Kings Suffer Tough Loss To Bucks, 108-107
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Despite the return of Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, the undersized Milwaukee Bucks came up big.
Brandon Knight scored 20 points and the Bucks spoiled Cousins' return to the struggling Kings with a 108-107 victory Thursday night.
With their inside game
Milwaukee was outscored 48-26 in the paint.
"We had to score the ball (from the outside) if we were going to have a chance to win tonight," said first-year Bucks coach Jason Kidd, whose team moved over the .500 mark with a 14-13 record.
Prized rookie Jabari Parker, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Monday and is out for the season, was among the missing Milwaukee players.
The Bucks also were without center Larry Sanders, suspended one game by the NBA on Thursday for pushing Portland forward Nicolas Batum in the back as he elevated toward the basket Wednesday night.
Milwaukee, which dressed 10 players, also was without power forwards Ersan Ilyasova (nasal fracture) and John Henson (sprained left foot).
"No one thought we would have this record but us," said O.J. Mayo, who scored 17 of his 19 points in the first quarter. "We're a young, confident team that plays aggressive and with a lot of energy."
Jared Dudley scored 19 points, Jerryd Bayless had 10 of 17 in the fourth quarter, and Giannis Antetokounmpoadded 11.
Playing for the first time in more than three weeks due to viral meningitis, Cousins looked fatigued at times but still had 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in nearly 33 minutes
However, the team's leading scorer and rebounder missed his most important shot of the game. Pressured on the perimeter by Zaza Pachulia, Cousins misfired on a jumper at the buzzer that would have won it.
"I kind of got pushed out a little further; ZaZa kind of played me to my right," Cousins said. "I tried to go left, but Knight helped, so I crossed over and tried to take the best shot available with time running out. I think I got a good look, but it just didn't fall."
Cousins missed 10 straight games
Ben McLemore scored 22 points for Sacramento, Rudy Gay had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Darren Collison added 12 points.
Sacramento has dropped five straight and 10 of 12. The Kings were playing their second game since the surprise firing Sunday of coach Michael Malone, who was replaced by interim coach Tyrone Corbin.
"Thirteen three-point shots they made and in the first half I think they shot 75 percent," Corbin said. "We did abetter
Trying to play
A goaltend by Cousins led to a three-point play by Dudley, putting the Bucks ahead 101-91 with 6:41 left. Twofree
"Everybody had something to do with it tonight, offensively and defensively," Kidd said. "It just showed us what we've been saying all along, that we're a team. We play hard. The guys did that on the road
Bucks: Mayo, who entered averaging 10.9 points per game, scored the team's first 12 points. ... Milwaukee is 3-0 against Pacific Division opponents.
Kings: Former Kings Peja Stojakovic and Scot Pollard watched the game from courtside seats. ... McLemore, who struggled last season as a rookie, had his fourth 20-point game.
The Bucks visit the Clippers on Saturday.
The Kings host the Lakers on Sunday.
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