Sacramento Kings Top 5 Plays of the Week (1/9-1/16)

(1) Rudy Gay’s Game Winner In Utah: With the Jazz tying the score 101-101 with under 4 seconds left in the game, the Kings needed to answer back in order to avoid overtime. During the inbound pass, it looked like Rajon Rondo wanted to pass the ball to DeMarcus Cousins, but the Jazz made sure he couldn’t get the ball.

More from A Royal Pain

• 3 Ways Chris Duarte improves the Kings chances in 2023-24
• 5 Players the Sacramento Kings never should have signed
• Bleacher Report crazily lists Kings’ All-Star as “most overrated NBA player”
• Kings and Heat fans clash on Twitter to debate All-Star players
• Sacramento Kings’ Chris Duarte playing in 2023 FIBA World Cup

Instead, Rondo opted for Rudy Gay, who separated himself from his defender at the top of the key. Once he had the ball in his hands he dribbled to his right and shot the ball from the right wing, and as a result, the ball went through the net (video here).

The Kings in the game before blew a winnable game against the New Orleans Pelicans, and a win against the Jazz would help gain their momentum. Gay’s shot ended up being key to the Kings not only because they won, but also because they gained ground in the Western Conference playoff race. Utah at the time held the 8th seed.