Dejounte Murray scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Sacramento Kings 113-104 on Friday night to end a five-game losing streak and strengthen their hold on the final playoff spot in the West.
DeMar DeRozan had 25 points, Murray added seven assists and six rebounds, and Keldon Johnson scored 16 for San Antonio.
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Dejounte Murray scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Sacramento Kings 113-104 on Friday night to end a five-game losing streak and strengthen their hold on the final playoff spot in the West.
San Antonio has some breathing room now. New Orleans (30-37) lost to Philadelphia earlier Friday, while Sacramento (29-38) fell 3 1/2 back of the Spurs.
Murray had six points as part of an 18-6 run to start the final quarter and put the Spurs ahead for good. Walker scored eight points in the final 3 1/2 minutes to help San Antonio close it out.
Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox, who hasn’t played since April 21 while in the NBA health and safety protocols, was cleared to return to the team, although no timetable has been set for him to play again.. Fox made his first appearance at Golden 1 Center since going out and sat alongside some teammates on Sacramento’s bench. Delon Wright had 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in his third start in place of Fox.
Kings: Tyrese Haliburton, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season because of a hyperextended left knee, watched the game from the bench. … Harrison Barnes (left adductor) missed his sixth consecutive game.
The Spurs (32-34) were coming off back-to-back losses to Utah in a skid that knocked coach Gregg Popovich’s team down to 10th place in the West — the final spot for the play-in tournament — before holding off a pesky Kings team that had won its last four.
Sacramento Kings guard Terence Davis shoots as San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) and forward Drew Eubanks (14) defend during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, May 7, 2021. (AP PhotoHector Amezcua)
San Antonio has some breathing room now. New Orleans (30-37) lost to Philadelphia earlier Friday, while Sacramento (29-38) fell 3 1/2 back of the Spurs.
Terence Davis scored 24 points for the Kings. Sacramento missed a chance to move into a tie with the Pelicans for 11th place in the West.
DeRozan had 18 in the first half to pace San Antonio early but the Spurs trailed 81-78 going into the fourth.
Sacramento Kings guard Delon Wright looks to make a pass as he's defended under the basket by San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl (25) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, May 7, 2021. (AP PhotoHector Amezcua)
Murray had six points as part of an 18-6 run to start the final quarter and put the Spurs ahead for good. Walker scored eight points in the final 3 1/2 minutes to help San Antonio close it out.
Popovich moved within 27 games of breaking Don Nelson’s record for career coaching victories in the NBA.
GOOD NEWS FOR FOX
Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III, left, reaches for a rebound with San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, May 7, 2021. (AP PhotoHector Amezcua)
Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox, who hasn’t played since April 21 while in the NBA health and safety protocols, was cleared to return to the team, although no timetable has been set for him to play again.. Fox made his first appearance at Golden 1 Center since going out and sat alongside some teammates on Sacramento’s bench. Delon Wright had 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in his third start in place of Fox.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Rudy Gay had 14 points in 24 minutes against his former team. Gay played with Sacramento from 2013-17.
San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl (25) is fouled by Sacramento Kings guard Delon Wright (55) while Kings center Richaun Holmes (22) defends during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, May 7, 2021. (AP PhotoHector Amezcua)
Kings: Tyrese Haliburton, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season because of a hyperextended left knee, watched the game from the bench. … Harrison Barnes (left adductor) missed his sixth consecutive game.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Play the Trail Blazers on Saturday night. San Antonio blew a 16-point lead in the third quarter and lost when the two teams played in mid-April.
Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III (35) is fouled on his way to the basket by San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) as Spurs center Jakob Poeltl (25) helps defend during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, May 7, 2021. (AP PhotoHector Amezcua)
Kings: Host the Thunder on Sunday in the first half of a back-to-back. The two teams will also play in Sacramento on Tuesday.
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