Pro Sports

Kings hold off Nets 104-99 to complete back-to-back sweep

Posted December 20, 2017 6:00 am

By BRIAN MAHONEY

Sacramento Kings' Frank Mason III (10) drives past Brooklyn Nets' DeMarre Carroll (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - George Hill scored 22 points, Zach Randolph added 21 and the Sacramento Kings completed their first back-to-back sweep of the season by beating the Brooklyn Nets 104-99 on Wednesday night.

The Kings got off to a sizzling start following their victory in Philadelphia a night earlier, then held on after Brooklyn cut a 21-point lead to two with just over a minute to play.

The Nets missed a flurry of chances to tie before Hill finished it off with two free throws with 2.8 seconds remaining.

The Kings had been 0-5 this season on the second night of a back-to-back.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 16 points but was among the many Nets with poor-shooting nights. Brooklyn shot under 40 percent from the field in its fourth straight loss.

Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game his team needed to start better, but Brooklyn couldn't have done much worse. Sacramento made 16 of 21 shots and raced to a 36-20 lead after one quarter, which grew to 44-23 on Skal Labissiere's three-point play early in the second.

The lead was still 16 at halftime before the Nets finally got into the game, getting as close as 101-99 on Dinwiddie's three-point play with 1:10 left.

TIP-INS

Kings: Rookie G De'Aaron Fox didn't play because of a bruised right thigh. ... Reserve G Buddy Hield missed his first six shots and three in row were blocked before he made a jumper in the fourth quarter. ... Randolph finished with eight rebounds, surpassing 10,000 in his career. He joins Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki as the only active players with 18,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.

Nets: Brooklyn has dropped two straight at home to Sacramento after winning the first four meetings at Barclays Center. ... Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT

Kings: Host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

Nets: Host the Washington Wizards on Friday.

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More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Sacramento Kings' Buddy Hield (24) and Justin Jackson (25) fight for control of the ball with Brooklyn Nets' Joe Harris (12) as head coach Kenny Atkinson calls time out during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) The Associated Press

Sacramento Kings' Zach Randolph (50) shoots over Brooklyn Nets' Tyler Zeller (44) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) The Associated Press

Sacramento Kings' Frank Mason III (10) defends Brooklyn Nets' Caris LeVert (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) The Associated Press

Sacramento Kings' Willie Cauley-Stein (00) dunks the ball in front of Brooklyn Nets' Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) The Associated Press

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