In what seems to be a trend for the Kings, Sactown fell behind by double digits in the first half of Sunday’s contest. As usual during the team’s current winning streak, the Kings fought back, not allowing the Pelicans 13-point advantage to balloon after halftime.
DeMarcus Cousins and Darren Collison combined for 30 first half points, while Matt Barnes added 10. The turning point of the game occurred as Sacramento finished the second quarter on a 16-6 run, cutting the 13-point deficit to just three following a Collison buzzer-beater to end the half.
The momentum gained from No. 7’s floater carried over to the third period, as Sacramento scored 13 unanswered to pull ahead by 10. Leading the charge was Ben McLemore, who hit back-to-back threes to push the team forward. McLemore’s hot shooting marks the third-consecutive game in which the shooting guard has hit three or more threes. It was also the fifth game in six outings where No. 23 has totaled double digits. While the Pelicans were able to pull within three, the Kings closed the door on any comeback attempt in the fourth.
Playing four reserves to open the final frame, the play of Willie Cauley-Stein, Malachi Richardson, Matt Barnes and Anthony Tolliver allowed the Kings to build a lead as large as eight halfway through the period. Cousins and company finished out the contest, earning the team its third consecutive win and wrapping up the homestand with a 4-2 record.
“Since I’ve been here, this is definitely, probably the best we’ve played as a team,” Collison said when asked about the team’s play of late following the game. “I thought we played really well on the road. There were just some games that we let slip, that we didn’t win, but I feel like if we continue to play with that same effort and play together, we’ll be alright.
“But we’re starting to figure it out,” the veteran guard added. “We have some guys here that are making our job a lot easier. Signings like Arron, Matt - those guys are making our job a lot easier because they know how to play the game.”
Collison finished with 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds while Cousins added 28 points, 14 boards and seven assists.
The Kings have two games remaining until the All-Star Break. They face the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Tuesday.
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