Dallas led 94-92 with 33.2 seconds remaining after Jalen
Brunson’s short jumper and two free throws from Kristaps Porzingis. After
Harrison Barnes missed a layup for Sacramento, and the Mavericks were called
for a 24-second violation, Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox drove down the lane
and passed to Metu in the right corner in front of the Mavericks’ bench.
The crowd erupted when his shot dropped through the net.
“That was probably the best part, all the guys in your ear
and everything. Block all that out and let muscle memory take over,” said Metu,
who went to the Kings’ practice court after the game to get in extra work. “It
was a great moment. Since I’ve been in the league, for sure one of the best
moments I’ve had. For us to grind that one out, it felt good.”
Metu’s big moment came after Fox’s last-second decision to
dish the ball away after he initially thought about trying to dunk it.
“Mezzie made a big shot out of the corner but it was Fox’s
assist that really made the play,” Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry said. “He
turned the corner and went so quickly. He said, ‘I was either gonna dunk it and
try to get to the line or if I saw them pull in so far I was going to try to
hit the corner guy.’”
Fox had 16 points and five assists. Barnes and Davion
Mitchell scored 14 apiece, and Tyrese Haliburton added 12 points and 10
assists.
Brunson scored 25 for Dallas. Porzingis had 24 points and
seven rebounds. The Mavericks have lost 14 of 21 to the Kings.
“They didn’t have an opportunity to take a timeout, then Fox
makes a heck of a play,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “It’s tough.
Unfortunately if we give up a layup the game is tied, we go into overtime. But
(Dwight Powell) went to help and they made a shot.”
The teams meet again Friday in Sacramento.
“It’s a tough, tough, tough loss,” Porzingis said. “This
one’s on us, the players. I could have played much better. Not our best
performance and that’s on us. We have to take this feeling that (stinks) and
take it and use it as fuel for the next game.”
Marvin Bagley III, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2018
making his second consecutive start, had eight straight points in the second
quarter for Sacramento. Mitchell — fresh out of the health and safety protocols
— made a 3-pointer to put the Kings up 55-43.
Dallas trailed by 13 early in the third, then went on a 20-6
run.
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