DeMarcus Cousins and rookie guard Ben McLemore combined to make four free throws in the final 12 seconds, as Sacramento edged Minnesota 106-103 Sunday night at Sleep Train Arena, Yahoo Sports reports.
Cousins, who finished with 35 points, also slammed a baseline dunk with 24.2 seconds left to extend the Kings’ two-point lead to four, 102-98.
The Timberwolves’ Kevin Love scored 43 points and grabbed 11 rebounds after returning from a one-game absence caused by a hyperextended elbow.
The Kings trailed by 11 in the third quarter and were down 82-81 before going on an 11-2 run to go in front for good, the Associated Press reports.
Minnesota guard Corey Brewer, coming off his 51-point game on Friday in a 112-110 victory over the Houston Rockets, scored only 10 points on 2-for-8 shooting against the Kings. Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng scored 21 points, and forward Luc Mbah a Moute had 12.
The Wolves (40-40) failed to record their 41st win, which would give them at least a .500 record for the first time since 2004-05. And they will miss the playoffs for the 10th straight season.
The Sacramento fans gave Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman a standing ovation when he was introduced before the game. Adelman, who may retire after the season, remains the most successful coach in Sacramento Kings history. He guided the Kings to eight consecutive playoff appearances from 1998-2006.
