Sabonis’ crunch-time message to Fox shows Kings center’s intangibles originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Domantas Sabonis, owner of 12 consecutive double-doubles, certainly can take over a game when needed. He knows, however, that the fourth quarter is Kings teammate De’Aaron Fox’s time to shine.
Sabonis shared Friday night what he tells Fox in crunch time, and it reflects the veteran leadership, awareness and unselfishness the veteran center has given Sacramento since last season’s trade from Indiana.
“At the end of the game, I always tell him, ‘It’s you, it’s your show,’ ” Sabonis said (h/t FOX 40) after the Kings’ 126-125 win over the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center. “Pick and roll, want me in it, don’t want me in it, I’m just going to be there if you need help.”
The fourth quarter indeed has been Fox’s show, with the guard scoring at least 10 points in the final 12 minutes of the Kings’ last four games.
Fox dropped 11 of his team-high 26 points in the fourth quarter of a Dec. 23 loss to the Washington Wizards. Then, in back-to-back games against the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28, he had 11 and 15 points, respectively, in the final frame. And most recently against the Jazz, Fox again scored 11 points in the fourth, including a monster dunk over Kelly Olynyk.
“That’s what he does. He’s been clutch for us all year, making the right decisions, making tough shots,” Sabonis said. “In a game like this, point to point, he’s kind of unstoppable.
“Like you said, he can get any shot he wants, and I feel like he’s been making the right read every time.”
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With Sabonis, who’s playing with a broken thumb on his non-shooting hand, and Fox both performing at All-Star levels, it’s hard to see Sacramento losing momentum. And if they hit a rough patch in the fourth quarter, the Kings know it’s Fox’s show, and they’re all the supporting cast.