In a heart-wrenching overtime finish, the Sacramento Kings fell to the Los Angeles Clippers 111-110, with Kawhi Leonard delivering the crushing blow on a game-winning shot at the buzzer.
The loss was a tough pill to swallow for the Kings, whose record now stands at 33-30, keeping them in a tight race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff standings.
Sacramento pushed the Clippers to the brink, trading key plays in both regulation and overtime.
The game itself was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading clutch plays in the final moments of regulation and overtime.
Zach LaVine led the charge for the Kings, posting 30 points, 2 assists, and 7 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan was a force to reckon with, contributing 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Kings demonstrated their trademark hustle and grit, but Leonard's decisive shot overshadowed their valiant efforts.
The win was crucial for the Clippers, who are fighting to solidify their playoff position.
With this victory, the Clippers improved their record to 35-29, maintaining their grip on the eighth seed while pushing the Kings further behind in ninth place.
Kawhi Leonard's message after Kings-Clippers
After the game, Leonard shared his approach to handling high-pressure situations.
"Just be patient," he said. "Even if it's 5 seconds on the clock, 3 seconds, you still got a lot of time to get a shot off. You don't gotta catch and shoot it right away.Just trust your work."
Kawhi Leonard was asked for his advice to young basketball players after his game-winner:
"Just be patient. Even if it's 5 seconds on the clock, 3 seconds, you still got a lot of time to get a shot off. You don't gotta catch and shoot it right away. Just trust your work. Whoever… pic.twitter.com/NfTJ2Es1II
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) March 10, 2025
Leonard, despite struggling for most of the night, delivered when it mattered most, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting.
Sacramento won't have much time to dwell on this result as they prepare to host the Denver Nuggets in their next game.
Facing a tough opponent, the Kings will need to regroup quickly and channel their energy into securing a key victory.
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This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 10:02 AM.