Zach LaVine scored 31 points and Domantas Sabonis capped a chaotic finish with a putback to lift the Sacramento Kings (1-1) past the Utah Jazz (1-1) 105-104 on Friday night.
Malik Monk added 20 points off the bench, including six 3-pointers, and Dennis Schroder contributed 17 for the Kings. Sacramento overcame a 96-92 deficit midway through the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run led by LaVine.
Lauri Markkanen scored a game-high 33 points for Utah, while Keyonte George recorded 18 points and 10 assists. Brice Sensabaugh added 15 points off the bench.
The game’s final sequence saw LaVine called for charging with Sacramento up 103-102 with 50 seconds left. Markkanen then made a free throw after a lane violation to give the Jazz a 104-103 lead.
Sacramento’s Sabonis, returning from a hamstring strain, grabbed the offensive rebound on Monk’s missed shot and scored the go-ahead basket with six seconds left. He was fouled but missed the free throw, and Utah’s George shot an airball at the buzzer.
LaVine, who had 15 points in a seven-minute first-quarter stretch, kept the Kings competitive after Sacramento’s season-opening loss to Phoenix. His late surge in the fourth quarter helped the team maintain its nine-game winning streak against Utah.
The teams combined for 27 three-pointers, with Utah holding a 50-33 rebounding advantage, but Sacramento’s clutch scoring in the final minutes proved decisive.
The Kings will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, while the Jazz will face the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
