Game 22 Notes: Sacramento Kings End Three Game Skid Against Utah Jazz

facebooktwitterreddit

The Sacramento Kings (8-15) snapped a three game skid and started off a three game home stand with a win against the Utah Jazz (9-10) last night, 114-106.

Notable game highlights are:

  • DeMarcus Cousins dug himself out of a two game slump with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.
  • Rudy Gay went 10 for 13 shooting also with 23 points.
  • It was a third straight start for Omri Casspi who had 19 points, 10 rebounds.
  • Rajon Rondo had 13 assists, his third straight game with 10+ dimes.
  • The Kings dominated the battle under the rim, with 58 points in the paint compared to Utah’s 30

    Sacramento shot 55.8 percent

    More from Kings News

    The Kings came out aggressive, leading early on 12-2, and leading by the end of the first quarter 33-22.

    DeMarcus Cousins bounced back from a recent scoring drought, but he still seems to be playing with some pain in his back and ankle. Shooting 24.5 percent the last three games, Cousins made 8 of 14 shots last night.

    One bad stat for the Kings: Cousins and Rondo combined for 11 of the Kings 15 turnovers.

    With 10:41 left to play the Jazz closed in on the Kings making it 86-84. After a George Karl timeout the Kings responded with a 16-6 run putting Sacramento up for good.

    Alec Burks and Gordon Hayward tallied 18 points each for Utah. Rodney Hood finished with 17 points, including five 3-pointers.

    More from A Royal Pain

    Utah was missing Rudy Gobert’s defensive play last night. The Frenchman was out with a MCL sprain.

    Omri Casspi has played well coming off the bench when matched up with the Kings starting lineup. With Willie Cauley-Stein out with an injury for the next month, Omri is likely to be starting in the foreseeable future.

    Late in the fourth quarter the Jazz intentionally fouled Rajon Rondo, but since it was under 2 minutes to play George Karl could pick any player on the Kings to shoot the free-throws. Karl decided to stick with Rajon, who notoriously struggles from the line.  Rondo made his shots and gave a noticeable thank you to Sacramento’s head coach.

    The next opponents the Kings will face is the New York Knicks Thursday night on TNT. Hopefully the Kings can carry momentum from last night onto the national stage.