Cousins, Kings win 3rd straight, 107-90 over Suns

[October 18, 2013]  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- DeMarcus Cousins had 29 points, nine rebounds and six steals to lead the Sacramento Kings to their third straight preseason win, a 107-90 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.

Cousins had another dominant first half with 23 points and seven rebounds, helping the Kings (3-1) take a 56-50 lead. In a victory over the Clippers on Monday, Cousins had 25 of his 31 points in the opening half.

Cousins made 8 of 15 shots, 13 of 18 free throws, and three assists in 27 minutes. He didn't play in the final 15 minutes.

Jimmer Fredette started for the Kings made five 3-pointers, scoring 21 of his 23 points in the second half. Both John Salmons and Greivis Vaquez had 10 points.

Markieff Morris scored 15 points for the Suns (3-2), who opened the preseason with three straight victories. Marcin Gortat and Eric Bledsoe had 12 points apiece and Shannon Brown added 11.

Suns point guard Goran Dragic was injured early in the third quarter. He was helped off the court and with a left ankle sprain and sat out the remainder of the game.

Both teams are playing with rookie head coaches. Jeff Hornacek hopes to improve a Suns team that dropped 57 games a year ago, while Michael Malone inherits a Sacramento team that went 28-54 last season.

[Associated Press]

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