Kings get complete team effort in blowout win over Thunder

After a disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Sacramento Kings came out like gangbusters in their 126-98 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

More Harkless had 18, while Buddy Hield chipped in with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds to lead the Kings to victory. Five other Sacramento players also hit double figures in scoring.

The Kings dominated in every facet of the game. They outrebounded the Thunder 50-28, finished with six more assists and also blocked 11 OKC shot attempts.

Although the chances are slim, Sacramento is still alive in the race for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference. Since the second nine-game losing streak of the season, the Kings are 8-4 and have beaten four playoff teams during the 12-game stretch. Sacramento’s run has come with the likes of De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes and standout rookie Tyrese Haliburton missing extended time.

Oklahoma City didn’t offer much resistance. The Thunder — who has lost 21 out of their last 22 contests — briefly led early in the first quarter. The Kings rebounded nicely after trailing 13-8 early in this one. Sacramento responded with a 16-0 run and held an 11-point lead with 4:25 remaining in the first. Harkless and Delon Wright were excellent in the opening quarter. They combined for 22 points as the Kings shot 63.2 percent in the period and led 33-25 going into the second.

Sacramento continued to pour it on early in the second. Terrance Davis and Marvin Bagley III combined to score 15 points in the first six minutes of the quarter as the Kings extended their lead to 48-32.

The undermanned Thunder couldn’t make up any ground. Sacramento had its way with OKC throughout the first half. The Kings shot 62.8 percent from the field and connected on 9-of-17 3-point attempts to take a 71-51 lead into the break.

Any hopes Oklahoma City had of an improbable comeback quickly ended in the third. Sacramento owned the Thunder in the period, outscoring OKC 35-20 and pushing the lead up to 35 going into the fourth.

With the win, the Kings remain mathematically alive in the Western Conference play-in race. Sacramento trails the San Antonio Spurs by 2.5 games going into the final four matchups on the schedule. If you’re looking at the lottery odds, the Kings currently have the ninth-best odds to get the No. 1 overall pick.