Kings beat Hornets 125-102 to maintain hold on 10th spot in the West

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Zach LaVine had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Domantas Sabonis added 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and the Sacramento Kings rolled past the Charlotte Hornets 125-102 on Friday night to remain in 10th place in the Western Conference standings.

DeMar DeRozan added 22 points to help the Kings win for only the second time in their last nine games.

Sabonis was on pace for his 68th career triple-double before leaving the game with three minutes left in the third quarter after taking a knee to his right thigh. He did not return for his normal rotation in the third quarter with the Kings well in control and the team did not announce any injury.

Miles Bridges had 22 points, and Moussa Diabate added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets.

The Kings held a 1/2-game lead over Phoenix Suns for the final spot in the play-in tournament entering the game and wasted little time with the injury-riddled Hornets. Sacramento built a 19-point lead at halftime behind Sabonis, who had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists at the break.

Kings: Malik Monk scored 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting off the bench against his former team.

Hornets: Bridges was the only opening night starter still on the floor for Charlotte. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller have already been ruled out for the season, and were joined on the bench by Mark Williams (thoracic muscle spasms) and Josh Green (shoulder soreness).

After falling behind 10-4 early, the Kings closed the first quarter on a 22-8 run to take control of the game and were never seriously challenged again.

Charlotte's starters were 5 of 24 from 3-point range.

Both teams are in action Sunday with the Kings visiting the Cavaliers and the Hornets hosting the Bulls.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Charlotte Hornets forward Taj Gibson reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun looks to shoot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges brings the ball upcourt during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Charlotte Hornets guard Jaylen Sims brings the ball upcourt during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Charlotte Hornets guard Seth Curry (30) drives to the basket while guarded by Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate, right, fouls Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) brings the ball upcourt while guarded by Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 4, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

NASHVILLE (AP) — Rivers rose and flooding worsened Sunday across the U.S. South and Midwest, threatening communities already waterlogged and badly damaged by days of heavy rain and wind that killed at least 18 people.

From Texas to Ohio, utilities scrambled to shut off power and gas, while cities closed roads and deployed sandbags to protect homes and businesses.

In Kentucky, downtown Frankfort, the state's capital, was inundated.

“As long as I’ve been alive — and I’m 52 — this is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” said Wendy Quire, the general manager at the Brown Barrel restaurant.

As the swollen Kentucky River kept rising on Sunday, officials closed roads and turned off power and gas to businesses in the city built around it, Quire said. “The rain just won’t stop. It’s been nonstop for days and days,” she said.

Forecasters warned that flooding could persist for days, as torrential rains lingered over many states, including Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. Tornadoes are possible in Alabama, Georgia and Florida, forecasters said.

The 18 reported deaths since the start of the storms on Wednesday included 10 in Tennessee. A 9-year-old boy in Kentucky was caught up in floodwaters while walking to catch his school bus. A 5-year-old boy in Arkansas died after a tree fell on his family’s home and trapped him, police said. A 16-year-old volunteer in Missouri firefighter died in a crash while seeking to rescue people caught in the storm.

The National Weather Service said on Sunday dozens of locations in multiple states were expected to reach a “major flood stage,” with extensive flooding of structures, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure possible.

There were 521 domestic and international flights cancelled within the U.S. and more than 6,400 delayed on Saturday, according to FlightAware.com, which reported 74 cancellations and 478 delays of U.S. flights early Sunday.

The storms come after the Trump administration has cut jobs at NWS forecast offices, leaving half of them with vacancy rates of about 20%, or double the level of a decade ago.

Officials warned of flash flooding and tornadoes Saturday across Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. All of eastern Kentucky was under a flood watch through Sunday morning.

In north-central Kentucky, emergency officials ordered a mandatory evacuation for Falmouth and Butler, towns near the bend of the rising Licking River. Thirty years ago, the river reached a record 50 feet (15 meters), resulting in five deaths and 1,000 homes destroyed.

The NWS said 5.06 inches (nearly 13 centimeters) of rain fell Saturday in Jonesboro, Arkansas — making it the wettest day ever recorded in April in the city, dating back to 1893.

As of early Sunday, Memphis had received 14 inches (35 centimeters) of rain since Wednesday, the NWS said. West Memphis, Arkansas, received 10 inches (25 centimeters).

Forecasters attributed the violent weather to warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong winds and abundant moisture streaming from the Gulf.

In Dyersburg, Tennessee, dozens of people arrived Saturday at a storm shelter near a public school in the rain, clutching blankets, pillows and other necessities.

Among them was George Manns, 77, who said he was in his apartment when he heard a tornado warning and decided to head to the shelter. Just days earlier the city was hit by a tornado that caused millions of dollars in damage.

“I grabbed all my stuff and came here,” said Mann, who brought a folding chair, two bags of toiletries, laptops, iPads and medications: “I don’t leave them in my apartment in case my apartment is destroyed. I have to make sure I have them with me.”

Izaguirre reported from New York. Associated Press writers Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky, Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas; Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, and Sophia Tareen in Chicago, contributed to this report.

Road crews work to clear Lee County Rd. 681 in Saltillo, Miss, Sunday, April 6, 2025, of downed trees that blocked the road following the severe weather that passed through the area Saturday night. (Thomas Wells /The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)

A flooded building is seen near the banks fo the Kentucky River on Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Frankfort, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

CORRECTS TO MICHAEL NOT MICHALE Michael Scott Memering looks out of his trailer after evacuating the Licking River RV Campground that was flooded by the rising waters of the Licking River, seen behind, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Falmouth, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A pair of beekeepers rescue a hive from a downed tree Sunday, April 6, 2025 in Tupelo, Miss., along Birmingham Ridge Road following Saturday severe weather that passed through North Mississippi. (Thomas Wells /The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)

Bill Jones loads boxes of bourbon bottles into his boat from a flooded home on Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Frankfort, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A mailbox secured to a utility pole is surrounded by the rising Licking River, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Falmouth, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Residential streets are flooded by the rising Licking River, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Falmouth, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An Owen County Search and Rescue vessel passes by the flooded community of Monterey, Ky., on Sunday, April 6, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)

An Owen County Search and Rescue vessel passes by the flooded community of Monterey, Ky., on Sunday, April 6, 2025. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)

Kris Searcy and her dog, Nash, walk through flood waters on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Fog rolls in over a flooded road near the banks of the Kentucky River on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Frankfort, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A flooded home is seen from the banks of the Ohio River on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A resident is brought to dry land by boat after being rescued from flood waters by emergency responders from the Benton, Conway and Shannon Hills fire departments and the Pulaski County Emergency Management team in Shannon Hills, Ark., Saturday, April 5, 2025, as a second day of storms brought widespread flooding to the region. (Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)

Floodwaters enter a garage in a home on the banks of the Ohio River on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Pendleton County personnel use a boat to cross Max Goldberg Park after cutting power from a utility pole as the rising Licking River overflows its banks, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Falmouth, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Carole Smith walks through her flooded home on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Frankfort, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Floodwaters inundate homes and vehicles in Shannon Hills, Ark., Saturday, April 5, 2025, as a second day of storms brought widespread flooding to the region. (Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)

An aerial view of debris floating down the Kentucky River as vehicles drive over a bridge Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Frankfort, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Vehicles go around a downed tree on Cooper Street as heavy rain falls, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian via AP)

A car is stuck in floodwaters near the corner of Cowden Street and Tanglewood Avenue as heavy rain falls, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian via AP)

The rising waters of the Licking River touch the basketball hoop at Max Goldberg Park, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Falmouth, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)