Kings 99, Pelicans 89
DeMarcus Cousins collected 22 points and 12 rebounds for his seventh consecutive double-double as visiting Sacramento downed New Orleans.
Omri Casspi added a season-high 22 points while Ramon Sessions contributed 15 points and six assists for the Kings, who were missing starters Rudy Gay and Darren Collison through injury. Ray McCallum scored 12 points off the bench for Sacramento, which finished 20-of-24 from the free-throw line.
Tyreke Evans led the way with 22 points while Ryan Anderson tallied 20 in a reserve role for the Pelicans, who went 3-of-17 from 3-point land. Anthony Davis was limited to 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting after pouring in a career-high 43 in his previous game for New Orleans.
Nik Stauskas nailed a jumper to put the Kings in front 83-74 and they held the Pelicans without a field goal for almost a five-minute stretch in the fourth quarter to pull ahead by 14. Sacramento never let its lead slip below double digits as it went on to secure its third straight win.
Sessions and Casspi combined to score 12 early points as Sacramento jumped out to a 19-4 lead. New Orleans chipped away at the deficit and eventually evened the score at 49 after Evans' driving layup late in the second quarter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Kings have won four of the last five meetings with the Pelicans. … Sacramento coach Michael Malone was ejected in the second quarter after picking up two technicals in quick succession for arguing a foul call. … Anderson had gone 4-for-26 from the field in his previous two games before finishing 7-of-14 on Tuesday.