Fox leads Kings past Cavs

Jordan Clarkson scores 26 for Cleveland in loss

Associated Press

CLEVEAND

De’Aaron Fox and the Sacramento Kings found their stride in the second half.

The Cleveland Cavaliers just couldn’t keep up.

Fox had 30 points and 12 assists, and the Kings beat the Cavaliers 129-110 on Friday night.

“We played with a lot more communication and physicality in the second half,” Sacramento coach Dave Joerger said, “and we knew we needed to.”

Buddy Hield added 25 points for the Kings, who led by as many as 25 after the game was tied at 66 at halftime. Marvin Bagley III scored 17 points on 8-for-9 shooting after missing two games due to back spasms.

Sacramento led by 15 midway through the first quarter, but a lack of defense and some hot shooting by Cleveland changed the momentum.

“It was a learning experience,” Hield said. “It’s the NBA and teams are good. They’ll make their runs. We have to find a way to stay locked in.”

Fox and Hield each hit two 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the third quarter, helping Sacramento open an 84-73 lead.

“I kind of let the game come to me,” said Fox, who fell one point short of his career high. “Sometimes I do know that it starts with me so I took the initiative to make that happen.”

Jordan Clarkson scored 26 points for Cleveland, and rookie point guard Collin Sexton had 23. But the Cavaliers couldn’t keep up with the Kings’ fast pace.

“I felt like they really exposed us in every area,” coach Larry Drew said. “I haven’t felt like that all year as far as opponents are concerned.”

Cleveland was short-handed after it agreed to a three-team trade with Milwaukee and Washington. The Cavs got Matthew Dellavedova back from the Bucks, who also parted with forward John Henson and two draft picks in 2021. Guard George Hill went from Cleveland to Milwaukee as part of the deal, and Sam Dekker was traded from the Cavs to the Wizards.

The Cavs then lost Rodney Hood to a right foot injury. He didn’t play in the second half.

The Kings (13-11) have won three straight, including the first two on their four-game trip.

Sacramento came out with a hot first quarter for the second straight game. Drew used a timeout 86 seconds into the game after the Kings hit their first three shots and led 7-2. Sacramento made 17 of 26 shots in the period.

Sacramento outscored Phoenix 36-9 in the opening quarter Tuesday.

The Cavaliers (5-20) regrouped in the second quarter. Sexton scored 14 points and Clarkson’s 3-pointer at the buzzer tied the game.

Affectionately known to Cleveland fans as “Delly,” Dellavedova was a key member of the Cavs’ 2016 title team before he signed with the Bucks later that summer.

He’s not the same player, and the Cavs are far from being the same team, but his return will soften what has been a difficult season.

Cleveland is rebuilding in the wake of LeBron James’ departure last summer.

“I’m glad my Aussie brother is back,” Cavs center Tristan Thompson said. “Brings us veteran leadership, a guy that’s won before, a guy that’s going to push Collin (Sexton), control the game for the second unit and he’ll make shots. He’s good at throwing lobs to me.

“I think it will be good for our team, not just for myself, but for our team.”

Hill helped the Cavs reach the Finals last season, but the team wanted to unload his contract while giving rookie Sexton more playing time.