Pelicans 113, Kings 100
Tyreke Evans set season highs of 25 points and 12 assists against his former teammates as New Orleans downed Sacramento to salvage the finale of a five-game road trip.
Anthony Davis had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Jrue Holiday added 17 points and 10 assists for the Pelicans. Eric Gordon scored 14 of his 17 points in the first half for New Orleans, which racked up 13 steals while forcing 22 turnovers.
DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 14 rebounds and Isaiah Thomas added 21 points for Sacramento, which lost for the fourth time in five games. Marcus Thornton added 19 points off the bench for the Kings.
The contest was tied at 92 after Sacramento’s Jimmer Fredette hit a jumper with 5:35 remaining before the Pelicans went on a decisive 16-3 run. Holiday hit a 3-pointer and Alexis Ajinca scored back-to-back baskets to start the surge, and Brian Roberts’ jumper with two minutes left boosted the margin to 13.
Cousins already had a double-double by halftime as the game was tied at 52 entering the break. The Kings were up five after two free throws by Rudy Gay with 3:08 left in the third before the Pelicans scored the final four points of the quarter to send it to the fourth tied at 77.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Evans played four seasons for the Kings before being dealt to New Orleans in the offseason. … Thomas has scored 20 or more points in nine of the past 12 games. … The Pelicans had a 54-38 edge in points in the paint.