Cousins, Kings Prevent Collapse, Prevail Over Knicks
By Nick Avila
264 combined points between the Sacramento Kings (13-17) and the New York Knicks (5-27) ended in favor of the Kings in overtime. DeMarcus Cousins capped off a beast-like 39-point, 11-rebound, four assist performance with a slam dunk that brought the sell-out crowd at Sleep Train Arena to their feet. Cousins only played 32 minutes due to foul trouble.
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The Kings blew a five-point lead late in the fourth but were able to hold off the Knicks in OT. Rudy Gay finished with 29 points and Darren Collison put up 27 points and 10 assists. Collison also knocked down a huge three in overtime to break a 126 tie and the Kings didn’t look back as they won 135-129.
Carmelo Anthony dropped 36 points for the Knicks. The Kings finished with three key numbers, shooting 55% from the field, 50% from three and 88% from the free-throw line.
After missing last night’s game due to a stomach flu, Cousins made his presence felt, scoring 15 points in the first period to help the Kings get off to a 38-27 lead at the end of one. Included in the 15 was a Boogie three-pointer; it was his first of the year. Gay added 15 in the quarter too.
The Knicks cut the lead to six multiple times in the second, but at the end of two, the Kings led by nine as Collison knocked down a deep three at the buzzer. The three really kept the Knicks from taking any momentum into the half.
After picking up his third and fourth fouls in the first three minutes of the third, Cousins was forced to the bench. Gay scored eight points in the quarter and helped the Kings keep their nine point advantage.
In the fourth quarter the Kings once again put themselves in a terrible position, allowing the Knicks to tie up the game with 20 seconds left after holding a nine point lead with under three minutes left.
Gay had a chance to win the game for the Kings at the end of the fourth but was stripped by Anthony. The game then headed to overtime.
The Kings shot 6 for 9 in OT on their way to the victory.
The Kings head for the east coast next, and face the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.