Zach LaVine's 43 points helps Kings storm back vs. Pistons
Zach LaVine scored a season-high 43 points, DeMar DeRozan added 37 points and the visiting Sacramento Kings beat the Detroit Pistons 127-117 on Monday for their third straight win.
Domantas Sabonis recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for Sacramento (39-40), which erased an 18-point first-half deficit. Off the bench, Jonas Valanciunas added 10 points and 12 rebounds.
LaVine, who was 8-of-11 shooting from 3-point range, made six 3-pointers and scored 30 points in the second half for the Kings, who led 119-112 on Trey Lyles' layup with 3:32 left in regulation.
Detroit pulled within 122-114 with 2:05 left before LaVine scored the next five points to seal the Kings' victory. LaVine's eight 3-pointers matched a season high.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit (43-36) with 35 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the field. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 19 points, Ausar Thompson added 15 and Malik Beasley had 14 off the bench.
With their fourth loss in five games, the Pistons are 1 1/2 games behind the fifth-place Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference.
Sacramento, which shot 51.6 percent from the field and 40.7 percent (11 of 27) from 3-point range, moved a game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference.
The Kings led 38-37 at the end of the first quarter behind DeRozan and LaVine, who scored a combined 21 points for the period.
Sacramento guard Malik Monk exited late in the opening quarter with left calf soreness and did not return.
Detroit began the second quarter on a 19-4 run and led 56-42 with 7:25 left in the second quarter. DeRozan had 22 points in the first half to lead Sacramento, which trailed 72-62 at intermission. Hardaway led the Pistons with 14 points at the break.
The Kings held a 97-94 lead at the end of the third quarter after LaVine drilled a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining.
Sacramento held the Pistons to 45 points in the second half on 40 percent shooting, including 31.2 percent (5 of 16) from beyond the arc.
LaVine has scored a total of 80 points in the last two games for the Kings, who beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 120-113 on Sunday night.
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New York Times
33 minutes ago
- New York Times
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USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
How Tigers' fallen star, late-blooming No. 1 picks got Detroit roaring atop AL
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Says manager A.J. Hinch: 'The way he bounces back from tough at-bats – he's pretty resilient.' A star embraces versatility Torkelson's recall, combined with a trade-deadline makeover and Hinch unleashing the Tigers' 'pitching chaos' plan awakened a franchise. The Tigers finished 33-16, snagged a wild-card spot and upset the Houston Astros in the wild-card round before losing a wild five-game AL Division Series to Cleveland. And Báez wasn't around for almost all of it. He and the Tigers decided he'd undergo season-ending hip surgery after an August series at Wrigley Field, sight of Báez's greatest triumphs as a member of the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs. With the Tigers, he'd been more a liability, producing a .221 OBP and 71 adjusted OPS in his first three seasons. Repairing his hip might have been the unkindest cut at the time, but now he and the Tigers are reaping the rewards. Báez returned healthy and with a new identity – the do-anything super utilityman. Báez hadn't played center field since winter ball in 2015 until Hinch tossed him out there as a late-game defensive replacement. He ended up playing 23 consecutive games in center, robbing home runs, chasing balls into the gap and, in that span, slugging six home runs with an .898 OPS. With center fielder Parker Meadows' return, Báez is more often back at his natural shortstop. Either way, he has been remarkably valuable, producing four outs above average and 1.3 WAR, putting him on pace for his finest season as a Tiger. 'A guy like Javy, who's been the center part of a lot of teams he's been on, can just be one of the guys,' Hinch says of Báez, who made two All-Star teams and won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger as a Cub. 'He doesn't have to carry us; we have a true team and a lot of guys who can do it. But when he adds something to the mix, we usually win. 'He's a big part of what we're doing and I think he's one of the best, versatile players in the league.' Báez's production fused with the young core was the outcome he envisioned when he signed with the Tigers, the last major transaction of former GM Al Avila's tenure. 'Everything is getting better as a team, as an organization. The only difference for me is being healthy,' says Báez, whose deal runs through 2027. 'I'm playing better for myself and playing better for the team. 'That was one of the reasons I came here: I saw the other prospects coming here and would make a good team in the future. The future is now – we're doing it right now.' Báez might have been envisioned as a franchise hub, but he's probably serving as a better avatar for the young players in his current role – versatile, willing to trot out to any position, starter or reserve, always ready. 'He's unbelievable. He's one of the best athletes, baseball players, that I've got to see live,' says Torkelson. 