Sacramento’s Malik Monk hit a big three-pointer with 2:05 left in overtime. No one expected it would be the game-winner.
Malik Monk is *cooking* pic.twitter.com/PeQPDVf1fP
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) March 2, 2024
Monk's three-pointer put the Kings up 123-120 in a tight road game against the first-place Minnesota Timberwolves. Then both teams forgot how to score.
Down the stretch, the two teams combined to miss all seven of their shots from the field. After one Monk miss, Trey Lyles grabbed an offensive rebound and Monk drew a shooting foul. Then he missed both free throws.
The lone point scored in that stretch came from Lyles, sinking the second of his two free throws to hit the final margin of 124-120. Overall, the teams missed nine straight shots – including three free throws – while turning the ball over once.
On the whole, the game was a shootout. Except for in crunch time.
The contest went to overtime because the teams managed one combined point over the final 1:33 of regulation, on a Rudy Gobert free throw. Minnesota has the NBA's No. 1 defense, but Sacramento's defense is No. 20.
The one Sacramento player who could score consistently was Monk, who finished with 39 points off the bench – including two triples in OT.
BIG back-to-back triples for our 6MOTY. pic.twitter.com/GX5OLLGq6B
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 2, 2024
For their part, the Timberwolves wasted a career-high 26 points from Jaden McDaniels, a player much more known for his defense. But after the third quarter, McDaniels only took three shots.
This was the Kings' second win in Minnesota this season. Shockingly, they've done it with defense.
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