Nets 128, Kings 119
NEW YORK -- Forward Joe Johnson scored a season-high 27 points and handed out a season-high 11 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets pulled away in the second half for a 128-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Center Brook Lopez added 26 points and 12 rebounds as the Nets (13-38) snapped a six-game losing streak and won for the third time in their past 19 home games since Dec. 10. Forward Thaddeus Young also had a double-double, compiling 14 points and 14 rebounds while setting a career high with seven assists.
Reserve swingman Bojan Bogdanovic contributed 23 points for the Nets, who shot a season-high 55.8 percent (48-for-86) and made a season-best 18 3-pointers. Point guard Donald Sloan chipped in 17 as Brooklyn beat the Kings for the eighth consecutive East Coast meeting.
Johnson had his first game with 20 points and 10 assists since March 21, 2010, with the Atlanta Hawks, when he had 20 and 13 against the San Antonio Spurs. He shot 11-for-16 from the floor and 5-for-7 from 3-point range.
Johnson had his first game with at least 25 points since Jan. 28, 2015, at Atlanta, and he made at least 10 baskets for the first time since March 16 at Minnesota.
Forward DeMarcus Cousins totaled 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his fourth career triple-double, but it was not enough as Sacramento (21-29) lost for the sixth time in seven games. Reserve point guard Darren Collison added 25 for the Kings, who shot 50.6 percent overall but were 8-for-26 from behind the arc.
Sacramento point guard Rajon Rondo made his first five shots and had a double-double with 15 points and 15 assists.
Brooklyn took an 83-71 lead on consecutive hoops by Lopez and upped it to 86-71 on Johnson's fifth 3-pointer with 6:22 remaining. The Nets maintained their double-digit lead and took a 103-85 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Sacramento mounted a small charge against the Nets' reserves in the opening minutes of the fourth, getting within 105-91 on a layup by guard Omri Casspi with 9:45 remaining. Johnson, Lopez and Young returned with 9:16 left, and the Nets put the game away.
Johnson recorded his 10th assist when Bogdanovic hit a 3-pointer with 7:42 remaining for a 113-95 lead. Nearly two minutes later, Johnson reached 25 points with a step-back jumper for a 115-97 edge, and with 4:49 left, Johnson recorded his final assist on a Bogdanovic 3-pointer that gave the Nets a 118-103 lead.
NOTES: Sacramento coach George Karl said he was somewhat surprised that G Omri Casspi was not selected for the 3-point shooting contest at All-Star Weekend. Casspi is sixth in the NBA at 44 percent after shooting 46 percent from behind the arc in the second half of last season. ... Brooklyn rookie F Chris McCullough turned 21 on Friday and was active for the first time this season. He has not played while rehabbing a right knee injury but is expected to make his NBA debut next week. ... Karl said he plans to keep G Marco Belinelli in the starting lineup alongside Rajon Rondo on the road trip and will assess the pairing during the All-Star break. Belinelli scored 13 points Friday.