Nothing comes easy for the Sacramento Kings. After leading by 15 at the half, the Kings gave it away in the third quarter and had to start all over from scratch in the final frame. Indiana kept coming at them in waves, but Sacramento survived for the 108-106 victory on the road.
With the Kings struggling to find a rhythm, Darren Collison took control of the game and put on a show. The result was a 24-point, five-assist performance for the veteran guard.
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DeMarcus Cousins bounced back, putting up 25 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. Ian Mahinmi and his undersized Pacers teammates were overmatched from the opening tip.
Rajon Rondo finished the night with 13 points, 16 assists and eight rebounds, but his nine turnover night hurt the team.
Rudy Gay and Omri Casspi fought the good fight against All-Star Paul George. George shot just 5-of-19 from the field for 12 points, while Gay went for 19 points and Casspi dropped in 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Monta Ellis led the Pacers with 21 points, George Hill and C.J. Miles chipped in 20 apiece for Indiana in the loss.
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STANDOUT PERFORMER -- Collison was a difference maker. The 28-year-old point guard put the Kings on his back time and time again. Rondo did a great job of setting people up and Cousins played well in the post, but Collison’s energy made a huge difference in this game.
TURNING POINT -- Leading by 15 coming out of the half, Sacramento looked like a team ready to take the next plane out of town in the third quarter. Indiana outscored the Kings 33-20 in the 12 minutes out of the break, taking a meager two point lead into the fourth quarter. From there, it was a heavyweight fight the Kings were lucky to survive.
INJURY UPDATE -- Sacramento survived a scary moment in the first quarter when Ben McLemore and DeMarcus Cousins both hit the floor hard. Cousins went high and landed with his full body weight on McLemore’s lower legs. Both players eventually walked off the fall and stayed in the game. Willie Cauley-Stein (index finger) and Eric Moreland (left foot) are both out indefinitely.
WHAT'S NEXT -- The Kings return home following the game and have a three day break before taking on the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday evening at Sleep Train Arena.