Instant Replay: Kings come undone, lose to league-worst Nets

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SACRAMENTO -- Coming into Wednesday’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings, the Brooklyn Nets hadn’t won a game since Jan. 20. That streak is now over as the Kings dropped their third straight game at home, this one by a final of 109-100. 

Sacramento had no answer for Brook Lopez. The 7-footer out of Stanford dropped in a team-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting and added eight rebounds in the win.

Jeremy Lin was limited by a minute restriction, but he still managed to score 17 points and hand out five assists for Brooklyn.

Rookie Isaiah Whitehead chipped in 14 points, while Caris LeVert finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Buddy Hield got hot from the corner, hitting 4-of-6 from long range on his way to 16 points. In four games with the Kings, the rookie shooting guard has scored in double-figures three times and is averaging 13.8 points per game.

Ty Lawson provided a spark off the bench, scoring 15 points and handing out nine of the Kings' 12 total assists. 

Rookie Skal Labissiere went for 10 points, five rebounds and blocked a shot in his first career start. The lanky 20-year-old was aggressive in his 15 minutes of action.  

Tyreke Evans tried to shoot the Kings back into the game late, scoring nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter. 

We had an Arron Afflalo sighting. The veteran wing missed the previous three games with a hamstring injury. Dave Joerger started the 31-year-old and he got it going early, scoring 10 of his 14 points in the first quarter. 

Willie Cauley-Stein found some space late to finish with nine points and five rebounds and Darren Collison added 11 points and four rebounds.

STANDOUT PERFORMER

Lopez was too much to handle in the post. When the Nets needed points late, they turned to the 7-footer and he delivered. 

TURNING POINT

Sacramento made a late run in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. Brooklyn found a way to pull out the win, snapping their 16-game losing streak and winning for just the second time in 29 chances. 

INJURY UPDATE 

Afflalo returned after missing the previous three games with a sore hamstring. Lawson started the day as questionable with gastroenteritis, but he managed to shake off the illness and play solid minutes off the bench. Garrett Temple is out for another few games with a left hamstring tear, but he hopes to return early next week. Rookie Malachi Richardson is out 4-6 weeks with a right hamstring thickness tear, but hopes to return before the season is finished. Rudy Gay is out for the year with a torn left Achilles. 

WHAT'S NEXT 

The Kings finish their five-game homestand Sunday when the Utah Jazz travel to Golden 1 Center for a 3 p.m. start. Following the game against the Jazz, the Kings travel to Denver to face the Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back. 

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