Bogdanovic’s last-second jumper leads Kings past Grizzlies

Sacramento Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic acknowledged he didn’t have a very good night against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Until the game’s closing seconds.

Bogdanovic knocked down a 16-footer with just over a second remaining, then tipped the ensuing Memphis inbounds pass to help Sacramento escape with a 94-93 victory Friday night (Saturday in Manila). 

Bogdanovic saved the Kings from blowing a double-digit lead in the final four minutes and salvaged a night where the rookie guard from Serbia was 4 of 11 from the field, including missing all five of his 3-pointers for eight points.

“It felt good, honestly, especially when you have a bad night like I had in terms of trying to find a rhythm on offense,” Bogdanovic said of the final shot, later adding: “I’ve been working on these shots, so sometimes you make it, sometimes not.”

Bogdanovic’s jumper capped a close game between two teams near the bottom of the Western Conference standings — a game that saw four lead changes in the final minute. Dillon Brooks had given Memphis a 93-92 lead 6 seconds before Bogdanovic’s game-winner, and after a corner 3-pointer from Justin Jackson with 17 seconds left.

“I think the guys defended it well,” Memphis interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, adding that both shots were contested, “but you’ve got to give them credit, they made good offensive plays.”

Willie Cauley-Stein led the Kings with 18 points, Buddy Hield finished with 14, and De’Aaron Fox and Jackson each scored 13.

MarShon Brooks had 23 points for Memphis, while Dillon Brooks added 16.

Memphis, which trailed 87-77 with about 4 minutes left, clicked off 10 straight points to tie the game. The teams exchanged leads the rest of the way until Bogdanovic’s winner.

“Not a real pretty game, but the last two minutes were a lot of fun to be part of,” Kings coach Dave Joerger said. “Certainly, it was exciting with both teams making shots. . It was shot-for-shot coming down the stretch.”