Fox's season-high 43 leads Kings past Wembanyama, Spurs 129-120 in in-season tourney
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Sacramento Kings All-Star De’Aaron Fox celebrated playing in the In-Season Tournament with his finest game of the season.
De’Aaron Fox scored a season-high 43 points, and the Sacramento Kings overcame 27 points from Victor Wembanyama to hold off the San Antonio Spurs 129-120 on Friday night to remain undefeated during the in-season tournament.
Sacramento is 2-0 in the West Group C standings and the Spurs are 0-3.
“I’m not one of those guys that are like, ‘I think it’s dumb,’ because I don’t,” Fox said. “I think it could be interesting for this league. Like I said, almost every league in the world does some type of in-season tournament, so I think it’s cool that the NBA is trying to implement it.”
Domantas Sabonis had 27 points and 14 rebounds as Sacramento won its fifth straight. Malik Monk added 20 points in the Kings’ fourth straight win in San Antonio.
Zach Collins had 28 points and Keldon Johnson added 21 points for the Spurs, who have lost seven straight after opening the season 3-2.
“It’s an everyday fight,” Wembanyama said. “I know the end of the season will not look like the beginning of the season. We’ve got a good way to go, progression.”
Wembanyama was 12 for 26 from the field after scoring a season-low eight points in a 123-87 loss at Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
The 7-foot-3 rookie from France added nine rebounds and a series of highlight plays.
Despite being pushed to the baseline on a foul by Keegan Murray, Wembanyama stretched from behind the backboard to tip in a layup off an alley-oop pass from Collins.
“He’s a special player,” Fox said. “Extremely special player. When he’s rolling, you have to be under him because if they throw the ball up, there’s literally nothing you can do.”
But the veteran Kings withstood the highlights and the runs to beat the young Spurs.
Fox was the catalyst.
The seventh-year guard out of Kentucky had 16 points in the fourth quarter and finished one point shy of matching his career high of 44 points, which he has done twice. It was the seventh 40-point game of his career.
Fox was 14 for 24 from the field, including 5 for 11 on 3-pointers.
“He’s a great player,” Sacramento guard Chris Duarte said. “You guys see it day in, day out. He’s a guy that we definitely need him scoring the ball like he does.”
The Kings went on a 7-0 run after the Spurs pulled to 112-111 with six minutes remaining to regain control of a back-and-forth contest.
Sacramento opened the third quarter on a 15-4 run for its largest lead to that point at 77-66. San Antonio shot 1 for 5 during the run.
The Spurs were without starting guard Devin Vassell and backup point guard Tre Jones. Vassell sat out with a strained groin and Jones missed his third straight game with a strained right hamstring.
San Antonio had 33 assists despite being without two of its primary ballhandlers.
The Spurs raced to a 9-0 lead with Wembanyama scoring six points. San Antonio opened the game going 4 for 6 on 3-pointers.
“He’s definitely somebody that you’ve got to think twice before you get to the paint because he’s so tall,” Duarte said “But we took advantage just by being physical with him and make it tough for him.”
San Antonio stretched the lead to 18 points in the first quarter only to lose that lead 30 seconds into the second quarter.
UP NEXT
Kings: At Dallas on Sunday.
