Jaden Ivey connected on a 3-pointer while being fouled with 3.1 seconds remaining and dropped in the free throw as the Detroit Pistons rallied for an improbable 114-113 road win over the reeling Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
Having surged from 10 points down in the final 2:41, the Pistons had the ball after two free throws by Kevin Huerter had extended Sacramento’s lead back to three points at 113-110 with 10.8 seconds left.
After a timeout, the ball went to Ivey, who somehow drilled a 23-footer while getting fouled by De’Aaron Fox. A referee’s review confirmed the call, and Ivey calmly hit his deciding free throw.
Without a timeout, the best the Kings could do in the final seconds was a 50-foot heave by Fox that was off the mark.
Detroit won its third straight to open a four-game Western swing that ends Saturday at Denver. Sacramento dropped its fifth straight, all at home.
A 3-pointer by Fox seemed to put the Kings in command at 107-97 with 3:36 to play, but the Pistons got two 3-pointers from Malik Beasley sandwiching a layup by Cade Cunningham in an eight-point flurry that closed the gap to two with still 1:28 to go.
DeMar DeRozan stopped the bleeding for the Kings with a floater in the lane with 1:16 left.
Cunningham led all scorers with 33 points to go with 10 assists. He reached 30 points for the fourth time this season.
Riding the strength of six 3-pointers, Beasley finished with 22 points, while Ivey had 19 and Jalen Duren 13 along with 10 rebounds.
Fox led Sacramento with 26 points, Trey Lyles took advantage of increased playing time to score a season-best 20, and DeRozan rebounded from a recent slump with 19 for the Kings. Sacramento was without Domantas Sabonis due to an illness.
Keegan Murray put added 11 points and 12 boards for Sacramento, while Malik Monk chipped in with 15 points.
–Field Level Media
