Tyreke Evans helps Kings rout Nuggets

[January 07, 2011]  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Tyreke Evans had 27 points and a season-high 12 assists to help the Sacramento Kings rout the Denver Nuggets 122-102 on Thursday night.

The Kings had a 23-2 run midway through the second half to build a 21-point lead in their highest-scoring game of the season. They shot 56 percent and gave coach Paul Westphal his 300th career victory.

DeMarcus Cousins scored 20 points, Beno Udrih had 17, Carl Landry 14 and Omri Casspi 13 for the Kings.

Carmelo Anthony had 26 points for Denver. The Nuggets, coming off a 106-93 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, committed 23 turnovers.

Nene added 17 points for Denver, Chauncey Billips had 16 and Al Harrington 15.

Evans, the NBA rookie of the year last season, penetrated on drives to the basket and made 11 of 18 shots, hit all five free throws and added five rebounds.

After ending the third quarter on a 12-2 run, the Kings scored the first 11 points of the fourth. A fast-break dunk by Casspi gave Sacramento a 102-81 lead at the 8:50 mark.

After squandering their entire 14-point halftime lead and allowing Denver to tie it, the Kings ran off 12 straight points late in the third quarter.

Udrih scored eight points and Evans had six in the third to give the Kings a 91-81 lead.

Trailing by 14 points at the half, the Nuggets got going in the third quarter behind Anthony. After a subpar first half, Anthony made all five shots and scored 12 points, including a jumper to tie it at 79.

NOTES: Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker, who grew up in Sacramento, was in attendance with son Darren. ... After a sizable stretch of home games, the Kings go on the road for six straight, starting Sunday in Toronto. ... The biggest ovation of the game probably went to former Kings star Chris Webber, who was announcing the game for TNT.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.