'You stick him in center field, he'd probably win a Gold Glove out there. He's such a great athlete and special to see every day. 'He's willing to do whatever. And he's so comfortable in whatever situation he's in – he's never sped up. He's always cool, calm and collected, something we aspire to do every game.' 'A complete team' As the season unfolds, the Tigers will have to accept their new lot in life – that of division favorites. They hold a seven-game lead in the AL Central, and with the rampant inconsistency in the AL West, would be a fair bet to earn a first-round bye should they hold onto the division. Promising right-hander Jackson Jobe has been lost to Tommy John surgery, a big blow for his development, yet one the Tigers can weather given their depth with Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Mize out front of the rotation. Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, already weathered that storm undergoing Tommy John and also back surgery, a double whammy that wiped out his 2023 season. 'We have Tarik leading us at the top. He's the best pitcher in the league,' says Mize, who has a 2.95 ERA in 11 starts. 'And we have some depth we really like and bullpen guys we really like. 'A complete team.' One that's on the verge of what could be an unforgettable summer, the promise of greatness tempered by the humility that helped them reach this threshold. 'What got us to this point is taking it day by day, being there for each other and enjoying the ride,' says Torkelson. 'It's not going to be perfect. But it's going to be a lot of fun.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Peja Stojakovic says Rich Paul blackmailed the Kings so De'Aaron Fox could end up with the Spurs: "He limited Sacramento from a business standpoint"
Peja Stojakovic says Rich Paul blackmailed the Kings so De'Aaron Fox could end up with the Spurs: "He limited Sacramento from a business standpoint" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Former Sacramento Kings assistant general manager Peja Stojakovic believes that the Kings could have gotten a better package for point guard De'Aaron Fox if they were able to shop him around the league. Advertisement Stojakovic claims the Kings were unable to get the best deal for De'Aaron because Fox's manager, Klutch Sports founder Rich Paul, coerced the team to surrender Fox to the San Antonio Spurs while also making sure that his other client, Zach LaVine, would end up taking Fox's spot in Sacramento. "I still believe Sacramento has good players despite them trading Fox," Peja said confidently. "It seems there was a directive from his agent, Rich Paul, who played a key role and blackmailed the teams on which player was supposed to get traded where. He brought Fox to the Spurs and Zach LaVine, who is his player, brought him to Sacramento. By doing this, he limited Sacramento from a business standpoint, stating that they get a bit more from this trade with Fox if they had the same discussion with some other teams in the NBA," Stojakovic detailed behind-the-scenes events around this trade. Kings landed LaVine in a three-team trade Fox was looking like the Kings' next franchise player. But last year, he turned down a three-year $165 million contract extension from the Kings because he wanted to make sure the Kings had enough to contend for a title before committing to them. However, the motive was likely financial as Fox stood to get a five-year, $345 million super-max deal if he made an All-NBA team this season. Advertisement But rather than risk losing Fox without getting anything, the Kings ended up shopping Fox before the trade deadline. Several teams were linked to the former Kentucky Wildcat, but in the end, he went to the Spurs in a move that many, including Stojakovic, believe was orchestrated by Paul. In the three-team trade, the Kings got LaVine from the Chicago Bulls, plus three first-round picks and three second-round picks. Meanwhile, the Bulls received Zach Collins, Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter while regaining their 2025 first-round pick via the Spurs. San Antonio ended up with the jackpot prize of the deal: Fox. Related: "To put it mildly, every night you had to go against a legend" - Dominique Wilkins makes a case he should be in the GOAT debate Fox admitted that it was he who wanted to play for the Spurs Stojakovic's accusation may have some truth in it. Last March, Fox admitted that he told the Kings that he only wanted to play for the Spurs. And so if this was the case, then it's possible that Paul worked his connections to make that happen, and they ended up strong-arming the Kings into sending Fox to San Antonio. Advertisement "There was no fuc*ing list," Fox emphatically said. "There was one team. I wanted to go to San Antonio. So, a lot of people are mad at me, saying I handcuffed the team by giving them a destination. Well, this is my career. If anybody else is in my position, you'd do the same thing. It's not my job to help build your team. I'm not about to just go where they want me to go. I wanted to have a destination," he concluded. But as Peja said, the Kings still have good players left, regardless of whether they were short-changed in the deal. They also received a haul of draft picks, which they can use in whichever direction they choose. Related: 'Has he transformed Sacramento into an NBA champion?' - Chris Russo doesn't believe De'Aaron Fox will elevate Spurs into contenders This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
