Cousins guides Kings over Sixers for 4th win in row
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- DeMarcus Cousins' long-rang accuracy helped the Sacramento Kings keep alive their longest winning streak since January.
Cousins finished with 30 points, and his 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 20.9 seconds left lifted the Sacramento Kings to their fourth consecutive win, a 102-100 decision over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday at the Golden 1 Center.
The 3-pointer by Sacramento's veteran center came with the Kings down 97-96 after Ersan Ilyasova's driving layup with 49.5 seconds left put Philadelphia ahead in a back-and-forth final period.
Ilyasova took a rushed fadeaway jumper from the baseline on Philadelphia's next possession, and Cousins knocked down one of two free throws on the other end.
Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 25 points, but his 3-point attempt from the top of the arc fell short as time expired.
Rudy Gay, back from a hip injury, finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Ty Lawson added 12 for the Kings, who overcame an eight-point deficit in the final period.
Sacramento (14-17) entered the final quarter trailing in all four of its victories during the winning streak. The Kings outscored opponents 128-85 in those four quarters, and the 23 points they allowed over the final 12 minutes to Philadelphia marked Sacramento's worst defensive fourth quarter during the streak.
Sergio Rodriguez added 18 points for Philadelphia, and he canned two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the 76ers stay close down the stretch. Ilyasova finished with 17 points.
Garrett Temple's first basket of the game, a 3-pointer with 58.7 seconds left, put Sacramento ahead and was part of a 13-0 run that helped wipe out Philadelphia's lead.
Gay scored seven consecutive points to start the run after Philadelphia built an 80-72 lead.
NOTES: The six-game absence of Kings F Rudy Gay was his longest stint being sidelined with an injury since the 2010-11 season. Gay, an 11-year veteran who is an unrestricted free agent at season's end, hadn't played since sustaining a right hip flexor strain against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 12. ... 76ers G Nik Stauskas, the Kings' No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft, suited up despite a bruised knee. Stauskas entered the night averaging a career-best 26 minutes and 9.5 points per game. ... Sixers rookie C/F Joel Embiid played his 21st game Monday. He scored at least 20 points for the 10th time; all other NBA rookies combined for 10 20-point games this season through Sunday, and no other rookie had more than four. ... The Kings and Sixers will make up their postponed Nov. 30 game in Philadelphia on Jan. 30.