Updated February 29th, 2020 at 11:29 IST

De'Aaron Fox scores 25 points, Kings beat Grizzlies 104-101

 De’Aaron Fox scored 25 points, Harry Giles added 16 and the Sacramento Kings gained a step on the final Western Conference playoff spot with a 104-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

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 De’Aaron Fox scored 25 points, Harry Giles added 16 and the Sacramento Kings gained a step on the final Western Conference playoff spot with a 104-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

The Kings moved within three games of Memphis, handing the Grizzlies their fifth straight loss. Meanwhile, New Orleans, which beat Cleveland on Friday night, is within two games of Memphis for eighth place in the West.

Dillon Brooks led Memphis with a season-high 32 points. Ja Morant had 20 points and 11 assists, and Jonas Valanciunas 13 points and a career-high 25 rebounds.

“It’s important for us right now,” Walton said of Friday’s win. “They are all important, but this one, to kind of finish off a good road trip, he showed a lot of leadership, and then went out and played at a high level.”

The victory, the Kings fourth in five games since the All-Star break, came despite a season-high 32 points from Memphis forward Dillon Brooks along with 13 points and a career-high 25 rebounds for Jonas Valanciunas. Ja Morant had 20 points and 11 assists for Memphis, which has struggled since the break with the loss of starter Jaren Jackson Jr. and key reserve Brandon Clarke to injuries.

“I feel like it is good pressure,” Brooks said of the losing streak in the midst of the playoff hunt. “We were playing well, but we’ve hit a big adversity like this. …We’re hitting it now, and we’re being tested.”

The Kings led by as many as 10 early in the fourth quarter. And despite a furious Memphis rally down the stretch, Sacramento held on for its fourth win in the last five since the All-Star break.

Memphis trailed by nine – 100-91 -- on a 3-pointer from Fox with 2:47 remaining. Memphis would craft a 10-2 run capped by a three-point play from Morant with 10.2 seconds left and a 102-101 Sacramento lead.

Buddy Hield, who had 14 points, converted a pair of free throws with 4.4 left and a 3-point attempt from Memphis guard Tyus Jones as time ran out bounced off the rim.

TIP-INS

Kings: Wrapped up a four-game trip. ... Fox was a game-time decision with lower abdominal tightness. ... Bazemore would finish with 13 points. … Nemanja Bjelica also had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Grizzlies: Signed F Jarrod Uthoff to a 10-day contract on Thursday. Uthoff was with the Memphis Hustle of the G League. He did not play Friday. … Brooks’ previous high this season was 31 twice, the last time on Jan. 20 against the Pelicans. … Valanciunas previous career high in rebounds was 24 against Orlando last season.

 

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Published February 29th, 2020 at 11:29 IST