by Jonathan Santiago & James Ham
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYd2lZfEz5o]Another flat performance by the Sacramento Kings, who lost to a short-handed Golden State Warriors team, 115-89 at Power Balance Pavilion Tuesday evening.
“Somehow our guys thought that they could just relax and thought that they could possibly win this game (easy),” said Kings head coach Keith Smart following the blowout defeat.
The closing moments of the third quarter sealed the Kings’ fate. In the final 30 seconds, Warriors reserve Brandon Rush converted two 3-point attempts, while Kings rookie Isaiah Thomas committed a costly turnover, resulting in a flagrant foul by Tyreke Evans on a streaking Dorell Wright.
On the heels of a blockbuster trade, the Warriors were led by Rush, David Lee and Nate Robinson, who each scored 17 points. The Kings, meanwhile, were paced by DeMarcus Cousins‘ 26th double-double this season. The Kings center finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the disappointing loss.
The Kings, who fall to 14-28, play their second game in as many nights tomorrow with a match-up against the visiting Detroit Pistons.
Notes and Analysis
- The Warriors put the pedal to the metal and ran over the Kings in the last 3:39 of the third quarter. Leading 71-69, they went on an impressive 13-4 run and took an 84-73 lead into the final frame.
- Brandon Rush is becoming a Kings killer for the Golden State Warriors. The reserve guard scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 24 minutes of action. Rush also hit 5-for-9 from 3-point range, including 3-for-4 during the deciding stretch late in the third quarter.
- DeMarcus Cousins was his typical, dominant self, finishing the game with 19 points and 12 rebounds. He appeared noticeably frustrated with teammates in the fourth quarter as he continued to fight and they seemed to concede.
- The battle of the mini-point guards from Seattle was a fun watch as Nate Robinson and Isaiah Thomas went at each other. Robinson got the win and finished with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Thomas was right behind, finishing with 15 points on 4-for-5 shooting.
- Jason Thompson had nine first quarter rebounds, but played only three more minutes the rest of the way.
- Coach Smart went 13 players deep in the blowout loss. Surprisingly, 12 of those players got in before the fourth quarter began.
- J.J. Hickson returned after missing a handful of games with a bruised lower back and a hip pointer. He was held scoreless in his six minutes of action, but did grab four rebounds.
- Dorell Wright had an uncharacteristic double-double tonight for the Warriors, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Wright killed the Kings in the third quarter, where he dropped 11 points on 3-for-4 from behind the arc.
- Stat of the Night: The Warriors bench scored 47 points on 18-for-29 shooting. The group also hit 6-for-10 from three-point land in the win.
Bonus Videos: Warriors head coach Mark Jackson and point guard Stephen Curry on Golden State’s moves before the trade deadline
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBa1xUhI2JI] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJiajmL6Df0]Follow @Cowbell_Kingdom
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