Sacramento Kings Little Man Has Big Game: Isaiah Thomas Triple-Double Carries Kings Past Wizards
By Phil Watson
Mar 18, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Isaiah Thomas (22) attempts a shot over Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Washington Wizards 117-111 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Isaiah Thomas scored 24 points to go with 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double and the Sacramento Kings rallied in the fourth quarter before outlasting the Washington Wizards in overtime Tuesday night 117-111 at Sleep Train Arena.
The Kings (24-44) trailed by 10 with 4:25 to go before mounting a furious comeback, with Rudy Gay tying the game 100-100 on a running hook shot with 5.6 seconds to go. Bradley Beal missed a jumper with one second left for the Wizards (35-32) and the game headed to overtime.
DeMarcus Cousins and Gay took over in the extra session, combining for 13 of Sacramento’s 17 points (Thomas had the other four) and Cousins also had five rebounds in OT.
The Kings took the lead for good on Gay’s pull-up jumper with 37.8 seconds left and Thomas iced the game with four free throws in the final 13 ticks.
It was Sacramento’s fourth straight win at home over the Wizards, who had won 10 of their last 13 coming in.
Gay finished with 24 points and three steals and Cousins posted 24 points and 14 rebounds after missing Sunday’s game in Minnesota with tendinitis in his knee. Ben McLemore added 11 points and Jason Thompson tossed in 10. Reggie Evans grabbed 10 rebounds.
Marcin Gortat and Beal led the Wizards with 19 points each, with Gortat grabbing 14 boards. Drew Gooden scored 18 points off the bench and John Wall had 14 points, eight assists and three steals. Trevor Ariza added 12 points and three steals and Trevor Booker tosse din 10 points.
Washington was 40-for-91 (44 percent) overall, 11-for-28 (39.3 percent) from 3-point range and 20-for-30 (66.7 percent) from the foul line. Sacramento was 40-for-87 (46 percent), 6-for-18 (33.3 percent) and 31-for-40 (77.5 percent).
The game was marked by big swings in momentum; the Kings outscored the Wizards 30-19 in the first period before Washington rallied to trail just 47-46 at halftime.
The Kings dominated the glass, outrebounding the Wizards 57-41 and scoring 23 second-chance points to just 10 for Washington. Both teams were hurt by turnovers; the Wizards gave up 23 points off 15 miscues and Sacramento surrendered 20 while giving the ball away 20 times.
Thomas’ 11 rebounds were a career high. It was the first triple-double by a King since Cousins went for 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over the Celtics on Dec. 30, 2012.
The Kings will be home again Friday night when they host the Western Conference-leading San Antonio Spurs at 7 p.m. Sacramento is 0-2 against the Spurs this season and hasn’t beaten San Antonio since Jan. 20, 2012, having lost eight straight since.