
Despite losing DeMarcus Cousins to injury late in the second quarter, the Sacramento Kings continued to battle the Los Angeles Clippers all the way to the final horn. Sacramento showed a tenacity and grit that was missing a season ago, but in the end, the Clippers' star power was too much for the Kings to handle as they fell to Los Angeles by the final of 114-109.
Led by four-time All-Star Rajon Rondo, the Kings searched for scoring from multiple players. Darren Collison replaced Ben McLemore in the second half with the hopes of replacing some of Cousins’ punch and Kosta Koufos filled in admirably at the five.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Rondo posted his second straight monster game for Sacramento. The veteran guard finished with 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 33 minutes of action. Rudy Gay chipped in 20 points on 10-for-21 shooting and Darren Collison added 15 points and six assists off George Karl’s bench.
All-Star Blake Griffin dominated the action, finishing with a game-high 37 points on 13-of-22 shooting. J.J. Redick tormented the Kings to the tune of 23 points on 8-for-9 shooting. Chris Paul added 17 points and 11 assists, while big man DeAndre Jordan took advantage of Cousins’ absence with a 15 point, 18 rebound, seven block performance.
STANDOUT PERFORMER -- Griffin has the Kings’ number. The Clippers star big man finished with 37 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes. Rookie Willie Cauley-Stein got the start against Griffin, but played just 23 minutes due to foul trouble, leaving Gay and Koufos to fend for themselves against the high flying forward.
TURNING POINT -- With 1:46 remaining in the game, Darren Collison fouled DeAndre Jordan away from the ball, giving the Clippers one shot and possession. The snafu extended the Clippers lead to 108-105 moments later Chris Paul stretched the advantage to five with a pair free throws, all but ending the Kings threat.
NBA
INJURY UPDATE -- DeMarcus Cousins sat out the second half with a sore right Achilles tendon. The All-Star big man finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in 15 minutes of action. He is listed as day-to-day. Cousins will undergo an MRI as a precaution at some point Sunday.
WHAT'S NEXT -- The hits keep coming for the Sacramento Kings. After facing the vaunted Clippers twice in the first three games, the Kings draw a tough home and road back-to-back against the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns on Tuesday and Wednesday.