The team represented by Lithuania beat Utah Jazz (29-46) at home 127:106 (27:23, 29:29, 39:25, 32:29).
D. Sabonis scored 17 points for the winners in 34 minutes (7/13 doubles, 0/1 triples, 3/3 penalties), rebounded 11 balls, made 6 assists, intercepted the ball, blocked one shot, made 4 mistakes and fouled three times.
It was the center’s 57th consecutive double-double and 70th of the season. Since 1980-81 only such legends as Moses Malone (74, 73, 71), Hakeem Olajuwon (72) and Kevin Garnett (71) managed to reach this mark during the season.
At the same time, the Lithuanian became just the second player in NBA history to reach 1,000 rebounds and 600 assists in one season. Only Wilt Chamberlain had previously done so in 1967-68.
De’Aaron Fox also scored a double-double for the winners – 24 points (5/8 doubles, 2/7 triples, 8/10 free throws) and 12 assists.
Keegan Murray added 25 points and Harrison Barnes added 24 points.
“Jazz” kept fighting for two quarters, but after the break, “Kings” struck powerfully – they scored 15 points without an answer, and after winning 23-2 in a period shorter than five minutes, they began to crush their opponents – 81-60.
The win moved the Kings into a tie with the seventh-place Phoenix Suns and two wins away from a sixth-place playoff berth.
Both teams did not have the strongest lineups – the Kings did not have Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk, the Jazz – Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen and John Collins.
Kings: K. Murray 25, D. Fox and H. Barnes 24 each, D. Sabonis 17, T. Lyles 11.
Jazz: C. Sexton and B. Sensabaugh 22 each, T. Hendricks and K. George 18 each.
