Nets Win Third Straight, Beat Kings 111-99
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Anthony Morrow made six 3-pointers and scored 24 points to lead the New Jersey Nets past the Sacramento Kings 111-99 on Saturday night for their season-high third straight win.
Deron Williams had 19 points, 15 assists and six rebounds for the Nets, who had lost 12 of their previous 13 visits to Sacramento. Gerald Wallace added 18 points, Kris Humphries had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Johan Petro scored 12 points.
The Nets, now 12-16 on the road, are one of two teams — along with New Orleans — to have a better record on the road than at home.
Tyreke Evans scored 23 points for the Kings, who have dropped five of their last six. DeMarcus Cousins had 14 points, Marcus Thornton scored 13 and Isaiah Thomas added 11 points and six assists.
Williams helped halt the Kings' fourth quarter rally from a 19-point deficit. He made two free throws and added a jumper to put the Nets on top 106-95 with 2:37 remaining.
Sluggish for much of the second and third quarters, the Kings scored 12 consecutive points to pull to 102-95 with 3:55 remaining when Francisco Garcia converted on a fastbreak layup.
Both teams shot poorly to open the fourth quarter before DeShawn Stevenson made a 3-pointer and Williams followed with a driving layup to give New Jersey a 102-83 lead midway through the quarter.
Morrrow connected on three 3s and scored 10 points in the third quarter when the Nets outscored the Sacramento 32-20 to take a 91-76 lead into the fourth. After a productive first half, Cousins went to the bench with his fourth foul. He missed all five shots and was scoreless in the third.
Ahead by three points at the half, the Nets scored the first six points of the third quarter and went on 13-3 run. Morrow's fourth 3-pointer of the game put New Jersey ahead 72-59 with 7:44 remaining in the period.
Humphries had 11 points and seven rebounds in the first half to help the Nets to a 59-56 lead. Cousins had 14 points and Evans scored 11 for the Kings.
NOTES: Kings reserve John Salmons missed his third consecutive game with a sore right hip and Nets guard Jordan Farmar didn't play for a fourth straight game due to a strained groin. ... Williams had nine assists in the opening half when the Nets shots 57 percent. ... Morrow's first 10 shots were all 3-point attempts. ... The Kings signed Terrence Williams for the remainder of the season. He had joined the team recently on a 10-day contract.
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