Devin Carter, Kings hand Pacers 10th consecutive loss
Devin Carter scored 22 of his career-high 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Sacramento Kings beat Indiana 114-109 on Tuesday, sending the visiting Pacers to their 10th straight loss.
Sacramento rallied from a 20-point third-quarter deficit behind Carter, who made three 3-pointers and scored 15 points during a 17-5 run that put the Kings ahead 109-103 with 1:46 remaining.
Indiana pulled within 112-109 on Ben Sheppard's layup with 9.5 seconds left before Nique Clifford made two free throws to keep the Pacers winless since the All-Star break.
Carter shot 9-for-13 from the field and 3-for-4 from 3-point range in just over 16 minutes for Sacramento, which has won two in a row for the first time since recording a four-game winning streak in mid-January.
Maxime Raynaud had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, while Russell Westbrook tallied 16 points and nine assists. DeMar DeRozan and Clifford scored 12 points apiece, and Daeqwon Plowden added 10.
Aaron Nesmith led Indiana with 29 points. Obi Toppin added 17 points, Kam Jones scored 14, Jay Huff had 12, and Micah Potter finished with 11 in the matchup between the two teams with the worst records in the NBA.
Sacramento led for much of the opening quarter before Indiana closed on a 6-0 run to move ahead 25-24 on a layup from Potter.
The Pacers pushed their edge to 42-32 with 6:07 left in the second quarter and held a 59-42 advantage after Huff drilled a 3-pointer and Nesmith scored to end the half.
Nesmith had 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the first half to lead Indiana, while Raynaud scored 10 for Sacramento.
The Kings pulled within 82-72 at the end of the third quarter after closing on a 14-4 run. Drew Eubanks sank two foul shots in the final second.
Indiana played without starters T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Pascal Siakam (knee) and Andrew Nembhard (back/neck).
Kings guard Malik Monk exited in the second quarter due to a right ankle injury and did not return.