Friday’s NBA scores: Exciting finishes in Utah, Sacramento

Kings 106, Knicks 105

Well, this was one heck of a wild game. The Kings opened up a lead as large as 27 points in the first half, and were ahead 71-50 at halftime. The Kings’ offense isn’t great. For two quarters on Friday, it was incredible. Jimmer Fredette had 15 points, and the Kings had 10 first-half threes. Seventy-one points in the first half and ... 16 in the third quarter. The Knicks’ defense ratcheted down, the Kings stopped making shots they probably shouldn’t have been making all along and the Knicks took the lead with six minutes left on a Jason Kidd three. It was fate: not content to continue losing games at a rapid rate, the Kings decided to lose one in harrowing fashion. But then something really weird happened. The Kings perked up and stuck within two possessions of New York until the final seconds. The Knicks had the ball up two with 33 seconds left. No one had any timeouts left. And this happened.

That’s right: DeMarcus Cousins steal, two badly missed Sacramento shots for the tie, two offensive rebounds for the Kings and James Johnson’s first three-pointer of the year on his 12th attempt. Just like you draw it up.

While the Kings were red hot in the first half, they went cold in the third quarter, allowing the Knicks back into the game. Sacramento shot 7-of-20 in the quarter, as New York trimmed the lead to just six. New York continued to cut into the lead, eventually taking over for the first time since the first quarter. New York was up, 105-101, with 33 seconds to play, but the Kings had one final run. Trailing 105-103, the Kings missed two shots which would have tied the game, but got offensive rebounds both times leading to Johnson’s three-pointer as time expired.

The dagger for Utah (15-16) came when Paul played hero with 23.4 seconds left in the fourth quarter, hitting a jumper from the top of the key after a hellacious fake on Gordon Hayward. That shot gave the Clippers (24-6) a 113-110 lead. After Utah tied the game at 114 apiece, it was Paul again who made two foul shots to complete the comeback. The Clips’ superstar would also add six assists, two rebounds and one steal.

Utah led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, but Paul’s scoring barrage, along with L.A.‘s 61.1 percent shooting from the field, gave them the momentum to get back into the game.

Brook Lopez led the Nets with 26 points on 9 for 12 shooting with 11 rebounds and two assists. The 11 rebounds tie a season-high for Lopez, who averages 7.1 rebounds per game for the season.

Deron Williams scored 19 points and had two assists. Williams shot 7 for 14 in the game. It was just the fifth time this season that Williams has made 50 percent or more of his shots in a game.

The Heat (20-7) got off to a good start against the Pistons (10-22), scoring the game’s first 10 points and taking a 32-17 lead after one quarter. But Detroit dominated the middle quarters, outscoring Miami over that stretch, 64-39.

However, Smart ended any uncertainty and the Kings will have their starting big man. Cousins is averaging 16.6 points and 9.5 rebounds a game, leading the team in both categories. The Kings have two games at home before heading out on a four game road trip to start the new year.

Friday’s NBA schedule is highlighted by a matchup of the league’s two hottest teams in Houston and a tough test for the league’s longest winning streak.

Indiana’s three-game run has moved the Pacers into the Central Division lead. Phoenix is just 2-11 on the road this season.