Sabonis' milestone night helps the Kings beat the 76ers 108-96

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Domantas Sabonis had his NBA-leading 25th triple-double of the season on a milestone night, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 108-96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

Sabonis had 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to become the fifth player in NBA history with at least 25 triple-doubles in a season, joining Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson.

Sabonis also posted his 54th consecutive double-double, breaking a tie with Kevin Love for the longest streak since the 1976-77 merger between the NBA and ABA. Sabonis is nowhere close to the all-time record of 227 straight double-doubles held by Chamberlain, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“Shout out to Domas. What a job,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “What a phenomenal, phenomenal year he's having. Obviously, he should have been an All-Star. Obviously, he should be talked about for first, second, third All-NBA. And he should be in the MVP discussions with the way that he’s playing."

Philadelphia 76ers center Mo Bamba, top, fouls Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) as he attempts a shot in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, March 25, 2024. The Kings won 108-96. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Keegan Murray and De'Aaron Fox each scored 23 points for the Kings, who snapped a 10-game skid against the Sixers to move into a tie for sixth place in the Western Conference with Dallas. Sacramento hosts the Mavericks on Tuesday night as the teams fight to remain in the top six and avoid the play-in tournament.

Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points to lead the Sixers, who wrapped up a 1-3 West Coast swing. Philadelphia dropped into eighth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind idle Miami.

Maxey was held to three points in the second half.

“They started blitzing everything with him,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “We didn’t do a great job of taking advantage of that. We’ve been really good at it lately and tonight we weren’t as good.”

Maxey scored Philadelphia's first 16 points and was a one-man show offensively in the first quarter with 21 of the 25 points (84%) for the 76ers.

No player in at least the past 28 seasons had scored a higher share of his team's points in the first quarter with at least 20 points scored. Maxey topped the previous high of 82.8% by Michael Jordan for Washington against Charlotte on Dec. 29, 2001.

But Maxey didn't get nearly enough help, and the Sixers trailed 60-48 at halftime.

Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul Reed (44) and guard Buddy Hield (17) defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, March 25, 2024. The Kings won 108-96. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Sacramento maintained a comfortable lead throughout the second half, with the biggest excitement coming in the third quarter when Sabonis reached his milestone. A tribute video was played for him following the first stoppage after he reached the mark.

“He didn’t really acknowledge that what he did was amazing to do in this league," teammate Davion Mitchell said. "But it’s amazing to see him do it. Especially to be on the same team with him. That’s a blessing.”

Philadelphia played without Kelly Oubre, sidelined by a sore left shoulder sustained in a fall on Sunday against the Clippers. Buddy Hield also left the game early with an ankle injury. X-rays were negative.

UP NEXT

76ers: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

Kings: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) blocks the shot of Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, March 25, 2024. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse reacts to a foul called on the 76ers in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, March 25, 2024. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray scores a basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, March 25, 2024. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) scores a basket past Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul Reed (44) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, March 25, 2024. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey drives to the basket past Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, March 25, 2024. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Rafael Devers tied a Boston record by homering for his fifth consecutive game, and the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-3 on Sunday to stop a season-high, four-game losing streak.

Devers hit a two-run homer in the sixth off Ryan Fernandez, his ninth home run this season.

“It feels good,” Devers said through an interpreter. “It’s important when we win these kind of games.”

He became the seventh Boston player to homer in five straight games, the first since Bobby Dalbec from Sept. 5-10, 2020.

“When that guy gets on a heater, it’s really fun to watch,” teammate Tyler O’Neill said. “He’s been one of the best hitters in the league for a long time.”

O’Neill homered against his former team as Boston rebounded after falling two games under .500 for the first time this season. The Red Sox outhit St. Louis 14-6.

O’Neill received a 45-second standing ovation prior to his first at-bat in the series opener on Friday. He also got a smattering of applause from St. Louis fans after the home run on Sunday.

“A very special weekend for me,” O’Neill said. “I’ve had this series circled on the calendar for a little while. The fans have greeted me with a lot of positively. This has been really heartwarming.”

O’Neill, who played for St. Louis from 2018-23, had two hits and a pair of walks. He hit his 11th home run of the season, a go-ahead, first-inning drive on a 3-0 pitch off Matthew Liberatore (1-2).

Nick Pivetta (2-2) gave up one run on one hit in six innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. He retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced.

“I was able to get in a good rhythm from pitch one,” Pivetta said.

Garrett Cooper hit an RBI double in the second, and Boston opened a 4-0 lead in the fourth on Romy González’s RBI double and Jarren Duran’s run-scoring triple.

Liberatore gave up four runs and six hits in three innings.

Lars Nootbaar homered for St. Louis, which had won five of its six previous games.

Pinch-hitter David Hamilton had a solo homer for the Red Sox in the ninth against Nick Robertson.

St. Louis scored 17 runs in winning the first two games of the series. The Cardinals have homered in seven successive games.

“We’re finally scoring runs and it feels good,” St. Louis infielder Brendan Donovan said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Giovanny Gallegos threw a bullpen session on Friday. He went on the 15-day IL on May 6 with right shoulder impingement.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Tanner Houck (3-5, 2.17) will open a three game series Monday at Tampa Bay and RHP Taj Bradley (1-1, 2.45). Houck threw a career-high 112 pitches over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3 loss to the Rays on Wednesday.

Cardinals: RHP Sonny Gray (5-2, 3.05) will start Monday’s series opener against Baltimore and RHP Dean Kremer (3-3, 3.72).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado (28) scores on a passed ball throw by Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Greg Weissert, right, as Cardinals' Pedro Pages, left, looks on in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Brendan Donovan, right, watches his RBI single in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong, left, celebrates with teammate Chris Martin, right, after beating the St. Louis Cardinals after a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Michael Siani (63) jumps at the wall but is unable to catch a home run by Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers, right, rounds first base after hitting a two-run home run as St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Ryan Fernandez, back left, waits in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)