Sacramento Kings Catch Fire Against Phoenix, Win By 142-119 Score
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Coach George Karl moved into a tie for fifth on the NBA wins list with 1,155 when DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and nine rebounds Saturday to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 142-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns, who lost their eighth in a row.
Karl matched Phil Jackson with the milestone win. The 63-year-old Karl is 1,155-795 in 27 seasons.
Brandon Knight had 23 points and Devin Booker had 21 for the Suns, who have lost 10 of 11. TJ Warren scored 19 points and Mirza Teletovic had 13.
Darren Collison had 21 points and six assists and Marco Belinelli had 19 points for the Kings. Rudy Gay added 16 points and Rajon Rondo had 15 points and 15 assists. The Kings had a season high for points and shot 61.6 percent in snapping a three-game skid.
Phoenix played without Leading scorer Eric Bledsoe, who missed his fourth straight game and is out for the season.
The Kings erased a four-point deficit with 12 straight points in the third quarter. Cousins and Rondo both had nine points and Sacramento produced a season-high 44-point quarter in taking a 103-87 lead into the fourth.
TIP INS
Sun: Starting center Tyson Chandler was ejected after arguing a foul in the third quarter. ... The two teams have a combined seven players from the University of Kentucky. ... Suns coach Jeff Hornacek remains one win away from 100 coaching victories. He has been stuck on 99 since Dec. 18. ... Disgruntled forward Markieff Morris didn't play for a second straight game.
Kings: San Francisco Giants reliever Sergio Romo sat in a courtside seat for a second straight game. ... The Kings had a 23-2 first-quarter run and led by 17 points. ... Willie Cauley-Stein, a rookie, returned for the first time since Dec. 3 when he went out with a dislocated right finger. He played the game's final five minutes. ... Cousins gave Karl a high five after the coach was called for a second quarter technical. ... Rondo, the NBA assist leader, has recorded 10 or more assists 20 times. ...
UP NEXT
Suns: visit the Lakers on Sunday.
Kings: visit Oklahoma City on Monday.
