De’Aaron Fox (5) scored the game winning shot at the buzzer in overtime for the Sacramento Kings to help defeat the Orlando Magic in Orlando on Sat Nov 5, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Sacramento Kings won a thriller in overtime 126-123 as they rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to beat the Orlando Magic 126-123. The Kings, under the watchful eye of head coach Mike Brown, have played an improved style of basketball. Sacramento beat the Charlotte Hornets and lost to the Miami Heat before playing Orlando Saturday night.

In the game against Miami, a blown call cost them the game. Miami’s Tyler Herro took four steps to make the winning bucket. Brown was screaming that Herro traveled. The call stood. However, after a review by the NBA, the review confirmed that Herro had traveled.

The Kings lost a game they should have won. The Orlando Magic entered the game on a high note. The Magic beat the defending NBA Champs, the Golden State Warriors, by one point, 130-129, Wednesday night. 

The Magic got off to a good start in the first period. They finished the quarter leading by eight, 33-25. They led early 20-6, but the Kings did close the gap. Orlando outscored the Kings by ten, 32-22, to finish the first half with an eighteen-point advantage.

Sacramento took a page out of the Warriors’ playbook as they owned the third quarter. They put 36 points on the board and held the Magic to 12. The score was 83-77 in favor of the Kings. Orlando fought back and was able to overcome the Kings’ six-point advantage. The game ended, tied 106-106. 

In the overtime period, the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox scored the first six points for his team. The Magic, led by rookie Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, refused to wilt. It was nip and tuck to the finish. Fox gave the Magic a chance to win when he threw away a pass in the backcourt with 6.6 seconds left. He atoned for his sin when he connected on a three-point shot from near mid-court to win the game for Sacramento.

Game Notes: With the win, the Kings are 3-5. The Magic dropped to 2-8.

The Kings had four players in double figures. Fox led the Kings with 37 points. Domantis Sabonis had a double-double with 25 points and eleven rebounds. He added six assists to his line. Trey Lyles and Malik Monk each added 15 points. 

The Magic had four starters in double figures. Paolo Banchero led the club with a double-double. The rookie tallied 33 points and 16 boards. Franz Wagner had 31, Wendell Carter, Jr., 17, and Bol Bol, the son of former Warrior Manute Bol, knocked down 23 and pulled down seven rebounds. The Magic bench contributed only 13 points.

The Kings return to California to face the Warriors Monday night at the Chase Center. Kings’ coach Mike Brown would love the beat his old team. Steve Kerr is hoping to find the right pieces to stop the five-game losing streak.