Rondo, Cousins Both Score 21 Points, Lead Kings To 132-114 Win Over Lakers
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Rajon Rondo had 21 points and eight assists and DeMarcus Cousins added 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Lakers 132-114 on Friday night.
With Rondo running the offense and benefiting from Lakers turnovers, the Kings had a 24-point lead at halftime and continued to pad the lead in the third quarter as they evened their record to 1-1.
Rudy Gay scored 19 points for the Kings, who never trailed after the game's opening minutes. Making his first start, rookie Willie Cauley-Stein had a strong opening quarter and finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
Jordan Clarkson scored 22 points and Nick Young had 17 for the Lakers, who have started the season with consecutive losses. Making his first start at point guard, No. 2 overall draft pick D'Angelo Russell had 13 points.
Kobe Bryant had 13 points in 22 minutes. After a slow start, he finished 5 of 13 from the field but he was 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
Bryant, who was 8 of 24 from the field in the Lakers' opening-game loss to Minnesota, missed four straight 3-point attempts in the opening quarter and only played 7 minutes. His first basket was a 3 in the second quarter, but at that point the Lakers were trailing 55-37.
Darren Collison was a key player off the bench for Sacramento, scoring 14 points and reserve Omri Casspi had 12 points and nine rebounds.
Sacramento scored 80 points in the paint.
After going scoreless in the second quarter, Rondo ignited the Kings again in the third. A free agent pickup from Dallas, Rondo scored nine points in the third quarter when the Kings took their biggest lead, 31 points.
The Kings came out fast in the opening quarter, dominating in every facet in taking a 40-24 lead. The start was ignited by Rondo, who fearlessly drove to the basket successfully four times and he finished with 10 points and five assists.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Bryant missed the morning shootaround due to a sore throat. Bryant passed former teammate Shaquille O'Neal and moved into third place all-time in field goals made with 11,333. ... The Lakers had 19 turnovers that led to 30 points.
Kings: Sacramento was wearing throwback powder blue jerseys that were first worn when the team came here in the 1985-86 season. The jerseys will be worn on every Friday home game in the regular season. ...The Kings had 19 of their 33 fast-break points in the opening half.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host Dallas on Sunday.
Kings: Visit the Clippers on Saturday.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.