Fox, Lyles help Kings outlast Timberwolves 118-111 in OT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — De’Aaron Fox had 32 points and Trey Lyles had eight of his 11 points in overtime for the Sacramento Kings, who outplayed the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-111 Monday night.
Malik Monk scored 19 points, Domantas Sabonis had 17 points and 13 rebounds before fouling, and Keegan Murray added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the rising Kings, who clinched another signature win in their promising quest for an NBA record -16-year absence to end the playoffs.
The Kings had a season-high 15 steals and turned 18 turnovers from the Timberwolves into 21 points.
“It’s just trying to be disruptive. If we get a distraction and it turns into a theft, great,” Fox said.
Lyles took over for Sabonis in the middle and started overtime with a 3-pointer. He dipped against Rudy Gobert for a three-point game and was wide open for a slam with 37.8 seconds left for a five-point lead that ended the game and the Kings after a 117-110 loss on Saturday awarded a two-game split.
“Both games were pretty ugly by our standards so I thought we did a good job of maintaining our composure on the track,” Murray said.
Anthony Edwards had 33 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves, hitting the 30-point mark for the fifth time in the last six games, but he had six turnovers amid strong doubles teams on the line.
“He draws a lot of spectators,” said Wolves coach Chris Finch. “Most of the time he’s trying to make the right play. Maybe he needs to see it a little sooner.”
Gobert added 19 points and 14 rebounds in a classic big-man fight with Sabonis, who was whistled after a missed contested layup for a technical error that had him yelling at the officials for the no-call with 3:57 left.
Neither team led by more than five points throughout the fourth quarter as Edwards worked for Wolves again, making baskets with three straight possessions for a 98-95 lead with 2:12 left.
Fox is also one of those clutch players. He twice put the Kings 1:48 ahead with shots in the Finals and had a chance to win them on regular buzzer when his fadeaway fell short.
Jaden McDaniels hit the crucial 3-pointer with 13.5 seconds left for Wolves, but they didn’t take advantage of Sabonis’ absence in overtime, injuring themselves again with unforced errors at either end. In another sign of the crowded Western Conference race, they fell from fifth to ninth place. The Kings are in third place, with just one win more than the Wolves.
“To go into overtime in someone else’s building and pull out a win is definitely great,” said Fox.
EARLY BRICKS
The rims at both ends were in an unforgiving mood. Wolves had a season-low 17 points in the first quarter. D’Angelo Russell missed his first three free throws after missing the line twice in his previous 13 games.
“We tried to scrape that one out and we made too many mistakes to get the win,” said Russell.
GHOST TOWNS
Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns has missed 32 games with a strained right calf. He posted an Instagram photo over the weekend showing his right foot in a hiking boot.
“No setbacks at all,” Finch said. “Just part of the process.”
TIMES ARE CHANGING
Three years and three days ago, the Kings stunned the Timberwolves by overcoming a 27-point deficit – they were still down to 17 by 2:49 in regular time – and won in overtime.
As of this evening, there are only three players left in each team’s roster. The only ones to see the floor in both Jan. 27, 2020 games: Fox and Harrison Barnes for Sacramento and Naz Reid for Minnesota.
TIP INS
Kings: SG Kevin Huerter went 5 to 19 from the floor and 2 to 12 from 3-point range in the two-game series. … SG Deonte Burton has signed a 10-day deal ahead of the game, plucked from the G-League affiliate in Stockton.
Timberwolves: Backup SF Taurean Prince returned after four games with a sprained left ankle. … Wolves shot 13 for 25 from the free throw line.
NEXT
Kings: Visit San Antonio on Wednesday.
Timberwolves: Host Golden State on Wednesday.
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