The Sacramento Kings had a standout performance from 2024 draft pick Devin Carter on Tuesday. Unfortunately, it was in a game the Kings may have preferred to lose.
Carter scored a personal best of 24 points in a 114-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers, with 22 points coming in the fourth quarter as the Kings overturned a 10-point deficit. This win put the Kings half a game ahead of the Pacers, who now have the worst record in the NBA, giving them the top spot for the draft lottery.
Devin Carter’s standout fourth quarter
The Kings selected Carter as the 13th pick in the 2024 draft following his time at Providence. However, he missed the first 34 games of the season due to shoulder surgery. Before this season, the Kings signed experienced point guards Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook, which seemed to reflect a lack of confidence in their younger player.
New general manager Scott Perry wasn’t involved in drafting Carter, and there may not be significant investment in the 23-year-old guard. Between November 13 and January 24, Carter participated in only four games. While Schroder and Keon Ellis were traded to Cleveland at the deadline, Carter still finds himself behind Westbrook and fellow 2020 draft pick Killian Hayes, who was signed recently.
Carter’s shooting has struggled, with a career three-point percentage of just 22.7. However, that changed in the fourth quarter, where he made 8 out of 11 shots overall and 3 out of 4 from beyond the arc, having made only nine three-pointers throughout the entire season.