The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BUDDY Hield and the Sacramento Kings have been on the winning side of a series of thrilling finishes recently and have become a legitimate contender for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Kings won their third straight game against a Western Conference opponent Wednesday night (94-93) over the Oklahoma City Thunder as they improved to 11-13 on the season.

With the win, the Kings are now tied for seventh place in the Western Conference standings. Three of the Kings' last four games have been decided by a single point with the other decided by just two possessions.

The Kings suffered a 105-104 overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs in a game where they missed four shots on their final possession of overtime. Two days later, the Kings outlasted the Dallas Mavericks 110-106.

The following night, Nemanja Bjelica made a game-winning three as time expired to defeat the Rockets 119-118.

The run continued last night when Bogdan Bogdonavic made a three pointer with 13.4 seconds left to seal the win over the Thunder.

Hield said the team continues to mature mentally as it fights through adversity.

"We have some tough guys. Guys that are willing to take big shots, miss or make. Luke [Walton] puts us in good situations every night.

"Tonight I had the ball in my hands, but they double-teamed me, passed it to Bogie, he shot faked and made a three. To us, it's always everybody's night. It's about making the right play at the right time. That's what this team is about. We enjoy playing together, having fun and we enjoy each other's success. We'll just take it one step at a time one game at a time," Hield said following the win over the Thunder.

"It shows the resilience we have and the competitive nature of our team. Yeah, we had a tough one in San Antonio and we could have folded. I was pissed off, I tricked off, despite whatever the team says I feel like it was on me. It was just about coming back locked in and staying focused, mental toughness, being together as one - fighting back in that one in Dallas, barely hitting the game winner in Houston, and now coming here with Bogie in a game that we feel we should have won but they played so well and so disciplined led by a guy like CP3, but we have a lot of toughness, a lot of mental focus to be able to pull it out.

The Kings are tied with the Phoenix Suns for the final spot in the conference.

Hield has averaged 24.5 points per game over the course of the last four games.

The Kings are beginning to be healthy at the right time with the return of No.2 overall pick of 2018, Marvin Bagley III.

Bagley III was sidelined with a hand injury since opening night in October.

"Thank God for these wins. The game can come at you in a lot of ways, sometimes there are opportunities where you have to take it and take advantage of it. We had a lot of opportunities and it was fun, fans were into it, we were competing. It was good to see Marvin back out there. He hasn't played in about two months, so that was great, he has to still get back in the regular flow.

"It was a good team win for us no matter how ugly it was, just got to move on to the next," Hield said.

"That's the NBA for you, you have a lot of games that you may not deserve to win and a lot of games you are supposed to win and didn't win. One of those games we were supposed to win, this made up for it. It's better to win than to lose in this league so we'll take it how it comes."

Hield has been one of the lead decision-makers for the Kings over the time period as the team's leading scorer whether he has been hitting clutch shots or assisting as he did against the Thunder.

"I'm a baller man, this what I do every day, like when they call my number - he can tell you sometimes I can get pissed for them not calling my number because I feel like I deserve that.

"But I still have to be a team guy regardless of what the situation is, Luke knows I'm all about winning so whatever call he makes I'm down with it but I like when he calls my number," Hield said. "I like when the game is on the line because I feel like I work so hard and I'm one of the guys that can help us to get a win."

The Kings return to the floor tonight when they face the New York Knicks.