Herro’s Late Triple Snaps Sacramento’s Two-Game Winning Streak

Nov 2, 2022, 7:38 PM | Updated: 7:43 pm

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 02: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings shoots over Dewayne Dedmon #2...

(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

With the game tied up at 107-107 late in the fourth quarter, it seemed as if Thursday night’s game between the Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat was heading into overtime.

Only one problem: 12.5 seconds were far too many for Tyler Herro to work with.

Herro’s triple would act as a game-sealing dagger for Miami as the Kings’ two-game winning streak came to a close at FTX Arena by a final of 110-107.

The final shot didn’t take place without a shred of controversy, however, as Sacramento head coach Mike Brown said postgame that Herro traveled while establishing position to take his three-point attempt.

“He traveled. He traveled on the last play,” Brown said of the game-winner during his postgame media availability.

“I don’t think it was a travel,” Herro said in response to Brown’s travel claim. “It’s just like last night with Jordan Poole. You can call a carry on every play just like you can call a travel on every play.”

Even without All-Star forward Jimmy Butler, the Heat were able to hold off a De’Aaron Fox-less Kings team and avenge Saturday’s loss in Sacramento. Miami improved to 30-5 all-time while facing the Kings on their home floor.

BOY WONDER FTW 🪄 pic.twitter.com/25KdV9o7nG

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 3, 2022

This game was a battle in every way, as there were 26 lead changes and 12 ties over 48 minutes of back-and-forth action. Each quarter was separated by two points at the most, and neither team led by more than seven points.

On a night where each team was missing its best player, the Heat hit the big shot late and that proved to be the difference.

Free-throw shooting didn’t plague Sacramento during the loss, as they shot 85 percent from the line and even got four-straight conversions from Domantas Sabonis–a career 72 percent shooter from the line–to tie things up with 12 seconds remaining.

Sabonis played like an All-Star during the loss, and players like Malik Monk (19 points, 8/13 FG, 2/5 3PT, 7 AST) and Kevin Huerter (22 points, 4/9 3PT) carried the load offensively on a night that the Kings could have used Fox’s offensive influence.

Still, Sacramento fell just short and now sit at 2-5 on the season. After beginning the season in an 0-4 hole, the Kings are showing positive signs and look like the team that fans hoped they would be, but there won’t be true believers around the rest of the NBA landscape until this team can put more tallies in the win column.

Takeaways

Domantas Sabonis turned in his best performance of the season on Wednesday as the 26-year-old scored 22 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, and handed out eight assists over 37 minutes of action.

The two-time All-Star entered play as the NBA leader in fouls per game (4.7), but Sabonis finished the first half without having committed a personal foul. If the Kings want to be successful this season, they need their big man on the floor late in games, something that wasn’t the case during Sacramento’s wins on Saturday against Miami and Monday in Charlotte.

When Sabonis is on the floor and out of foul trouble, he makes the offense flow and has proved that he is one of the best passing bigs in the game, something that this team can lean on while Fox is on the mend.

Also: Sabonis finally converted his first triple of the season during the third quarter, much to the delight of the Kings bench.

The reaction from Domas after his first three of the season 😂 pic.twitter.com/rKjcmzIJPZ

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) November 3, 2022

Kevin Huerter continues to impress in a Kings uniform as the guard topped the 20-point mark for the third-straight game.

Huerter has scored 22+ points in three-straight games, the longest such streak of the 24-year-old’s career. Over 38 minutes of action, the former Atlanta Hawk scored 22 points on nine-of-17 shooting from the field and four-of-nine from three-point land.

Malik Monk turned in his best performance of the season as the guard scored 19 points (eight-of-13 shooting from the field) and handed out seven assists over just 22 minutes of action.

Injury Report

De’Aaron Fox (right knee bone bruise) was inactive for Wednesday’s matchup in Miami, but there is optimism that the guard could return to action sooner than later.

Fox banged knees with Charlotte Hornets forward Nick Richards during Monday night’s win and was forced to exit the game after appearing uncomfortable during the minutes following the collision. During shoot-around on Wednesday, Fox was seen getting shots up and even went through his pregame routine.

“It doesn’t seem serious,” Kings head coach Mike Brown said pregame of Fox’s injury. “He’s supposed to go out there and do his pregame workout slot. So, I guess that answers the question.”

Coming Up

The road trip will continue for the Kings on Saturday afternoon when first-overall pick Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic will face off against fourth-overall pick Keegan Murray for the first time as professionals.

During NBA Summer League action in July, the two rookies battled it out in one of the most exciting exhibition games in recent memory. Banchero finished with 23 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals, while Murray had 20 points and nine rebounds during Orlando’s slim 94-92 win in sudden-death double overtime.

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs Magic coverage on Sactown Sports 1140 starting at 12:30 pm PST on Game Night before action tips off at 2:00 pm PST from Orlando, Florida.