Sacramento Kings' center DeMarcus Cousins reacts from the bench as his team trails behind the Utah Jazz in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Kim Raff)
The Utah Jazz let a late fourth-quarter lead slip away and then faltered in overtime, losing to the Sacramento Kings in a battle of four-win teams Saturday night at Energy Solutions Arena.
The Jazz scored just five points in the five-minute extra period, losing 112-102 and dropping to 4-18 on the year.
At a glance
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Utah trailed by as much as nine in the fourth quarter, but found a way to claw back into the game.
Gordon Hayward chased down Kings forward Derrick Williams, blocking the shot off the glass and watched as Trey Burke hit a game-tying 3-pointer. Moments later, Hayward fired off a long two, all part of a 16-0 run that looked to lock down the team’s victory.
But the Jazz let a late lead of their own slip away, as rookie Ben McLemore hit a game-tying 3-pointer with just over three seconds left on the clock. On the other end, Burke missed a would-be game winner at the buzzer.
Both teams arrived in Salt Lake City having played the night before. The Kings fell to the Lakers on Friday night in Sacramento. The Jazz, meanwhile, were torched by the Portland Trail Blazers, who hit a franchise record 17 3-pointers on better than 70 percent shooting.
The quick turnaround was a chance to put a loss behind.
"That’s part of being the NBA," Corbin said. "You don’t have time to lick your wounds."
The Jazz will now have an extra day to do just that as they prepare for a Monday rematch with Portland.
Against the Kings, Hayward led the way with 22 points.
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After both being pulled early against Portland, Burke responded well.
"I was ready to play," Burke said of getting the early hook on Friday. "I was on the bench ready for him to call my number. He didn’t, but I can’t let that affect me negatively."
The rookie had one of his best games, scoring 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Alec Burks had 19 points of the bench for the Jazz.
The Jazz were without big man Derrick Favors, who missed his first game of the season because of a sore back, and forward Marvin Williams, who has missed three straight games while dealing with an inflamed heel.
It’s a frustrating reality for the Jazz, who finally had all 15 players healthy around Thanksgiving.
"It makes it a little tougher," Corbin said. "We’re young. We’re shorthanded. You get a few guys back, you find some rhythm. Then you’re dealing with injuries again. It’s a little frustrating, but we have to keep plugging at it. The season’s not going to stop and wait on us."
With Williams and Favors out, little used center Andris Biedrins saw early minutes, which Sacramento coach Mike Malone, an assistant when Biedrins was in Golden State, exploited. Late in the first quarter, Malone called for Hamady Ndiaye to intentionally foul Biedrins three times. The center went 1 for 6 from the line in that stretch.
In the second, Burks and Richard Jefferson traded 3-pointers, as the Jazz pushed their lead to 10. But the Kings whittled away the advantage.
Sacramento guard Isaiah Thomas scored nine straight Kings points to end the third quarter. He capped off the run by blowing past Diante Garrett for a layup, giving the Kings a 74-70 lead after three.
Thomas finished with 26 points off the bench.
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