SACRAMENTO, California. Charlotte goalie Malik Monk converted a three-point play with 1.4 seconds left to complete a frantic Hornets rally in the final minute on Sunday night and delivered to the Sacramento Kings what l Coach Luke Walton called it a “painful loss” for his group. .
Sacramento led the score 123-115 after an attack by Harrison Barnes, but Walton’s team was unable to close it. The Kings missed five free throws in the last 69 seconds and lost for the tenth time in 11 games.
“We got to the end of a game, that’s where we have to strengthen and leave the teams out, and we didn’t,” Walton said. They hit 3s and made every free kick down the stretch. This is a painful loss for our boys. We are not done. “
Monk finished with 21 points to help Charlotte come back despite playing without top scorer Gordon Hayward, who was left sitting with a hand injury. PJ Washington scored a maximum of 42 points in the race, and LaMelo Ball added 24 points and 12 best assists in the race for the Hornets, who followed throughout the quarter before Monk’s winning play reached the final score 127-126.
“It goes back to that endurance term, without dropping the sword, never giving in and fighting to the last second,” Hornets coach James Borrego said. “They had to lose some free throws to help us, but we found a way. Behind men, we found a way to win. Just proud of our group.”
Hornets keeper Terry Rozier hit a triple and added three free throws after Barnes missed with 33.7 seconds left.
After Washington’s fifth 3 reduced the lead to 125-124 with 17 seconds left, Buddy Hield hit one of two free throws for the Kings.
Monk continued to drive him down the lane and throw the ball off the board with his right hand. Richaun Holmes wins a free kick.
“It was a play for me or for PJ,” Monk said [Ball] to pass it to P, and it was like, nah. I had to make something happen. “
Hield, who finished with 30 points, lost a desperation from beyond the midfield when time ran out. On Sunday night he became the fastest player in NBA history by reaching 1,000 career triples, doing so in his 350th career game. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors was the fastest previous in 369 games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.