Cousins, Gay lead Sacramento past Chicago, 103-88
By Associated Press
20 November 2014
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — DeMarcus Cousins had 22 points and 14 rebounds and Rudy Gay scored 20 points to help the Sacramento Kings beat Chicago 103-88 Thursday night, snapping the Bulls’ six-game road winning streak.
Darren Collison had 17 points and 12 assists for the Kings, who took the lead for good in the second quarter. Omri Casspi scored 14 points, Ben McLemore had 11 and Derrick Williams added 10.
Jimmy Butler had 23 points and Taj Gibson, Mike Dunleavy and Aaron Brooks had 12 each for Chicago. Joakim Noah had 10 points and 11 rebound despite foul trouble. The Bulls played the second game of a seven-game road trip, their longest of the season.
Chicago was trying to win its first seven road games for the first time in franchise history. Instead they joined the rest of the league with at least one road loss. The last team to start 7-0 on the road was San Antonio, which won its first eight road games in 2010-11.
The Kings held an 88-77 lead when Cousins left the game with his fifth foul with 7:26 left to play. But the frustrated Bulls could never get closer than eight points.
Sacramento has squandered big leads in its last three losses — Dallas (24), Memphis (26) and New Orleans (12), but outscored the Bulls 23-20 in the fourth.
Chicago played without starters Derrick Rose (strained left hamstring) and Pau Gasol (strained left calf) for the second straight game.
Noah picked up his fifth foul at the 4:30 mark of the third quarter after fighting for rebound against Cousins. An incensed Noah stormed to the bench after also being called for a technical.
The Kings promptly went on an 11-1 run to build a 13-point lead.
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TIP INS
Bulls: Rose was running sprints at Thursday’s shootaround, but watched the game in street clothes with Gasol. Rose has missed seven of the Bulls’ 12 games. . Heinrich was called for a technical in the first quarter following an encounter with Cousins after making a basket.
Kings: Ex-Kings standouts Mike Bibby and Chris Webber were introduced to the crowd along with video clips as part of the team honoring its “legends.” Webber was the color commentator for the TNT-televised game and Bibby sat courtside. . The Kings outscored the Bulls 30-18 in the second quarter and held a 28-21 advantage in the third..
UP NEXT
Bulls: At Portland on Friday night.
Kings: At Minnesota on Saturday night.
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