SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Monk Malik scored 12 of his 28 points in overtime, Domantas Sabonis recorded his 50th consecutive double-double and the Sacramento Kings beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-111 on Monday night.
“Having a guy like Malik close out like he did was a lot of fun to watch,” Sacramento coach Mike Brown said. “We just put the ball in his hands and put them in pick-and-roll, and he was able to create a little separation and hit his average game, and he was really on top tonight.”
Monk added six rebounds and six assists as the Kings improved to 5-1 in overtime.
“I feel like I relaxed a little bit in the fourth quarter,” he said. “I just managed to turn things around in overtime and we got the win.”
Sabonis finished with 25 points and 18 rebounds, and De’Aaron Fox had 23 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for Sacramento.
GG Jackson scored the first basket of overtime to give Memphis the lead before Monk scored eight straight and assisted on a Sabonis dunk as part of a 12-0 run that helped the Kings to beat the Grizzlies 16-6 in overtime.
“It’s always great when you have multiple guys that can take over a game,” Fox said. “With (Monk) going like that, you know he’s always going to make the right play, too.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 25 points on 8-of-27 shooting. Desmond Bane added 24 points and GG Jackson had 22.
“I’m very proud of the way our guys competed,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “We have to recognize the Kings, they made important plays: Fox at the end of the fourth, Monk taking over in overtime. It was a high-level basketball game. Our guys should be extremely proud.
The Kings played most of the game without starting goaltender Kevin Huerter, who exited with a left shoulder injury just 1:51 into the first quarter.
Huerter was attempt a layup when Bane made contact with his left arm, sending him to the ground. Bane was called for a common foul.
Huerter remained on the ground briefly before heading to the locker room holding his arm.
Brown did not hear from Huerter after the game.
Memphis closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 32-28 lead. Sacramento dominated the second, outscoring the Grizzlies 29-15 to go up 57-47 at halftime.
The Kings extended the lead to 63-52 early in the third before Memphis scored 10 straight points to get within one point.
Fox made three straight 3-pointers in the final 1:39 of the third to extend Sacramento’s lead to 84-76.
The Grizzlies rallied in the fourth, using a 10-1 run to tie the score at 97 with 4:47 left.
Memphis’ Smart Marcusinactive due to right ring finger injury, committed two technical fouls on the bench late in overtime and was ejected.
Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard missed the game for personal reasons.
FOLLOWING
Grizzlies: At Golden State on Wednesday night.
Kings: At Toronto on Wednesday night.
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