Chimezie Metu's buzzer-beater overshadows Porzingis efforts to edge out Mavs / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

Chimezie Metu connected on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer on an inbounds play that began with 3.8 seconds remaining Wednesday night, giving the Sacramento Kings (15-21) a 95-94 (20-30, 35-13, 17-26, 23-25) victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks (16-18).

Player of the Game EFF 16 Chimezie Metu Points 11 Accuracy 4-8 Rebounds 8 Assists 0

Metu got his shot at being a hero after the Kings, down by two points, chose not to foul the Mavericks on their final possession, which started with 27.8 seconds left.

Dallas committed a 24-second violation, giving the Kings the ball, after a timeout, in their frontcourt.

De'Aaron Fox passed to Metu, who drilled his third 3-pointer of the game to give Sacramento its second home win in two nights. The Kings beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-111 on Tuesday.

After the Wednesday game was tied at 88 and 90 in the final 4:03, Fox gave Sacramento a two-point lead on a coast-to-coast layup with 1:22 remaining.

The Mavericks, coming off a win Monday at Portland, subsequently put themselves in a position to capture a second straight. They got a tying hoop from Jalen Brunson with 1:10 left, a Kristaps Porzingis block on a Richaun Holmes interior attempt with 45.0 seconds remaining, and two Porzingis free throws for a 94-92 lead with 33.2 seconds to go.

Sacramento's Harrison Barnes couldn't connect on a potential game-tying drive, setting up interim Kings coach Alvin Gentry's decision not to foul, which paid off in the end.

Fox paced a balanced Sacramento attack with 16 points. Barnes and Davion Mitchell followed with 14 each, Tyrese Haliburton had 12 to go with a game-high 10 assists, and Metu and Marvin Bagley III scored 11 apiece.

Metu also found time for a game-high eight rebounds.

Jalen Brunson had a game-high 25 points to go with a team-high six assists and Porzingis chipped in with 24 points to complement a team-high seven rebounds for the Mavericks, who will stay in Sacramento and get a rematch Friday night.

Dorian Finney-Smith added 11 points for Dallas. Isaiah Thomas, a former King making his Mavericks debut, contributed six points in 13 minutes off the bench after signing with the team earlier Wednesday.

Kings: De'Aaron Fox 16 (7/11 2PT), Harrison Barnes 14 (2/4 3PT, 6 REB), Davion Mitchell 14 (4/5 2PT, 2/4 3PT), Tyrese Haliburton 12 (3/8 2PT, 1/5 3PT, 10 AST), Marvin Bagley 11 (7 REB), Chimezie Metu 11 (3/5 3PT, 8 REB).Mavericks: Jalen Brunson 25 (9/17 2PT, 2/2 3PT, 6 AST), Kristaps Porzingis 24 (7/13 2PT, 1/6 3PT, 7/8 FT, 7 REB, 3 BLK), Dorian Finney-Smith 11 (3/5 3PT, 6 REB).

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