Buddy Hield Drills Buzzer Beater In Thrilling Comeback Win

Jan 20, 2019, 12:00 AM

(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

by Franklin Cartoscelli – Sports 1140 KHTK

The “Cardiac Kings” strike again.

Sacramento overcame a double-digit fourth quarter deficit as Buddy Hield sank a game-winning three as time expired to lead the Kings to a thrilling 103-101 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.

BUDDY CALLED GAME!!! pic.twitter.com/oYQ22qgXyA

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 20, 2019

In a game that they trailed by as many as 14 points, the Kings couldn’t seem to cut int0 the Pistons lead until the last four minutes of regulation. Pistons forward Blake Griffin gave the Sacramento defense (as well as the officials) fits all night, as he scored 10 of his 38 points points in the fourth quarter.

The Kings offense looked sluggish all night, as the Pistons held a lead for a majority of the game. After holding a 13-11 lead with 6:22 remaining in the first quarter, Sacramento would not see another lead until the final moments of regulation, which came on a Buddy Hield three to give the Kings a 100-99 lead with 1:11 left.

What a game for Buddy Hield.

The former Oklahoma Sooner went head-to-head with another Oklahoma alumni in Blake Griffin, as he scored 35 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Hield shot an incredible 7-0f-9 from the three point line, sinking four three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone.

Trailing 93-86 with 3:56 remaining, Hield caught fire, scoring 9 points in 61 seconds to cut the Detroit lead to 96-95. After Hield drilled a triple to give the Kings their first lead since the first quarter, Griffin responded with a basket of his own to give the Pistons a 101-100 lead with 55 seconds remaining.

After a few empty possessions by both teams, the Sacramento prepared to inbound with 3.4 seconds remaining. Hield dropped the inbound pass, retained possession of the ball, and sent up a game winning, one-legged heave as time expired.

Nothing but net.

Another incredible moment for this young Kings team that never says die. Sacramento teams of the past lose this game ten times out of ten. The offense was ineffective, shots weren’t falling, and someone needed to step up and take over to give this team a chance.

Buddy Buckets did just that.

Sacramento improved to 24-22 with the win, while also winning their 10th road game of the season.

De’Aaron Fox scored 14 points and dished 10 assists, his 10th double double of the season. Fox has done a remarkable job of taking care of the basketball as of late, as he had no turnovers on Saturday night.

Marvin Bagley III scored 14 points off of the bench while Willie Cauley-Stein chipped in with 12 points.

Coming Up

Sacramento will look to carry their momentum into Brooklyn on Monday for a matinee with the Nets.

Catch all the action right here on Sports 1140 KHTK, starting with pregame coverage at 12pm and tip off at 12:30pm.