03/27/23 11:40:00
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03/27 23:39 CDT Timberwolves win 119-115 to deny clinching party for Kings
Timberwolves win 119-115 to deny clinching party for Kings
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) --- Jaden McDaniels scored 20 points and the Minnesota
Timberwolves spoiled Sacramento's hopes for a clinching party by beating the
Kings 119-115 on Monday night.
The Kings were hoping to end the longest playoff drought in NBA history in
front of their fans, but sent them home unhappy.
The Timberwolves won their fourth straight and completed a sweep of a
back-to-back set at Golden State and Sacramento to tie the Warriors for sixth
place in the Western Conference playoff race.
Minnesota wasn't fazed by the frenzied sellout crowd and pulled away in the
fourth quarter for the win.
Naz Reid hit a 3-pointer to give the Timberwolves a six-point lead early in the
fourth quarter and McDaniels' emphatic dunk made it 114-104 with about four
minutes left.
The Kings had a chance to make it close late, but Keegan Murray missed a
3-pointer from the corner that could have cut the deficit to three points with
42 seconds left.
Reid added 18 points, Anthony Edwards had 17 and Rudy Gobert had 16 points and
16 rebounds.
De'Aaron Fox scored 29 points and Domantas Sabonis added 24 points and 10
rebounds for Sacramento. The Kings struggled from the outside, making just 5 of
26 3-pointers.
Sacramento now will look to clinch its first playoff berth since 2006 later
this week, when the Kings travel to Portland for two games.
Sacramento's 16-year stretch without a playoff berth is the the longest in NBA
history and the longest active postseason drought among any team in the NBA,
NFL, NHL or Major League Baseball.
The excitement in Sacramento was palpable leading up to the game with the
success-starved fans eager to have something consequential to celebrate.
The stakes might have contributed to a shaky start for the Kings, who fell
behind by 13 points in the first quarter. But led by an emphatic dunk for a
three-point play by Sabonis and three baskets in the final minute of the half,
the Kings took a 58-57 lead into the break.
The game stayed close from there until the Timberwolves pulled away in the
fourth quarter.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns sat out the back end of a
back-to-back as he deals with a lingering right calf strain. ... F Taurean
Prince (illness) also missed the game.
Kings: Murray made one 3-pointer to give him 185 on the season, tied with
Damian Lillard for the second-most ever for a rookie. Donovan Mitchell holds
the record with 187 in 2017-2018. ... Owner Vivek Ranadive missed the game
because he was home sick with pneumonia.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: At Phoenix on Wednesday night.
Kings: At Portland on Wednesday night.
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