SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An easy bet would’ve been ro expect the Nets and Kings to rain three-pointers Monday night. Both rank in the NBA’s top five for made threes per game.
The Nets, however, took the three-point shootout to the wrong extreme in their 131-118 loss at Golden1 Center. The Kings made 25, the most the Nets have allowed this season, in 45 attempts. Five Kings made at least three three-pointers.
It didn’t matter that the Nets (12-10) shot 48.3% on three-pointers, going 14-for-29. They had 16 fewer attempts than the Kings (13-8), who shot 55.6% from long range.
The Kings also dominated in assists (38-23) and fast-break points (15-2).
The loss snapped the Nets’ three-game winning streak and started off their five-game road trip on a sour note in their first game on the West Coast this season.
Five Nets scored in double figures, led by Mikal Bridges’ 22 points. Cam Thomas and Spencer Dinwiddie each had 18.
De’Aaron Fox was 5-for-10 on three-pointers and finished with 29 points for the Kings. Keegan Murray (24 points) was 4-for-4 on threes and Malik Monk was 4-for-7 from outside the arc as he had 21 points off the bench. Domantas Sabonis had 15 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists.
The Nets fell to 5-8 against teams at .500 or better.
After a steal by Monk in the fourth quarter, the Nets’ bench sank their heads as Monk raced downcourt and delivered an alley-oop dunk to Trey Lyles. That gave the Kings a 107-90 lead with 8:45 left. But the Nets then woke up, and Bridges went 3-for-3 on threes during a 14-3 run that brought them within 110-104.
Harrison Barnes set them back further with a corner three-pointer and started an 11-0 run that slammed the door shut. The Nets emptied their bench with 3:58 remaining.
The Nets started the second quarter on a rough note as the Kings opened the quarter 3-for-3 on threes to push the lead to 14 and prompt Jacque Vaughn to call timeout after 1:25 of action.
The streak of consecutive three-pointers went…
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