Fox drops 60, but Kings fall short to T-Wolves in OT

Nov 15, 2024, 9:58 PM | Updated: 10:36 pm

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball dur...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

On a night that they were without DeMar DeRozan (back soreness) and Malik Monk (sprained ankle), the Sacramento Kings appeared to be on their way to a blowout loss on Friday night.

The Minnesota Timberwolves jumped out in front by 20 points late in the third quarter before De’Aaron Fox went nuclear and made things interesting, scoring 39 of his franchise-record 60 points during the second half to send Golden 1 Center into a frenzy and force overtime.

Fox put on a generational performance, but Minnesota did just enough during the closing seconds of the extra period to squeak out a 130-126 win in a thrilling NBA Cup group play matchup.

Sacramento (7-6) nearly pulled out one of the most thrilling comeback wins in recent memory, but Fox didn’t get enough support from his teammates–especially in crunch time.

A loss is a loss, but Fox put on a show that Kings fans will remember for years to come.

“HE’S THAT DUDE.”

New franchise record 60 POINTS for De’Aaron Fox 👑 https://t.co/hGHZyWXS8X pic.twitter.com/WPo5MGL8CY

— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024

NBA Cup: Kings vs. T-Wolves recap & takeaways

Entering play on Friday night, the three-point line had been the story of both Sacramento and Minnesota’s season thus far.

The Timberwolves (sixth in the NBA in three-point field goal attempts per game) and the Kings (23rd in three-point field goal attempts per game) have started the season on opposite ends of the three-point spectrum, and Minnesota quickly asserted itself in that department.

Sacramento was quickly put into a double-digit deficit during the first half as the Timberwolves went 10-of-21 (47%) from long distance, but De’Aaron Fox single-handily kept the Kings within striking distance.

Fox scored 21 points on nine-of-13 shooting from the field (three-of-four from three-point range) over 19 first-half minutes to reduce Sacramento’s deficit to eight at the break.

De’Aaron Fox is incredible. pic.twitter.com/IGMnO2W0Mf

— Skyler (KFR) (@SacFilmRoom) November 16, 2024

Minnesota pounced on the Kings right out of the gates to begin the third quarter, as Julius Randle helped pace the Timberwolves’ 12-0 opening run that put Sacramento in a 20-point hole.

With the game seemingly out of reach, the Kings appeared to fully take their foot off the gas before Fox injected life back into the Sacramento offense.

The Kings cut a 16-point deficit to two during the first three minutes of the fourth as Sacramento mounted a 14-0 run of their own, while Fox continued to slice and dice his way through the Minnesota defense.

Jumpers, three-pointers, getting into the paint, floaters–all of it. Fox was in his bag and on a heater unlike anything Kings fans have seen in its franchise history.

Fox was incredible, but outside of Domantas Sabonis (23 points), the rest of the Sacramento offense was silent during the final stretch as play entered overtime.

Randle & Edwards seal the deal!@Timberwolves move to 1-1 in West Group A 🏆#EmiratesNBACup https://t.co/5OjDrxW7VV pic.twitter.com/6cA1sXgmiO

— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024

Minnesota’s defense did its best to take away Fox’s lanes during the game’s final seconds, and Anthony Edwards’ clutch jumper with 14 seconds left put the Timberwolves up by four in what turned out to be the final score of 130-126.

The story of the night was Fox, who set a franchise record with 60 points on 22-of-35 shooting (six-of-ten from three-point range), seven assists, and three steals over 44 minutes of action.

“He’s an All-Star, and the sky is the limit for him,” Kings head coach Mike Brown said of his franchise guard. “When he wants to get to his spot, there’s nobody that can stop him. He’s that good.”

On his way to securing the all-time Kings franchise record, Fox passed DeMarcus Cousins (56 points, 2016) for the Sacramento-era (1985-present) record–a night that also ended in a losing effort.

When asked if he got tired during his historic night, Fox pointed to a two-minute stretch of rest in the fourth quarter that preceded another scoring burst. Although he was pleased with his 60-point performance, Fox wanted one thing more: a win.

“It’s definitely cool, but obviously, I definitely wanted to get the win,” Fox said.

Fox, who played 44 minutes in the losing effort, mentioned he wasn’t tired as he left the podium, and he’ll need all of the rest that he can get tonight as Sacramento prepares to play the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday night.

60 POINTS FOR DE’AARON FOX.

Career-high.
Franchise record.
Most in the NBA this season.

He dropped 26 in the 4Q and OT as the Kings lose a THRILLER to Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/imQwLdh0jc

— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2024

A New Look Starting 5

With DeMar DeRozan (back tightness) out of action on Friday night, Kings head coach Mike Brown was tasked with a difficult decision: Who would start in place of the six-time All-Star?

While Keon Ellis or Doug McDermot made sense on paper, Brown opted to keep Ellis and McDermott in the second unit in light of Malik Monk’s (ankle sprain) absence.

To the surprise of many, Alex Len’s name was listed on Sacramento’s starting lineup sheet as the reserve big man logged his first start since April 7, 2023. With seven-foot center Rudy Gobert lurking for Minnesota, Brown opted to start the game with Len matched up with the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, freeing Domantas Sabonis to defend forward Julius Randle (scored 33 points on 13-of-17 shooting vs. the Kings on October 24th.

Brown quickly abandoned the plan and called on Trey Lyles to play the bulk of the minutes at the four and five spots, but you have to wonder if the Kings’ head coach will go in a different direction on Saturday night when Sacramento faces Utah.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento will play the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday night when they face Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center.

On October 29th, the Kings coasted to a 113-96 win over Utah behind 28 points and 11 rebounds from Domantas Sabonis.

Be sure to catch all of the Kings vs. Jazz action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 5:30 PM PT on Game Night before action tips off at 7:00 PM PT from downtown Sacramento.