|
 "We got too relaxed," forward DeMarcus Cousins said after the Kings
nearly let a 19-point lead get away before holding on for a 99-97
victory over the New York Knicks at Sleep Train Arena on Thursday.
"We got way too relaxed."
Cousins finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds, but his tight
defense on Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony as time ran down made the
difference. Anthony's 3-point attempt from near the top of the arc
clanged off the rim.
Sacramento led 74-55 with 3:11 left in the third quarter after guard
Ben McLemore's layup. However, New York closed the quarter with a
10-2 run, then began the fourth by outscoring the Kings 20-12 to
close the gap to 88-85.
A dunk by guard Rajon Rondo and Cousins' layup built the lead back
to seven, and Sacramento survived turnovers by Cousins and guard
Darren Collison in the final 2:25 to hold on.
The Kings (9-15) won their second straight, and they came out on top
for the fifth time in their past six home games.
Cousins believes the Kings are gaining momentum.
"We're getting to the point where we're not making the same
mistakes," he said, "and if we do make those mistakes, we recognize
it early."
Rondo finished with 16 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds. His
dribble-drive along the baseline that he capped with a ferocious
dunk may have been the biggest basket of the game, as it boosted the
Kings' lead to 93-88.
Rondo fell one rebound shy of his fifth triple-double of the season
on a night when former Kings forward Chris Webber was in the area
serving as a color analyst for TNT's national broadcast. Rondo's
four triple-doubles trail Webber's total of five in 1999-2000 for
the most in a single season for Sacramento.
"I think he's generally pretty good. What about you?" Kings forward
Omri Casspi said. "I just enjoy every single second being out there
with him. He's fun to play with."
Casspi added 11 points in his career-best eighth straight
double-digit scoring game for Sacramento. A 56 percent foul shooter
this season, he canned two free throws with 24.5 seconds left for a
97-93 lead. Collison, who finished with 16 points off the bench,
made two free throws with 15.7 seconds left before his turnover gave
New York one final try.
"You want to take the best shot available, and you want the ball in
your player's best hands," Knicks coach Derek Fisher said of
Anthony's final attempt. "It just didn't fall."
[to top of second column] |
Anthony finished with 23 points, his best output in four games for
New York (10-14), and he added 14 rebounds. He made eight of 21
shots and produced his highest-scoring since a 28-point effort
against Brooklyn on Dec. 4. He scored at least 20 points for only
the second time in his past seven games.
The 13-year veteran seemed to draw his coach's ire during New York's
106-85 loss at Utah on Wednesday, when his 12-point, five-rebound,
four-turnover performance led Fisher to hint that he would change
his starting lineup.
Instead, Fisher kept his starting five together, and they navigated
the first 7 1/2 minutes with a 12-11 lead. However, Sacramento used
a 13-4 run to end the period and eventually built a 41-29 lead in
the first half.
"That's the type of effort, intensity and desire we have to have
from the start," Fisher said, while not singling out Anthony.
"Tonight, we had it, and it wasn't good enough. You don't enjoy
losing, but we'll look at this game, and this is how we have to
empty ourselves with effort every night. ... That was the type of
effort that professionals are supposed to put out."
Guard Arron Afflalo scored 14 points, and rookie forward Kristaps
Porzingis added 13 for New York, which fell for the fourth game in a
row and the eighth time in 10.
NOTES: New York has used just four starting lineups in its first 24
games, with C Robin Lopez, G Jose Calderon and rookie F Kristaps
Porzingis starting each time. The Knicks haven't shaken up their
starting five since Nov. 14, a string of 15 games. ... Sacramento
started C DeMarcus Cousins, F Rudy Gay, F Omri Casspi, G Rajon Rondo
and G Ben McLemore for the fourth consecutive contest, the longest
stretch coach George Karl has used a single starting lineup. Casspi
was inserted into the lineup after C Willie Cauley-Stein dislocated
his right index finger against Boston on Dec. 3. ... Knicks GM Steve
Mills is traveling with the team on its three-game trip, fueling
speculation that New York will make moves to shake up the roster
before Tuesday's trade deadline. ... The Kings will not play again
until Tuesday, a four-day break that is their longest of the season
aside from the All-Star break.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
