Kings 109, Celtics 101
DeMarcus Cousins had 31 points and 15 rebounds as host Sacramento won in George Karl’s debut as coach.
Rudy Gay added 28 points for the Kings, who overcame a 16-point first-quarter deficit. Derrick Williams scored 11 points and Omri Casspi contributed a season-best 12 rebounds to go with seven points and six assists as the Kings posted a 57-40 rebounding edge.
Avery Bradley had 28 points, six assists and a season-high four steals for Boston, which lost for the fourth straight visit to Sacramento. Tyler Zeller scored 22 points, Marcus Smart had 16 points and a season-best five steals and Brandon Bass scored 13 points.
Zeller’s three-point play in the fourth quarter capped an 8-0 run and gave Boston a 90-89 lead with 6:46 to play. The Celtics scored just four points over the next 5 1/2 minutes and the Kings went on an 8-0 run to open up a 103-94 lead on two free throws by Gay with 1:29 left and finished off the victory.
Boston opened the game with a 16-2 burst and led 27-11 after Bradley’s basket with 3:38 left in the opening quarter before Sacramento scored the final 17 points of the period for a 28-27 lead. The Kings used a 10-0 burst to take a 10-point lead with just under five minutes left in the second quarter before settling for a 56-51 lead at the break and maintaining it through the third to lead 82-74 entering the final stanza.
GAME NOTEBOOK: PG Andre Miller had eight points and four assists in his Kings’ debut after being acquired before Thursday’s trade deadline, while Boston PG Isaiah Thomas hasn’t yet joined the club. … The Celtics were 15-of-26 from the free-throw line. … Sacramento committed 24 turnovers – nine by Cousins – leading to 38 Boston points.