Lame Kings Run Over by Pistons
By Nick Avila
The Sacramento Kings wrapped up their four-game road trip in Detroit to face the Pistons and the Kings fell short. Some lacking of effort as the game went on didn’t help the Kings (14-20) any as they fell to the Pistons (10-23) 114-95. DeMarcus Cousins, as well as the entire team, had spurts of energy paired with minutes of laziness as he still put up 18 and 15. Rudy Gay had 12 points on 5 of 16 shooting as he and the Kings’ offense struggled.[tag-related tag=’sacramento kings’]
Brandon Jennings dropped 35 points on the Kings as the team couldn’t find an answer for the veteran. The Kings only hit three three-pointers as the Pistons netted 12. The Kings defense gave up over 100 points for what seems to be the hundredth time of the season.
A Darren Collison basket would get the Kings on the board to start the game, but the Pistons answered back with four points of their own. The Kings then scored the next seven points capped by a Jason Thompson dunk and-one.
The Pistons tied the game up at 11 after a Kyle Singler trey.
An up and down first quarter for both teams which had multiple lead changes ended with the Pistons up two, 24-22. The Kings and Pistons both ended the period shooting sub-40%.
In the second quarter Jodie Meeks took advantage of Nik Stauskas guarding him and dropped eight points in the first six minutes. Anthony Tolliver knocked down a three for the Pistons to stretch Detroit’s lead to 10.
The Pistons grabbed a 16-point lead after knocking down a pair of threes, due in large to lack of effort from the Kings on the defensive end. However, the Kings trimmed the lead to nine with a 7-0 run.
At half, the Kings had eight assists to go along with eight turnovers. Cousins led the Kings with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists but also gave up three turnovers and was a -10 while on the floor. Defensively, Cousins wasn’t a factor. The Pistons hit six threes while the Kings went 0/6 from beyond the arc.
In the third period the Kings were able to cut the lead to four, but after going back-and-forth, the Pistons regained control and extended their lead back to nine with over six minutes to play.
The Kings ended the period down six to the Pistons.
The Kings kept the game close for the start of the final period but more fourth-quarter struggling would doom the Kings.
The Kings face the Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Wednesday.