December 24 (UPI) – Buddy Hield went up through the air and grabbed his fingers on the basketball to get a glimpse in while the final buzz of time sounded to secure the first win of the season. give to the Sacramento Kings.
Hield scored 22 points at team level in a 124-122 victory over the Denver Nuggets Wednesday at Ball Arena in Denver. Nuggets center Nikola Jokic scored 29 high points in the game with 15 rebounds and 14 assists with the loss.
“Winning the first game of the season is a huge boost for us,” Hield told reporters. “It just gives us a good move in the right direction. “
The Kings and Nuggets tied at 122-122 with 2.6 left when Harrison Barnes stole the ball from Jokic to blow up Sacramento’s quick break. Barnes went down on the court before rising for a sprint attempt, but was thrown down from the back iron and kicked over the edge.
Hield continued the play and was not put off by the defenders. He used his right hand to collect the ball and fired it in the same motion as he jumped through the line. Hield’s bullet kicked off the backboard before going through the net as the last horn sounded.
Barnes and De’Aaron Fox scored 21 points in the win. Michael Porter Jr. had 24 points. for Denver.
“We rested,” said Jokic of the Nuggets, who led 63-50 at half-time. “We played the first half really well, but they came out very aggressive in the second half.
“They had a lot of energy and they picked up the pace. We didn’t meet him.
The Nuggets host the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 pm EST Friday at Ball Arena. The Kings host the Phoenix Suns at 10pm EST Saturday at the Golden Center 1 in Sacramento.