Cousins, Gay Help Kings Hold Off Raptors
DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Rudy Gay added 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Sacramento Kings held off the Toronto Raptors in the fourth quarter for a 109-101 victory Wednesday night.
The Kings led by 20 points going into the final quarter, when Toronto got going offensively and cut the lead to five points with under a minute to play. But the Kings converted six free throws in the final minute to seal their second straight victory after losing seven straight.
Kyle Lowry had 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Raptors, who had won four of their last five. Demar DeRozan scored 18 points, Patrick Patterson 14 and Steve Novak 12, all in the fourth quarter.
The game was the first meeting since the two teams made a seven-player trade on Dec. 9 that brought Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to Sacramento in exchange for Patterson, John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez and Chuck Hayes.
DeRozan, who entered the game averaging 22 points, shot 5 of 17. He added six rebounds and four assists.
Isaiah Thomas added 23 points for the Kings and guard Marcus Thornton had 12, all in the first half.
Thornton hit the floor hard at the offensive end late in the second quarter and didn't return. He bruised hip and knee in the fall, but X-rays were negative.
Lowry appeared to hit a 3-pointer and fell to the floor, expecting a foul with 26 seconds left and the Raptors trailing by seven points.
But Lowry was called for an offensive foul, negating the basket.
Lowry ran down court after the call and a few choice words earned the Raptors point guard a second technical foul in the game and an ejection.
The trade has worked well for both teams. Since the shake-up, the Raptors have compiled an 18-11 record and own the third best record in the Eastern Conference. They had an 8-12 record before the deal.
Gay has thrived in his role as a key figure offensively. The versatile forward has averaged 20.7 points and shot 53 percent in his first 25 games with the Kings. Gay wasn't nearly as effective with the Raptors, shooting just under 39 percent in his second season in Toronto.
In attendance was Adam Silver, who became the NBA's fifth commissioner after taking over for David Stern on Saturday. Silver, 51, has spent more than two decades in various NBA management roles, including deputy commissioner since 2006.
Silver, who drew a standing ovation when introduced to the sellout crowd, will have a short stay in Sacramento. Before the game, Silver toured Sacramento's planned downtown arena and sat with the Kings' new ownership group during a portion of the game.
It was the second game back for Cousins, who had Cousins 25 points and 16 rebounds Monday in a win over the Chicago Bulls. He missed the previous six games with a sprained ankle.
Trailing by 20 points entering the fourth, the Raptors almost cut the lead in half on a pair of 3s by Steve Novak. His added another 3-pointer several minutes later and Vasquez hit one as well, trimming the Sacramento lead to 98-93 with just over three minutes to play.
Sacramento continued to play well offensively in the third quarter, when they outscored the Raptors 25-20. Cousins had eight points and Thomas had seven for the Kings, who led 92-72.
It was a dominating first half for the Kings, who led 67-52. Gay and Thornton both had 12 points and Cousins and Thomas had 11.Sacramento made 23 of 28 free throws in the opening half.
NOTES: The Kings played without reserve forward Derrick Williams, who was out with a strained right foot. ... Despite shooting 37.5 percent in the first quarter, Sacramento still led 30-23. ... Lowry was called for a technical midway through the second quarter. ... Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star, sat courtside with William Bell, the mayor of Birmingham, Ala.