Kings Fall To Pistons; Loss Streak Grows To Five
SACRAMENTO (AP) ― Rodney Stuckey scored 17 points and Ben Gordon hit a late 3 that sent the Detroit Pistons over Sacramento 100-94 Sunday, the Kings' fifth straight loss.
The Pistons have won four of five after their 0-5 start.
Gordon's 3-pointer from the corner put the Pistons ahead 99-94 with 23.9 seconds left. He finished with 16 points.
Tayshaun Prince had 14 points for the Pistons, Richard Hamilton scored 13 and Charlie Villanueva added 11.
Tyreke Evans scored 20 points and Carl Landry had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Kings. Luther Head added 13.
It was the fourth consecutive home loss for the Kings. They are in the midst of playing eight of nine games at home, a stretch that extends to Nov. 21.
After Villanueva's two free throws gave Detroit a four-point lead, a driving basket by DeMarcus Cousins pulled the Kings within 94-92 with 1:52 remaining. But Prince answered with a pull-up jump in the lane.
Ahead 75-72 to open the fourth quarter, Villanueva made a jumper and followed with a 3-pointer, putting the Pistons up by eight points at the 10:17 mark. It had been a quiet first three quarters for Villanueva, who had just two points after scoring a season-high 30 in Detroit's overtime win Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
It was a frustrating first half for the highly touted Cousins, the fifth pick in the 2010 draft. He had six points, eight rebounds and six turnovers. The Kings' backup center missed several easy opportunities from close range and committed three fouls and three turnovers in just under nine minutes.
Notes: Cousins drew a technical foul following an offensive foul in the second quarter. ... Beno Udrih, the Kings' second-leading scorer, had no points in the first half. He finished with five.
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