By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Domantas Sabonis went for 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals, but the Sacramento Kings completed a winless run across five showings in the 2024 NBA Preseason.
The Los Angeles Clippers took down the Kings, 113-91, in Intuit Dome on Thursday. The Lithuanian big produced 17.2 points per contest but his side did not avoid the first winless preseason run since going 0-6 in 1991.
The team coached by Mike Brown also featured Ukrainian Alex Len in the preseason finale. The 31-year-old center was held to one point with 0/3 from the field, but pulled down nine rebounds and also registered a block.
Nicolas Batum and Ivica Zubac both started for the team coached by Tyronn Lue. The French forward finished with two points and one assist over 13 minutes, while the Croatian center put up eight points, three rebounds, and one assist in 15 minutes.
Moving to Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets overpowered the San Antonio Spurs, 129-107. Turkish Alperen Sengun posted a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double. For the visitors, French Victor Wembanyama and Polish Jeremy Sochan were among the resting players, but French Sidy Cissoko tallied 15 points and Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili had nine points.
With action spilling into overtime in Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers edged out the Charlotte Hornets, 121-116. Coming off the bench for the Hornets, French Tidjane Salaun paired seven points with 14 rebounds, French Moussa Diabate tallied 11 points, and Serbian Vasilije Micic combined five points with three assists.