SAN ANTONIO — DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and the San Antonio Spurs snapped Sacramento’s five-game winning streak, beating the Kings 120-106 on Wednesday night.
Derrick White added 18 points, Rudy Gay had 16 and Jakob Poeltl finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds for San Antonio.
De’Aaron Fox scored 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton added 16 to lead Sacramento, which had not lost since March 20.
The Spurs rebounded from Monday’s 132-115 loss to the Kings with a quicker pace and greater energy defensively in the rematch.
San Antonio held Sacramento to 53 points in the first half after allowing 41 points in the second quarter Monday.
After shooting 56% from the field and 50% on 3-pointers, the Kings were held to 42% shooting overall and 31% on 3-pointers.
Sacramento’s Buddy Hield scored 14 points with 4-for-12 shooting from 3-point range.
The Spurs had nine steals and forced 12 turnovers in holding the Kings to their lowest production since a 129-105 loss in Philadelphia on March 20.
White stripped Fox near the top of the key and led a fast break that ended with Murray cranking back a one-handed dunk that put the Spurs up 12-9 just 4 1/2 minutes in. Murray then assisted on Keldon Johnson’s dunk a minute later. Johnson added a 3-pointer, screaming at and pointing to fans in celebration afterward.
San Antonio built its lead to 23 points on way to the win and improved to 2-4 in its nine-game homestand.
The Spurs are 21-3 when leading by 10 points or more in a game.
HONORED
Spurs veteran Patty Mills received the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for February for his continuing efforts to provide opportunities and empower Indigenous young people in his native Australia.
“He’s a loving, involved, dedicated young man,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “It shows in a variety of ways and it’s been that way for many years. This award is great, but even without it, he’d continue to do what he’s always done. He’s just a special guy.”
Mills founded Indigenous Basketball Australia, which tipped off the first-ever Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) in eight locations across Australia in February. The league is for players age 14 and under.
“Basketball as a sport has brought me happiness, joy, education and a real sense of purpose,” Mills said. “However, not everyone has had the same opportunities as I have, which is why I’m so dedicated to using my platform, my profile and my voice to develop innovative programs like IBA, which will allow my people to really own their story.”
TIP-INS
Kings: Sacramento is 10-14 on the road this season. … C Hassan Whiteside missed his fourth straight game with a sore right knee. Whiteside has not played since Feb. 24 against Atlanta, when he had eight points and 12 rebounds in 18 minutes. … Jahmi’us Ramsey was active despite a strained right hamstring, but did not play. … Delon Wright had 16 points after scoring just six points combined in his first two games with Sacramento after being acquired from Detroit in a trade March 25.
Spurs: C Gorgui Dieng was injured in his San Antonio debut on his initial drive to the basket with the team. Dieng, who signed with San Antonio on Monday, exited the game in the first quarter after spraining his right shoulder on a drive against Chimezie Metu. The severity of the injury is not known. … G Lonnie Walker IV has missed five straight games with a sore right wrist. Walker was listed as probable for Wednesday’s game but was ruled out after a workout. “It was just too sore when he was shooting 3s,” Popovich said. “He couldn’t really do it.”
UP NEXT
Kings: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
Spurs: Host the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.
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