Kings beat Clippers 176-175 in 2nd-highest scoring game ever

LOS ANGELES(AP) — Malik Monk scored a career-high 45 points, De’Aaron Fox hadthe go-ahead basket and finished with 42 and the Sacramento Kingsbeat the Los Angeles Clippers 176-175 in double overtime in thesecond-highest scoring game in NBA history.

Detroitbeat Denver 186-184 in triple overtime on Dec. 13, 1983, in thehighest-scoring NBA game. The Kings are third on the scoring listwith the 176 points and the Clippers fourth.

TheClippers had a 175-169 advantage with 1:57 remaining before theKings scored the final seven points, including Fox’s jumper with36.5 seconds remaining. The Clippers had the final shot, but missedNico Batum missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Kingsovercame a 14-points deficit late in the fourth quarter andsix-point deficits in both overtime periods.

The teamsalso combined for 44 3-pointers, tied for the most in a game in NBAhistory.

KawhiLeonard scored a season-high 44 points for Los Angeles and PaulGeorge added 34.

RussellWestbrook started and made his Clippers debut after he clearedwaivers Wednesday. He had 17 points, 14 assists and five reboundsin 39 minutes before fouling out with 1:49 remaining in the secondovertime.

RALLY KINGS

Los Angeleshad a 145-131 advantage with 4:25 remaining before the Kingsrallied back to force overtime with a 22-8 run. Monk forced theextra session with a 3-pointer from the corner with 1.1 secondsremaining.

Sacramento’s key spurt late in regulation was 10 straight pointsthat got it to 147-146 with 1:22 left.

TheClippers had a 162-156 lead with 3:04 remaining in the firstovertime before the Kings scored six straight to even it. Monk hita pair of free throws with 20.4 seconds left to tie it at 164. LosAngeles had a chance to win it, but Leonard was unable to put in atip in at the buzzer.

LEONARD’S NIGHT

It is thesixth 40-point game in Leonard’s 10-year career and his secondsince joining the Clippers in the summer of 2019. He was 16 of 22from the field, including six 3-pointers, in 46 minutes.

This wasthe first time in two years Leonard faced the Kings. He missed lastyear due to a knee injury and did not playing in the first twomeetings this season.

TOUGH NIGHT

Sacramentocenter Domantas Sabonis played only 31 minutes after being in foultrouble most of the night. He picked up his four fouls in the firsthalf and then drew his fifth with 6:46 remaining in the thirdquarter.

Sabonis,who got his seventh triple-double in Thursday night’s win overPortland, fouled out with 3:09 remaining in the first overtime. Hefinished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

TIP-INS

Kings: Are6-4 in the second game of back-to-backs. ... Sacramento had aseason high 18 steals. .... Keegan Murray had 15 points. ...Chimezie Metu tied a season high with nine rebounds.

Clippers:Batum had 19 points, including five 3-pointers, on French Heritagenight. A bobblehead of Batum with France’s flag was given to fansentering the arena. ... Norman Powell had 24 points off the bench.... Ivica Zubac did not play due to a right calf strain.

UPNEXT

Kings: AtOklahoma City on Sunday.

Clippers:At Denver on Sunday.