Kings get big win over Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Sacramento Kings finally got that big win they’ve been looking for.

After two-point losses to the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets — the top two teams in the Western Conference — in their previous two games, the Kings were left frustrated.

Sacramento broke through against third-place Oklahoma City as Buddy Hield scored 34 points to help the Kings beat the Tunder 119-116 Saturday night.

“A game ago, it’s, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re so close,‘” Kings coach Dave Joerger said. “We had the Warriors. We feel like we had the Warriors, and then they got away. So it’s a little bit of relief, also.’”

“It’s big, especially the way Russ and PG are playing,” Hield said. “They’re playing great. They’re a great team, great defensive team, and we came out to be resilient.”

George, who hit the game-winner the night before in a 148-147 double-overtime win over Utah, missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer against the Kings that could have forced overtime. He scored 14 points and shot just 4 for 19 after entering the night averaging a league-best 38.9 points per game in February.

“PG got a good look at the end, and thank God it didn’t go down,” Hield said.

Westbrook had 41 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder in his third straight game with at least 40 points.

De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley each added 19 points for the Kings.

Hield scored 18 points in the first half to help the Kings take a 63-49 lead at the break, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Terrance Ferguson and George cut Sacramento’s lead to 67-64.

Back-to-back 3s by Yogi Ferrell and Hield put Sacramento up 90-74 in the third quarter.

Oklahoma City stormed back in the fourth, and Westbrook’s 3-pointer with about a minute to play tied the score at 116.

Fox made two free throws with 29.3 seconds left to put Sacramento up 118-116. Westbrook came back with a shot that appeared to tie the score, but he was called for an offensive foul after Willie Cauley-Stein took a charge with 11.5 seconds remaining.

“It was a charge,” Westbrook said. “They called a charge. That’s it. I can’t change the call. It’s over with now.”

The Kings broke through Oklahoma City’s pressure, and Harrison Barnes was fouled with 4.2 seconds left. He made the second of two free throws to give the Kings a 119-116 edge, setting up the final sequence.

“For the most part, we made them shoot some tough ones, and they made them,” George said. “It was just a night they made mid-range shots, but they’ve got guys who can make those plays.”