NBA: Nets halt 10-game losing streak, get revenge on Kings

Ochai Agbaji and rookie Drake Powell combined for 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Brooklyn Nets ended a 10-game losing streak with a 116-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

The Nets (18-57) allowed the first basket of the game but never trailed again, taking control early and building a 27-point lead midway through the second quarter. This marked their first win since March 9.

Agbaji led Brooklyn with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Powell added 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Rookie Nolan Traore contributed 17 points and six assists, and Noah Clowney chipped in 15 points as the Nets shot 49.4% from the field and made 17 of 41 three-point attempts. The victory was just their third in the last 23 games.

The Kings (19-57) suffered their 11th straight road loss to an Eastern Conference team and relied on their 34th different starting lineup of the season, with only nine players available. Key absences included DeMar DeRozan, who missed his second game of the season with right hamstring soreness, and Malik Monk, sidelined with a bruised shoulder.

Devin Carter led Sacramento with 20 points, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter on 6-of-12 shooting. Rookie Nique Clifford added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Precious Achiuwa contributed 16 points and eight boards. DaQuan Jeffries finished with 14 points, Maxime Raynaud scored 13, and Doug McDermott added 12. The Kings shot 42.9% overall, making 10 of 32 from three-point range, and committed 23 fouls.

Brooklyn set the tone early, holding a 31-18 lead after the first quarter. Clowney’s 3-pointer at the top of the key early in the second quarter extended the lead to 43-20 during a 14-0 run. The Nets led 68-45 at halftime.

The third quarter saw Brooklyn score 18 points while committing 10 turnovers, entering the fourth with an 86-73 advantage. Sacramento briefly cut the lead to nine at 92-83 following Clifford’s three-pointer with 9:49 remaining, but the Nets closed the game with a 13-0 run, capped by Powell’s three-pointer at 5:41.

-Field Level Media/Reuters