The Sacramento Kings love to play to the level of their competition. Once again, it burned them on Thursday night. Needing a win to hang onto the eighth spot in the Western Conference, the Kings came out flat against a 16-win New Orleans Pelicans team missing three starters, including All-Star Anthony Davis.
The result was an embarrassing 114-105 loss to another beatable opponent.
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The Kings had no answer for sharpshooter Ryan Anderson in the first half. The 6-foot-10 forward tied his career-high 36 points on 13-for-25 shooting, including an incredible 30 points before the half. Sacramento’s defenders left him wide open for countless 3-point attempts and he lit them up.
With Anderson bombing away, Jrue Holiday carved up the Kings in the lane. The former UCLA standout drilled the Kings for 25 points and eight assists off the bench.
[HAM: Kings' Cousins named West All-Star reserve]
Norris Cole added 17 points and 10 assists starting for the injured Tyreke Evans and in his fourth game since getting called up from the D-League, rookie Bryce Dejean-Jones chipped in 14 in the win.
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Needing a scoring punch, Ben McLemore stepped up to the challenge. The Kings starting shooting guard dropped in a season-high 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting while playing aggressive on ends of the floor.
DeMarcus Cousins finished with 26 points on 11-for-24 shooting. The two-time All-Star looked lethargic to start the game, but once he established himself in the post, he made a tremendous impact. He added 10 rebounds, six assists and five of blocks in 41 minutes.
Rajon Rondo picked up his 24th double-double of the season, finishing with 17 points, 15 assists and six rebounds. Rondo matched Hall of Famer Nate Archibald for the franchise record with his 14th consecutive double digit assist game.
The Kings have lost three straight and now sit at 20-26 on the season.
STANDOUT PERFORMER -- Sacramento native Ryan Anderson took a flamethrower to the Kings in the first half, scoring 30 of his game-high 36 before the intermission. The Kings repeatedly left him open and the veteran stretch four made them pay.
TURNING POINT -- This game was over in the first quarter when the Pelicans outscored the Kings 37-19. Sacramento walked into the building expecting to the Pelicans to roll over and got embarrassed.
INJURY UPDATE -- Rudy Gay missed his second straight game with a corneal abrasion. He is listed as day-to-day. Eric Moreland (foot surgery) and Duje Dukan (lower leg) are out indefinitely.
WHAT'S NEXT -- The Kings travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies on Saturday night in their final game of a three game road trip.