Gay, Career-Night from Stauskas Lead Kings Past Jazz

Rudy Gay and Nik Stauskas were the stars of the night as the Sacramento Kings (11-10) topped the Utah Jazz (5-16) 101-92, as they were able to keep from falling below .500%.

With DeMarcus Cousins rumored to possibly be out until January, the Kings were able to find a way to win without the big guy. With a team-on-my-back fourth-quarter performance from Gay, who finished with 29 points, and what hopes to be a breakout game from Stauskas, 15 points and eight rebounds (career highs in both), the Kings were able to hang on to their fourth quarter lead.

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Darren Collison added 16 points and six assists and Reggie Evans, in his first start of the season, did all the dirty work on his way to a six point-13 rebound performance in a game that could have gone either way.

As the Kings started the game it seemed they made it a point to get to the rim, with eight of their first 10 points coming from inside the paint as they got off to a 10-5 lead on the Jazz. But some good defense from the Jazz, a couple second chance baskets and attacking put the Jazz up 17-14 about halfway through the first.

The Jazz rolled to end the quarter up eight as Gordon Heyward and the rest of the Jazz were able to score at will, posting an almost 60% FG% in the period.

In the second quarter, the Kings bench would finally earn their paychecks as they trimmed the lead down to four prior to Gay and Collison returning to the game. Stauskas was a key part of the production with seven points in his first half appearance.

From there, the Kings would take hold of the momentum and close out the quarter with an 11-2 run. The Kings pushed out to a 55-49 halftime lead with Gay’s 13 points and Collison’s 10 leading the way.

The Kings only allowed 18 points in the second quarter to the Jazz. 10 Kings played in the first half and nine score, with Ryan Hollins being the only non-scorer. The Kings also had seven steals at the break.

Gay kept his scoring coming after the break, but the Kings defense allowed the Jazz to cut the lead to two with just four minutes off the clock to begin the third. As the quarter progressed the Kings and Jazz would go back and forth with buckets as the lead stayed put at two for the most part as both teams struggled with turnovers.

The Jazz snatched the lead late in the period on a Rudy Gobert put-back as the two teams went back and forth, with the Kings having ugly possessions and both teams missing open shots. The game would be tied at 68 at the end of the third, after a quarter where Jazz outscored the Kings 19-13.

The Kings took advantage of missed Jazz shots to begin the fourth, going on a 12-2 run, highlighted by threes from Derrick Williams and Stauskas and a sweet Evans assist to Jason Thompson, to take a 80-70 lead.

But the Jazz would cut into the lead to make it 80-77. The Kings, however, would answer back to stretch the lead to 10. The Jazz would finally knock a three down to respond, but Collison would get fouled and head to the line. After making both, the Kings owned a 91-82 lead with under three minutes to play. From there, the Kings would hang on to get their second win of the season without Cousins.

The Kings head to LA for the back-end of a double header against the Los Angeles Lakers.