LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Sacramento Kings edged the Los Angeles Clippers, 176-175, in double overtime on Friday — the second-highest scoring game in National Basketball Association history.
The scoring festival in Los Angeles capped a night of outstanding individual performances and an injury scare for Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 128-99 victory over the Miami Heat.
Malik Monk scored 45 points off the bench for Sacramento, his three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation tying it at 153-153 — enough to force overtime when Clippers star Kawhi Leonard missed a desperate attempt at the buzzer.
Monk made two free throws to tie it up late in overtime, and when Paul George missed a potential game-winner they went to the second extra session.
The Clippers, who had led by 14 with 4:25 left in regulation, were up by six with 1:57 left in the second overtime, but the Kings wouldn’t be denied.
Another three-pointer by Monk and a steal and basket from De’Aaron Fox gave them the lead, and Leonard and teammate Nicolas Batum both missed chances for the Clippers in the waning seconds.
Fox finished with 42 points for the Kings, who had seven players in double figures.
The 351 total points were the second-most scored in an NBA game, behind the Detroit Pistons’ 186-184 triple-overtime win over the Denver Nuggets on 13 December 1983.
