Monk, Fox lead Kings past Warriors to force Game 7 back in Sacramento

Malik Monk scored 28 points, De’Aaron Fox added 26 points and 11 assists, and the visiting Sacramento Kings staved off elimination in their first-round playoff series by beating Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors 118-99 on Friday night in Game 6.

Now, a winner-takes-all Game 7 is back in Sacramento on Sunday afternoon.

Kevin Huerter, struggling with his shot all series — 20 of 52 coming into the game — hit a three with 6:23 to go and another with 4:58 left as Sacramento gave the state capital one more chance to Light the Beam.

Curry scored 29, Klay Thompson 22 and Kevon Looney pulled down 13 more rebounds to give him an NBA-leading 85 this post-season. He was coming off a career-high 22 rebounds in a Game 5 win at Golden 1 Center.

Andrew Wiggins of Thornhill, Ont., had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors.

The Kings led 90-80 heading into the final 12 minutes. Curry hit an early three, only for Trey Lyles to connect moments later. When Curry drove for a layup the next possession, Monk made one of his own.

Curry’s three with 9:28 left got Golden State within 99-89 before Fox hit.

Lakers eliminate Grizzlies with dominant Game 6 win

Anthony Davis had 16 points and 14 rebounds while blocking five shots in a spectacular defensive performance, D’Angelo Russell scored a career playoff-high 31 points and the Los Angeles Lakers completed their first-round upset of the Memphis Grizzlies with a 125-85 victory in Game 6 on Friday night.

The Lakers won all three of their home games in the series, and the final victory was a scary demonstration of their capabilities when James and Davis are both healthy. Davis’s imposing defensive presence largely shut down Memphis’ offence in Game 6, while Russell’s five three-pointers highlighted an impressive offensive effort from a late-blooming team with championship aspirations.

The Lakers took a 20-point lead in the first half and went up by 36 in the third quarter before coasting to victory before superfan Jack Nicholson and a roaring crowd. James and Davis even got to sit out the entire fourth quarter, preserving their legs for the second round.

The Lakers had to win a play-in game just to reach a playoff series, although this star-studded team is no ordinary seventh seed. Los Angeles opens its next series on the road Tuesday against the winner of Sunday’s Game 7 between Sacramento and defending champion Golden State.

Ja Morant scored 10 points on three-of-16 shooting for the visiting Grizzlies, who won 107 games and two Southwest Division titles in the past two seasons, but just one playoff series.

Mississauga, Ont., native Dillon Brooks, the Memphis agitator who dismissed James as “old” after Game 2 and then got ejected from Game 3 for striking James in the groin, finished a dismal series performance with 10 points in Game 6 while Lakers fans booed his every move.