Spurs: Host Memphis on Saturday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Domantas Sabonis vs. Victor Wembanyama (Zach Collins gains possession) | ||
| 11:37 | | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 0-3 |
| 11:12 |  | Harrison Barnes misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:08 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 10:57 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point layup | ||
| 10:50 | | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | ||
| 10:50 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point tip layup | 0-5 |
| 10:47 | | Kevin Huerter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:44 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 10:41 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:37 | | Julian Champagnie offensive rebound | ||
| 10:36 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point cutting dunk (Julian Champagnie assists) | 0-7 |
| 10:22 | | De'Aaron Fox misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:20 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 9:57 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point finger roll layup (Keldon Johnson assists) | 0-9 |
| 9:56 | | Kings 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:33 | | +3 | Harrison Barnes makes three point jump shot (Kevin Huerter assists) | 3-9 |
| 9:21 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point cutting layup (Zach Collins assists) | 3-11 |
| 9:21 | | De'Aaron Fox shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 9:21 | | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 3-12 |
| 9:06 | | Keegan Murray misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:03 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 8:57 | | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 3-15 |
| 8:39 | | +2 | De'Aaron Fox makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 5-15 |
| 8:25 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:21 | | Keegan Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 8:17 | | Keldon Johnson blocks Keegan Murray's two point driving layup | ||
| 8:17 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 8:05 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:01 | | Keegan Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 7:54 | | Keegan Murray turnover (lost ball) (Victor Wembanyama steals) | ||
| 7:49 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point alley-oop dunk (Julian Champagnie assists) | 5-17 |
| 7:43 | | Jeremy Sochan personal foul (De'Aaron Fox draws the foul) | ||
| 7:37 | | De'Aaron Fox misses two point layup | ||
| 7:35 | | Zach Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Zach Collins assists) | 5-20 |
| 7:13 | | Kevin Huerter misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:10 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point running jump shot (Julian Champagnie assists) | 5-23 |
| 6:57 | | Kevin Huerter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:52 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 6:37 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (Keegan Murray steals) | ||
| 6:34 | | +2 | Keegan Murray makes two point running layup | 7-23 |
| 6:34 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:25 | | Malik Monk personal foul (Malaki Branham draws the foul) | ||
| 6:14 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:13 | | Kings defensive rebound | ||
| 6:07 | | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:03 | | Zach Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 5:50 | | Zach Collins misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:46 | | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | ||
| 5:42 | | Zach Collins blocks Domantas Sabonis's two point running layup | ||
| 5:38 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 5:34 | | Jeremy Sochan misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:30 | | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | ||
| 5:24 | | +3 | Sasha Vezenkov makes three point jump shot (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 10-23 |
| 5:07 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point floating jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 10-25 |
| 4:49 | | +3 | Domantas Sabonis makes three point jump shot (De'Aaron Fox assists) | 13-25 |
| 4:35 | | Malaki Branham misses two point jump shot | ||
| 4:31 | | Keegan Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 4:25 | | +2 | Domantas Sabonis makes two point driving layup | 15-25 |
| 4:08 | | Jeremy Sochan misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:02 | | Zach Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 4:02 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point tip layup | 15-27 |
| 3:52 | | Sasha Vezenkov misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:48 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 3:33 | | Jeremy Sochan misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:30 | | Sasha Vezenkov defensive rebound | ||
| 3:24 | | +2 | De'Aaron Fox makes two point driving finger roll layup | 17-27 |
| 3:04 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:03 | | Kings defensive rebound | ||
| 3:03 | | Zach Collins personal foul (Loose ball) (Domantas Sabonis draws the foul) | ||
| 2:47 | | +2 | Domantas Sabonis makes two point cutting layup (Malik Monk assists) | 19-27 |
| 2:35 | | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point driving finger roll layup | 19-29 |
| 2:26 | | +3 | Malik Monk makes three point jump shot (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 22-29 |
| 2:09 | | +2 | Charles Bassey makes two point floating jump shot (Malaki Branham assists) | 22-31 |
