Notes: Sacramento Kings Get Much Needed Win In Philly

The final game before the All-Star break was all about the Sacramento Kings looking to finish the first half of the season out on a positive note in Philadelphia. They were successful in winning the game 114-110.

Notable performances last night for the Kings were DeMarcus Cousins with 28 points and 12 rebounds, Rajon Rondo with 14 points and 15 assists, and Darren Collison with 25 points.

The first quarter saw the Kings continue to have defensive woes, making the Philadelphia 76ers’ perimeter shooting look like that of the Golden State Warriors. Marco Bellinelli had a strong start to the first quarter as he was looking to leave his shooting woes in the first half of the season.

A strong start by both Rudy Gay and Willie Cauley-Stein as well kept the Kings from being in a deep hole after the first quarter. After being down by 9 early, the Kings clawed their way back and were only down by 6 at the end of the first. Sacramento Kings 24, Philadelphia 76ers 30.

More from Kings News

The second quarter began with the Kings allowing the 76ers to continue to shoot at will. The Kings held in tough only being down by 8 after a few minutes into the 2nd quarter. The second quarter has been a quarter that has given the Kings problems this season.

The Kings normally give up the most amount of points this quarter while scoring the fewest. This game, however, this was not the case. The Kings played good defense in the second quarter, not allowing a field goal for 4:30 allowing them to tie the game at 38 apiece. But then, the Kings remembered who they are, and began to play like the Kings.

They were down eleven with 2:30 left to play in the half. After fighting all the way back and being tied half way through the 2nd quarter, the Kings had made a 15 point hole for themselves. At the half, Sacramento Kings 48, Philadelphia 76ers 63.

The second half began with the Kings trying to come out and cut the lead early, it didn’t work. The Kings were still plagued with perimeter defense. Half way through the third quarter the Kings trailed by 12. The Kings did try something new for the first time this season.

George Karl made some defensive adjustments that saw Quincy Acy getting more minutes in the third quarter. Also, Willie Cauley-Stein looked a little shaken up earlier in the game, and he had an ice pack on his shoulder during the third quarter.

The Kings fluctuated between being down by as little as 8 points and by as much as 17 points during the quarter. After three-quarters, the Kings were down by 12. Sacramento Kings 75, Philadelphia 76ers 87.

The beginning of fourth quarters have been good for the Kings all season long, and this game was no different. The Kings after being down by 12 going into the fourth cut the lead down to 5 with 8:14 remaining in the fourth.

The biggest factor was that the Kings finally got their 3 point shots to fall before the fourth quarter the Kings were 1 for 12 from three-point range. With 5:17 remaining in the fourth the Kings were behind by 6. The Kings kept fighting and found a spark in Darren Collison. With 2:47 left in the game the Sacramento Kings were down by only 1 thanks to the hot hand of Collison and the playmaking ability of Rajon Rondo.

The Kings continued to fight, matching blow for blow until finally they wore the young 76ers squad down and took the lead. The Sacramento Kings came back from 17 down to have a 5 point lead with 36 seconds left.

More from A Royal Pain

A quick foul by Rudy Gay gave Robert Covington two chances at the line. The first one: falls. The second one: finds its way into the basket. Kings up by three with 35 seconds left. On offense, the Kings gave the ball to the one person they could trust, DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins became surrounded upon receiving the pass from Rondo and lost the ball which led to an immediate timeout by the 76ers with 14 seconds left. The 76ers were down by three with 14 seconds left, but a foul by the Kings gave the 76ers the chance of only being down by one if both free throws fell for Ish Smith.

First free throw: misses. Second free throw: buckets. The 76ers were down by 2. The only thing they could do was foul, but they fouled the wrong person, Darren Collison. He knocked down both which would be enough to preserve the win for the Kings. Final Score: Sacramento Kings 114, Philadelphia 76ers 110.

Home/Kings News