Kings beat Nuggets 102-100 on Evans’ bucket with 0.7 seconds left

Kings beat Nuggets on Evans’ bucket with 0.7 left

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tyreke Evans made the tiebreaking jumper with 0.7 seconds left and scored 27 points, and the Sacramento Kings beat the Denver Nuggets 102-100 on Saturday night to snap a season-high, five-game losing streak

Evans’ 10-footer over Kenyon Martin capped a wild fourth quarter where the lead changed hands frequently. J.R. Smith missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Chauncey Billups had 27 points for Denver and made a 3-pointer from 25 feet to it at 100 with 11 seconds remaining.

Smith scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Denver, which played its fifth straight game without injured star Carmelo Anthony because of a knee injury. The NBA’s second-leading scorer is expected to play Tuesday against Minnesota.

Martin had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who are 3-2 without Anthony. Joey Graham added 11 points.

Spencer Hawes scored 17 points, Omri Casspi had 16 and Ime Udoka added 12 for the Kings, who had dropped seven of their previous eight games, many of them due to late-game mistakes.

Making his first career start, Kings rookie John Brockman had a career-high 12 rebounds.

With Denver trailing by one, Nene was called for an offensive foul, giving the Kings the ball back with 22 seconds left. The Nuggets fouled Beno Udrih, who made both free throws to put the Kings in front 100-97 with 15 seconds left.

Sacramento was behind since late in the third quarter until Hawes made a 3-pointer and Evans followed with a drive and subsequent three-point play, putting the Kings ahead 91-88 with 4:02 left in the game.

Denver came right back to regain the lead at 93-91 with 2:35 left on a jumper by Billups and a 3-pointer by Smith.

After a lackluster opening half where they never led, the Kings scored the first eight points of the third quarter, leading to a 20-6 run. But Billups helped the Nuggets regain control, scoring 10 points in the period to help Denver take a 76-73 lead into the fourth.

Frustrated with the officiating and perhaps his team’s losing ways the past two weeks, Kings coach Paul Westphal was given a technical late in the first half. He promptly sat on the scorer’s table, mimicking the same position of Denver coach George Karl.

“I’m acting like George, why don’t you treat me like George,” said Westphal, who remained in that same position nearly a minute after the first half ended.

Graham and Martin scored 11 points and Billups added 10 for the Nuggets, who got off to a fast start in the opening quarter and led 54-43 at the half. Evans and Udoka had 10 points for the Kings.

NOTES: The Kings’ Kevin Martin, who broke his left wrist five games into the season and had surgery Nov. 9, is awaiting medical clearance. He is expected to pick a return date after a Tuesday doctor’s appointment. Former World Extreme Cagefighting champion, Urijah Faber of Sacramento, was in a courtside seat next to Kings owner Gavin Maloof. Faber will fight a non-title bout Sunday at Arco Arena. Rookie guard Ty Lawson missed his second straight game with an ankle injury.