| 1:52 | | +3 | Malik Monk makes three point jump shot (Keon Ellis assists) | 25-31 |
| 1:34 | | Malaki Branham misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 1:33 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 1:25 | | Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:21 | | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | ||
| 1:20 | | Cedi Osman personal foul (Domantas Sabonis draws the foul) | ||
| 1:14 | | Malik Monk misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:10 | | Charles Bassey defensive rebound | ||
| 1:03 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 1:00 | | Malik Monk defensive rebound | ||
| 0:58 | | +2 | Keon Ellis makes two point running finger roll layup (Malik Monk assists) | 27-31 |
| 0:43 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 0:39 | | Malik Monk defensive rebound | ||
| 0:36 | | Malik Monk misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:35 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 0:21 | | Cedi Osman misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:18 | | Sasha Vezenkov defensive rebound | ||
| 0:01 | | +2 | Domantas Sabonis makes two point floating jump shot (Malik Monk assists) | 29-31 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:45 | | Victor Wembanyama kicked ball violation | ||
| 11:41 | | Blake Wesley personal foul (Malik Monk draws the foul) | ||
| 11:33 | | +2 | JaVale McGee makes two point alley-oop layup (Malik Monk assists) | 31-31 |
| 11:25 | | Doug McDermott misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Chris Duarte defensive rebound | ||
| 11:13 | | +2 | JaVale McGee makes two point hook shot (Keon Ellis assists) | 33-31 |
| 10:59 | | Cedi Osman misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 10:56 | | Sasha Vezenkov defensive rebound | ||
| 10:45 | | +2 | Sasha Vezenkov makes two point cutting layup (JaVale McGee assists) | 35-31 |
| 10:40 | | Malik Monk shooting foul (Doug McDermott draws the foul) | ||
| 10:40 | | Doug McDermott misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:40 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 10:40 | | +1 | Doug McDermott makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-32 |
| 10:26 | | +3 | Chris Duarte makes three point jump shot (Malik Monk assists) | 38-32 |
| 10:06 | | Doug McDermott misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 10:06 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | +3 | Victor Wembanyama makes three point jump shot (Sandro Mamukelashvili assists) | 38-35 |
| 9:47 | | JaVale McGee offensive foul (Julian Champagnie draws the foul) | ||
| 9:47 | | JaVale McGee turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:36 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:32 | | Sasha Vezenkov defensive rebound | ||
| 9:28 | | +3 | Chris Duarte makes three point jump shot (Malik Monk assists) | 41-35 |
| 9:10 | | Sandro Mamukelashvili turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:58 | | Julian Champagnie shooting foul (De'Aaron Fox draws the foul) | ||
| 8:58 | | +1 | De'Aaron Fox makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-35 |
| 8:58 | | De'Aaron Fox misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 8:52 | | Zach Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 8:36 | | Sandro Mamukelashvili misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:33 | | Chris Duarte defensive rebound | ||
| 8:22 | | Sasha Vezenkov misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:19 | | Sandro Mamukelashvili defensive rebound | ||
| 8:08 | | Julian Champagnie turnover (bad pass) (Chris Duarte steals) | ||
| 8:04 | | Chris Duarte turnover (bad pass) (Jeremy Sochan steals) | ||
| 7:56 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 42-37 |
| 7:41 | | Keon Ellis turnover (bad pass) (Zach Collins steals) | ||
| 7:36 | | Zach Collins turnover (bad pass) (Keon Ellis steals) | ||
| 7:30 | | De'Aaron Fox misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:26 | | Sandro Mamukelashvili defensive rebound | ||
| 7:22 | | +3 | Jeremy Sochan makes three point jump shot (Sandro Mamukelashvili assists) | 42-40 |
| 7:05 | | Chris Duarte turnover (bad pass) (Zach Collins steals) | ||
| 6:59 | | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:54 | | Sandro Mamukelashvili offensive rebound | ||
| 6:51 | | +3 | Zach Collins makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 42-43 |
| 6:50 | | Kings 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:39 | | Doug McDermott personal foul (De'Aaron Fox draws the foul) | ||
| 6:25 | | Kings turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 6:22 | | Chris Duarte personal foul (Jeremy Sochan draws the foul) | ||
| 6:22 | | Chris Duarte technical foul (Double) | ||
| 6:22 | | Jeremy Sochan technical foul (Double) | ||
| 6:22 | | Jeremy Sochan turnover (lost ball) | ||
| 6:16 | | Jeremy Sochan personal foul (Loose ball) (Chris Duarte draws the foul) | ||
| 5:58 | | +3 | De'Aaron Fox makes three point jump shot (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 45-43 |
| 5:44 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving layup | 45-45 |
| 5:44 | | Domantas Sabonis shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 5:44 | | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 45-46 |
| 5:35 | | Chris Duarte misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:32 | | Keegan Murray offensive rebound | ||
| 5:30 | | Keegan Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:30 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 5:18 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point cutting layup (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 45-48 |
| 5:18 | | Domantas Sabonis shooting foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 5:18 | |