Domantas Sabonis surpassed Oscar Robertson’s franchise record by notching his 30th consecutive double-double with a stellar performance of 26 points and 12 rebounds. He led the Sacramento Kings to a 133-122 victory over the Indiana Pacers during Friday’s NBA action.
Sabonis also contributed seven assists in this historic game. At the same time, De’Aaron Fox impressed with 25 points and six steals, which is especially notable since neither player was named an NBA All-Star reserve this year.
Sacramento’s head coach, Mike Brown, lauded Sabonis for his “historic” achievement and Fox for his exceptional play, highlighting the Kings’ fifth win in their last six games. Malik Monk added 23 points, six assists, and five rebounds, playing a crucial role in the Kings’ offense.
“Two fantastic performances from both those guys,” Brown said.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers Updates
The Pacers, despite shooting 54% from the field, were hampered by 21 turnovers, contributing to their recent struggles, with a record of 4-8 in their last 12 games. Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 31 points, while Pascal Siakam added 22 points and six rebounds.
“Good, good win versus a really good team on the road,” Brown said. “It wasn’t always textbook, but (Sacramento defenders’) ability to protect and cover for one another was really good to see. In the second half, I think (Indiana) had 20 points in the paint, which was huge for us.”
The Kings surged ahead by as much as 18 points in the third quarter, and though the Pacers narrowed the gap to 11 by the fourth quarter, Sacramento maintained their lead, never allowing Indiana to get closer than seven points.
“De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk are really fast,” Mathurin said. “(The Kings) have a lot of guys who can score. It’s hard to contain them.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers Updates
Indiana’s All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, playing limited minutes off the bench due to a recent hamstring injury, scored 14 points but had an uncharacteristic performance with five turnovers and only one assist. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle explained the decision to manage Haliburton’s minutes cautiously, prioritizing his health.
“He was in favor of having the ability to finish the game,” Carlisle said. “The first two games, (starting) made sense.”
This matchup occurred nearly two years after a significant trade between the two teams, which saw Haliburton move to Indiana and Sabonis to Sacramento. Since the trade, the Kings have held a 3-2 record in their encounters against the Pacers.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings, Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers Updates
The Kings look to continue their momentum on a seven-game road trip against the Chicago Bulls, while the Pacers aim to bounce back against the Charlotte Hornets. Indiana was without key players Myles Turner and Jalen Smith due to injuries, impacting their performance.
