NBA Score: Miami Heat Defeat Sacramento Kings In Ugly Overtime Game

After the game ended, the starting centers for the Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat were asked about the officiating. Both DeMarcus Cousins and Hassan Whiteside were not pleased, as reported by ESPN. The Heat defeated the Kings in overtime by a score of 108-96.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/793650118767456256

Sacramento Kings Starters

The combination of Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins were simply amazing together. The tandem combined for 60 points, 19 rebounds, and five assists against the Miami Heat. They also combined to get to the free throw line 24 times and missed only four of those shots. If the Kings were to get that type of contribution from Gay and Cousins, then Sacramento will win more games than expected.

Sacramento Kings forward Matt Barnes had eight rebounds, two assists, and a steal. However, he struggled mightily with his shot. Barnes missed all seven shots, including five from the outside. That amounted to zero points for the evening.

Starting Kings guard Arron Afflalo provided more on offense than he normally does. He took 17 shots, which was one more than DeMarcus Cousins. Afflalo chipped in with 18 points, which was a nice surprise for the Kings.

Sacramento Kings Bench

In a rather interesting move since it is early in the NBA regular season, new Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger has decided to tighten his rotation. Only four players were utilized off the bench. That is usually something that happens later on in the season and during the NBA Playoffs.

Backup center Kosta Koufos has established himself as the top big man off the bench because he puts a lot of effort into rebounding. Against the Miami Heat, the seven-fo260-poundound player pulled down nine rebounds. An effort like that should keep rookie Skal Labissiere and Willie Cauley-Stein on the bench. Neither of the big men were utilized at all against the Heat.

Miami Heat Starters

Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters came ready to play against the Sacramento Kings. The starting back court for the Miami Heat combined for 45 points. Dragic also chipped in with eight assists, while also spreading the floor by hitting five of his eight shots from the outside. Both Dragic and Waiters also managed to get to the free throw line seven times each.

Miami Heat starting center Hassan Whiteside put up 14 points and 11 rebounds. He has put up much more impressive numbers, but this type of production is pretty good since he is up against DeMarcus Cousins, considered by many to be the best center in the NBA.

Justise Winslow only put up nine points because he missed a dozen of the 15 shots that he took. However, the 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward showed some more of his versatility by dishing out seven assists. Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has decided to give Winslow some opportunities as the lead playmaker for the team. Last season, the former Duke Blue Devils star was utilized as an emergency center.

Luke Babbitt is considered by many to be a temporary starter at the forward position for the Miami Heat. He took nine shots against the Sacramento Kings, and all of them were from beyond the three-point line.

Miami Heat Bench

Off the bench, Tyler Johnson showed glimpses of why the Miami Heat handed him a contract worth approximately $50 million over the summer. The backup guard produced 22 points.

Derrick Williams and Josh McRoberts were hoping that they would be key players off the bench for the Miami Heat, but neither one of the front court players saw their numbers being called by Erik Spoelstra against the Sacramento Kings. There is a good chance that one or the other could be used as trade bait before the NBA deadline hits in February.

[Featured Image by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images]