The Sacramento Kings, who were winless in four matchups heading into Saturday, fended off the Miami Heat, 119-113, shutting off Miami’s water after it trimmed it to one (after trailing by 22) midway through the fourth quarter.
Miami outscored the Kings 64-48 in the second half, but its lethargic energy for the better part of opening 24 minutes on both ends were the centerpiece to its hole it dug. In the first half, Sacramento shot 63.6 percent, outscored Miami 36-14 in the paint and held the Heat to 37.2 percent shooting, despite being the NBA’s sixth-worst defense heading into the affair.