In a breathtaking NBA match until the last second, the Sacramento Kings achieved the feat of beating the Miami Heat to the wire. De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis were the great architects of this unexpected success. Find out how this match with a crazy scenario unfolded…
NBA fans experienced an epic moment during the game between the Sacramento Kings and the Miami Heat. In this unbearably suspenseful match which took place on November 5, 2024, the Kings snatched a victory by a small point, 111 to 110, thanks in particular to the performances of their stars De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
A neck-to-neck duel
From the start of the match, the tone was set. The two teams began a real standoff, neither wanting to give ground to the other. Despite the efforts of Jimmy Butler, author of 27 points for the Heat, the Kings managed to stay in touch thanks to the skill of De'Aaron Fox (28 points) and the presence in the racket of Domantas Sabonis (16 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists).
The suspense has gone up a notch in the money-time. While the Heat thought they had done the hard part by taking a two-point lead with 20 seconds remaining, the Kings pulled off an incredible turnaround. On a throw-in, Fox managed to find Monk unmarked at three points. Without trembling, the guard adjusted his sights and hit the mark, giving his team a point lead with 5 seconds to go before the buzzer.
A breathtaking final possession
The Heat had one last possession to snatch victory or at least snatch an overtime period. But that was without taking into account the defensive self-sacrifice of the Kings. Cornered by an aggressive defense, Butler was forced to take an off-balance shot at the buzzer that bounced off the hoop, sealing the victory for the Kings.
A source close to the dressing room said: “The guys gave it their all tonight. They wanted this victory at all costs. Fox and Sabonis were immense but it's the whole group that deserves to be saluted. »
Conquering Kings
With this success, the Kings confirm their excellent momentum at the start of the season. Buoyed by the talent of Fox and the impact of their recruits (Malik Monk, author of 12 points coming off the bench), the Sacramento franchise seems able to play spoilsport in the West.
Opposite, the Heat may harbor regrets. Despite Butler's big game and the solidity of Bam Adebayo (16 points, 9 rebounds), the Floridians lacked skill in hot moments (11/21 for Fox) to hope for better.
We did our best but it wasn't enough tonight. Credit to the Kings, they were solid. We must learn from this match and continue to progress.
Jimmy Butler after the game
The keys to the match
- The 3-point address of the Kings (15/36) compared to the Heat (9/30)
- Sabonis' double-double (16 pts, 16 rebounds) in the paint
- 28 points at 52% shooting success for De'Aaron Fox
- 12 precious points from Monk coming off the bench including the winning basket
The Kings therefore have a third consecutive victory and position themselves as a credible outsider in the Western Conference. They will try to confirm in the next match against Nikola Jokic's Nuggets, another big test to confront their ambitions with the best.
For its part, the Heat will have to quickly remobilize with the reception of the Celtics of Jayson Tatum. The opportunity to redeem yourself against a big name from the East and not let doubt settle in.
One thing is certain, this duel between the Kings and the Heat will remain as one of the closest and thrilling matches since the start of the season. And a warning for the competition: these Kings seem ready to defy many predictions!
