Fox, Barnes Help Kings Pull Away To Beat Wizards 119-105

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December 15, 2021 astatine 11:28 pm

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — De’Aaron Fox scored 28 points and the short-handed Sacramento Kings bushed the slumping Washington Wizards 119-105 connected Wednesday night.

Harrison Barnes added 19 points, 15 successful a ascendant 4th fourth erstwhile helium had a brace of three-point plays and a 3-pointer to assistance Sacramento extremity a three-game losing streak. Tristan Thompson and Buddy Hield scored 15 points apiece.

The Kings were missing interim manager Alvin Gentry and players Marvin Bagley III and Terence Davis, each of whom were placed successful the NBA’s wellness and information protocols earlier successful the day. Assistant Doug Christie coached the squad successful spot of Gentry.

“They made it precise enjoyable for me,” Christie said. “(Washington) had america down, and for america to travel backmost and combat the mode we did … if it was casual everybody would bash it, but it’s not.”

Bradley Beal had 30 points and 5 assists for Washington. The Wizards, who wasted large leads successful the archetypal 3 quarters, person dropped 3 consecutive and six of seven.

The Kings trailed 89-77 precocious successful the 3rd 4th and outscored the Wizards 42-16 aft that.

“They could odor the humor successful the water,” Wizards manager Wes Unseld Jr. said. “They picked it up and they pressured us.”

Barnes provided the large spark for Sacramento aft Fox went to the seat aboriginal successful the fourth. Barnes scored 10 consecutive points, including a three-point play erstwhile helium did a 360-degree turn, banked a changeable successful and was fouled by Raul Neto.

That pushed Sacramento’s pb to 105-96 and the Kings pulled away.

“When Fox came retired I was benignant of force-feeding (Barnes) a small spot and that got america going,” said Tyrese Haliburton, who had 8 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds. “We needed idiosyncratic to measurement up successful the 4th quarter. He made immoderate plays for america that were much-needed.”

The nonaccomplishment continued a unsmooth agelong for the Wizards. Washington is successful the midst of its longest roadworthy travel of the play and wasn’t definite Kyle Kuzma would play aft helium was besides entered into the protocols. Kuzma was cleared and scored six points successful 33 minutes.

“We’re being tested. Thus acold we haven’t responded accordingly,” Unseld said. “We person to find a mode to excavation down individually and collectively and find the champion mentation of ourselves.”

Beal changeable the Wizards to an aboriginal nine-point lead, connecting connected 8 of his archetypal 13 attempts including a brace of country 3s.

Fox repeatedly attacked the handbasket to support Sacramento close. The Kings constituent defender had 16 points successful the archetypal fractional and scored connected a driving layup to chopped the pb to 57-56.

HE’S NOT WRONG

“The lone accordant happening we’ve done is beryllium inconsistent.” – Haliburton, connected the Kings (12-17).

TIP-INS

Wizards: Montrezl Harrell had 8 points successful the archetypal 4th connected 3-of-3 shooting. … Daniel Gafford grabbed his 500th vocation rebound successful the 3rd quarter.

Kings: With Davis out, rookie Davion Mitchell made his archetypal commencement of the play arsenic portion of Sacramento’s three-guard lineup that included Fox and Haliburton. Mitchell had 13 points and 5 assists. .. Richaun Holmes (right eye) did not play.

UP NEXT

Wizards: Play the 2nd fractional of a back-to-back against the Suns successful Phoenix connected Thursday.

Kings: Face the Grizzlies connected Friday astatine Golden 1 Center. Memphis has won 4 consecutive against Sacramento.

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