Devin Carter's explosive fourth-quarter performance ignites Sacramento Kings' comeback win, proving his readiness for a larger role.
Devin Carter exploded in the Sacramento Kings' 114-109 win over the Indiana Pacers (15-50) on Tuesday night, scoring 22 of his career-high 24 points in the fourth quarter.
"Just trying to make my mark as best as I can when I get the opportunity," the second-year guard told reporters following the win.
Carter saw no action in the first half of Tuesday's game, but stayed ready, showcasing a combination of 3-point shooting and driving ability en route to a 22-point fourth quarter.
The former first-round pick (13th overall) out of Providence started off the quarter by crashing the glass for an and-one put-back lay-up. Carter made four more inside shots before stepping beyond the arc, nailing three consecutive deep balls to seal the Kings' victory.
Sacramento (16-50) entered the fourth quarter trailing by double digits, but caught fire with Carter's performance, outscoring Indiana 42-27.
The win marks two straight victories since veteran guard Russell Westbrook's viral media rant and the first Kings win streak since mid-January.
Carter has averaged just 6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season, but had a strong February, upping his averages to 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
Carter's efficient 3-point shooting Tuesday is promising, as he came into the game making just three of his last 36 attempts from deep. He will need to continue this efficiency, as his average has dropped below 20-percent on the season.
He addressed his inefficiency following Tuesday's victory.
"You know, I get a lot of shots up. Obviously, I haven't been shooting the way I know I can shoot this season," Carter said. "But, I try not to lose the confidence and I hope it showed tonight."
The Kings selected Carter at No. 13 overall in the 2024 in the wake of his Big East Player of the Year season at Providence. Carter spent his freshman season at South Carolina, earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors before transferring to Providence for two seasons.
Carter led the conference in scoring in the 2023-2024 season, averaging 19.7 points per game while leading the Friars to a 20-win season, including two Big East Tournament victories.
Carter's recent play is reason for his increased minutes and shot volume to continue. The Kings are back in action Wednesday, hosting the Charlotte Hornets (33-33) at 9 p.m. ET.
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