The 351 points are the second highest score in league history, behind the Detroit Pistons’ victory over the Denver Nuggets 186-184, after three extra innings on December 13, 1983.
The Los Angeles Festival culminated in a night of outstanding solo performances, with Mike Monk scoring 45 points after coming on as a substitute with Sacramento. He planted a hat-trick 2.1 two seconds before the end of normal time, forcing the extension (153-153), before the Clippers star Kawhi Leonard missed the winning basket in the last breath.
Monk hit two free throws in overtime, and when Paul George missed another basket that would have sealed the win for the Clippers, the teams went into a second overtime.
The Clippers had a 14-point lead with 4:25 minutes remaining, then six points 1:57 minutes into the second overtime, but the Kings did not give up.
Another hat-trick from Monk and a steal, then a basket from D’Aaron Fox, gave Sacramento the lead, before Leonard and fellow Frenchman Nicolas Batum missed the chance to decide in the fatal seconds.
Fox finished the match with 42 points, knowing that seven of the Kings players scored ten points or more.
Monk said that doubts about the possibility of Kings, third in the Western Region (34-25), continuing his brilliance in the last straight line before the playoffs inspired him, “I kind of took matters into my own hands, to go out and play strongly. I think my colleagues followed my path.” .
In the loser, Leonard was the best scorer (44 points), Paul George added 34 points and 10 rebounds, and veteran distributor Russell Westbrook, who played his first match with the Clippers after moving from the Los Angeles Lakers, scored 17 points and 14 assists before leaving with six mistakes in the second extra half.
In turn, Tyrone Lowe, coach of the Clippers, fifth in the Western Region (33-29), said, “I think it was a great match, especially for the fans. A crazy match, many emotional moments and ups and downs.”
© 2023 AFP
