By Sam Perley, hornets.com
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Result
Looking to kick off their second four-game road trip of the month with a victory, the Hornets won another wild one against the Kings, notching a dramatic 129-128 double-overtime victory on Monday, Jan. 25, in Sacramento. After trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Hornets rallied against the hometown Kings and finished off their third-consecutive victory capped by a game-winning three-point shot from Troy Daniels with just nine seconds remaining in the second overtime. DeMarcus Cousins exploded for a career-high and franchise-record 56 points before fouling out in the Kings’ loss.
Turning Points
With 1:04 remaining in regulation, Kemba Walker knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Hornets a 114-109 lead. The Kings then scored four-consecutive points to draw within one with 27 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. After a Charlotte turnover, DeMarcus Cousins managed to knock two shots from the line to give the Kings a one-point lead with five seconds remaining. On the next Hornets possession, Walker drew a foul on Willie Cauley-Stein with less than a second on the clock but could only hit one of the ensuing free throws, sending the game into overtime.
In the first overtime, Charlotte and Sacramento remained tied at 122 with 33 seconds remaining before Walker managed to draw another foul on Cauley-Stein, hitting both free throws. Cousins matched the two free throws on the other side to draw the game back even with 25 seconds to go in the first overtime. After Walker’s potential game-winner was blocked by Cauley-Stein with a second remaining, Darren Collison turned the ball over on Sacramento’s next possession, forcing a second overtime.
Late in the second overtime, Cauley-Stein threw down a two-handed dunk to put Sacramento up 128-126 with 11 seconds remaining. Following a Hornets timeout, Jeremy Lin inbounded the ball to Troy Daniels, who jacked up a long-distance three-point shot from way behind the arc that found its way through the basket to give Charlotte a one-point lead. Collison’s potential game-winner on Sacramento’s next possession went in and out as the Hornets managed to escape from Sleep Train Arena with a victory and snap the Kings’ five-game winning streak.
Inside the Box Score
Troy Daniels led the Hornets with a career-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting along with seven rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench… Kemba Walker dropped 24 points, four rebounds, eight assists and a team-high four steals… Marvin Williams notched a season-high 21 points, five rebounds and three assists… Spencer Hawes also tallied a season high with 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals… Jeremy Lin recorded his first double-double of the year with 20 points, seven rebounds and a season-high 11 assists… Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins erupted for a career-high 56 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for his 26th double-double of the season, which is ranked tied-for-third overall in the NBA… Rudy Gay finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and two blocks… Darren Collison (15 points) and Omri Casspi (13 points) also scored in double figures for Sacramento… Rajon Rondo flirted with another triple-double, tallying seven points, ten rebounds and a franchise-record-tying 20 assists for his 22nd double-double of the season… Charlotte had just 10 total turnovers while Sacramento finished with 23 total giveaways… The Hornets connected on a franchise-record 20-of-44 attempts from three-point range (45.5 percent) while the Kings made just 7-of-23 shots from long distance (30.4 percent).
Hornets Player of the Game
Troy Daniels put together the best night of his three-year NBA career, finishing with career highs in points (28), rebounds (seven) and made field goals (10) in the Hornets’ victory. Daniels also knocked down a career-high and Hornets’ season-high 8-of-11 attempts from three-point range, including the eventual game-winner with just nine seconds remaining in double overtime.
Kings Player of the Game
DeMarcus Cousins had one of the best performances of any player in the NBA this season, finishing with a career-high 56 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the Sacramento loss. The 56 points by Cousins is the most-ever by a Sacramento Kings player and also the highest total in the NBA this season. This is also the second-consecutive game that Cousins has scored a career high.
Game Notes
Kemba Walker passed Muggsy Bogues for fifth place on Charlotte’s all-time leading scoring list in the fourth quarter (5,531 points)… Jeremy Lamb (toe), Nicolas Batum (toe) and Cody Zeller (shoulder) did not play for the Hornets… Charlotte’s Kemba Walker and Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins were named Eastern Conference and Western Conference Player of the Week, respectively, earlier in the day.
Next Up
The Hornets will take on the Jazz at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27 in Salt Lake City. This game can be seen on FOX Sports Southeast or heard on WFNZ or on the official Charlotte Hornets mobile app.