Cousins helps Kings complete rally vs. Pistons
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- DeMarcus Cousins scored 24 points and canned one of two key 3-pointers in the final two minutes as the Sacramento Kings rallied to a 100-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons at the Golden 1 Center on Tuesday.
Cousins went 4-for-5 from 3-point range, and his last one with 56 seconds remaining vaulted Sacramento to a four-point lead. Cousins' 3-pointer came after Detroit guard Reggie Jackson missed the second of two free throws at the other end to keep the Pistons trailing by one at 95-94.
Garrett Temple made three 3-pointers as part of an 11-point night, including one from the top of the arc that put the Kings ahead 95-92, their first lead since early in the first quarter.
Anthony Tolliver, making his second straight start, finished with 17 points and made two free throws with 5.5 seconds left to cap Sacramento's rally from a 70-52 third-quarter deficit. The Kings (16-22) snapped a four-game home losing streak and won for the first time during a season-long seven-game homestand.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 21 points to lead the Pistons and was 6-for-8 from 3-point range. Two of the 3s kept Detroit ahead and stymied some of Sacramento's momentum during its fourth-quarter rally.
Jackson added 19 points and added three 3-pointers, but the Pistons (18-22) failed in their bid to win three straight for the second time this season. Detroit, which ranked 29th in the NBA in 3-pointers entering the contest, knocked down 12 of 27 from beyond the arc.
Tobias Harris scored 18 points for Detroit.
Kosta Koufos came off the bench to score 12 points and grab 10 rebounds for Sacramento. Rudy Gay finished with 11.
The Kings spent most of the contest behind after Detroit used a spurt to jump to a 29-21 lead after the first quarter. They didn't tie the contest until Gay made two free throws to even it 89-89 with 3:30 left. Jackson nailed a 3-pointer on Detroit's next possession to put Detroit back ahead.
NOTES: Kings F DeMarcus Cousins entered the contest with a league-high 12 technical fouls, only four shy of an automatic one-game suspension and on pace to shatter his single-season high. Cousins, who twice in six previous seasons committed 17, is on pace for 27. ... Pistons F Jon Leuer sat out the game with an injury to his right knee and he's likely to miss at least one more, coach Stan Van Gundy said. Leuer left Sunday's game at Portland after his knee swelled with fluid. He's averaging 27 minutes per game for Detroit this season, averaging 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds. ... Former Kings coach George Karl told USA Today in a podcast that he has no hard feelings toward the team or Cousins. He reportedly criticized both in pages of his book, "Furious George" that were removed before the book's final version. ... In Detroit's previous three games, three players scored at least 20 points, the first time that had happened for the club since Jan. 10-14, 1970.