Monk seals deal as Kings stage tourney comeback against Warriors
Sacramento Kings' Malik Monk drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry in the fourth quarter during the NBA In-Season Tournament game at Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, U.S, Nov. 28, 2023. (AFP Photo)


Malik Monk secured the Sacramento Kings' advancement in the In-Season Tournament by leading a comeback that erased most of a 24-point deficit and resulted in a decisive victory.

Monk hit a fadeaway with 7 seconds left, and the Kings rallied late to beat the Golden State Warriors 124-123 on Tuesday night and advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

"Doing that in the In-Season Tournament, the first one, it was great," Monk said. "It brings a lot more energy to this building."

The Kings won their group with a 4-0 record and will host New Orleans on Monday in the quarterfinals.

Sacramento needed a win or a loss by 11 points or fewer, but ended up with the victory thanks to a furious comeback fueled by two late turnovers by the Warriors.

Andrew Wiggins' tip-in put Golden State up by five with 59 seconds left. But De'Aaron Fox hit a free throw and Monk made a 3-pointer following a turnover by Stephen Curry.

Draymond Green turned it over on the next possession, setting the stage for Monk's go-ahead shot. The Warriors had no timeouts left, and Curry missed a 3 at the buzzer to give Sacramento its first win in three tries against Golden State this season.

"That was just us being resilient," Fox said. "Just being able to fight back and finish that game off felt good for us. We want to win as many games as possible, and that was a game we were able to squeeze out."

Fox led the way with 29 points, with Monk and Kevin Huerter adding 21 apiece.

Curry and Wiggins each scored 29 for the Warriors, who have lost eight of 10 games.

"We have to stick with it, not to get discouraged about a bad night like tonight, and realize that we’re going home with an opportunity to right the ship," guard Klay Thompson said. "I still have cold-hearted belief in this team, and we can do some special things."

Golden State got Green back from a five-game suspension for putting Rudy Gobert in a chokehold, and he was greeted by loud boos during introductions and whenever he touched the ball. He also got called for a technical foul for demonstratively arguing for a carry violation in the fourth quarter.

The technical riled up the crowd and sparked a 13-3 Sacramento run that turned a nine-point deficit into the Kings' first lead since the first quarter.

"It was the momentum that we needed," Monk said. "(Coach) Mike (Brown) was telling us all game that something was going to happen. Make the refs make a call. We just stuck with the game plan."

Moses Moody helped turn the tide with back-to-back 3-pointers for Golden State before the Warriors collapsed down the stretch.

Even with Green's return, Golden State wasn't at full strength for long, with Chris Paul leaving in the first quarter with lower left leg soreness and Gary Payton II leaving in the third quarter with an injured right calf.