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Domantas Sabonis · Longtime supporters of the purple-and-black might reason that it wasn’t a matter of “if,” but rather “when” the Sacramento Kings would reach the inevitable point of the season in which their late-game excellence would be tested. Perfectly equipped to withstand the challenge with two different Clutch Player of the Year finalists in the backcourt, Sacramento would find that on November 4, 2024, crunchtime heroics would arrive through a different All-Star. Initially blending in, and awaiting the result of his cold-blooded backcourt mate’s go-ahead shot attempt, Domantas Sabonis makes himself a must-see, escaping a crowded, seven-player fray with a tenacious rebound before burying a one-legged game-winner in the same motion. Leaving blood, sweat, and tears at Kaseya Center — almost literally — Sabonis adjusted flawlessly to the game’s physicality, helping Sacramento overcome a 13-point second half hole to cool the Miami Heat for a fifth win in six games. By evening’s end, the always-versatile Sabonis concluded with 16 points (on 6-of-12) shooting, 16 rebounds, seven assists, two 3-pointers, and a game-high +8 plus-minus. · State of Mint