Kings 100, Hornets 92
DeMarcus Cousins had 28 points and 19 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings recorded their first three-game winning streak of the season with a 100-92 victory over the host New Orleans Hornets on Monday.
Tyreke Evans sparked the comeback with 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Kings rallied from 18 points down to send the shorthanded Hornets to their sixth consecutive loss and 15th in the last 16 games.
Rookie point guard Isaiah Thomas added 17 points, including a pair of huge 3-pointers in the final five minutes, to help Sacramento halt a five-game losing streak in New Orleans.
Greivis Vasquez scored 20 points, Emeka Okafor had 19 and Marco Belinelli added 18 for New Orleans, which was without injured starters Jarrett Jack and Jason Smith as well as top reserve Carl Landry.
After the Kings whittled a 16-point third-quarter lead to 78-69 entering the fourth, Evans scored nine points in an 11-2 run to pull Sacramento even at 80. Thomas' first 3-pointer put the Kings ahead for good.
Center Chris Kaman suited up for the first time since Jan. 23 and had 10 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which was outscored 31-14 in the final 12 minutes.