 10-day declaration with Dallas connected Wednesday nether the COVID-related hardship allowance, spent his archetypal 3 NBA seasons successful Sacramento aft being the last prime of the 2011 draught and was greeted with a rousing ovation erstwhile helium entered the crippled successful the archetypal quarter.

Fans didn’t jeer Thomas erstwhile the 32-year-old changeable an airball connected his archetypal changeable of the night, and applauded erstwhile helium connected connected an 18-footer. The two-time All-Star, who played 4 games with the Lakers this month, had six points and 4 assists successful 13 minutes.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Brandon Knight, who was signed to a 10-day hardship declaration connected Dec. 23, and Boban Majanovic were entered into the NBA wellness and information protocol. The 2 joined a crowded database that includes Trey Burke, Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber and JaQuori McLaughlin.

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Kings: Before the game, Mitchell, Alex Len and Louis King were cleared to instrumentality from the wellness and information protocol. Neemias Queta is the lone Kings subordinate successful the protocol.