Cousins scores 31, Kings beat Raptors 105-96
Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) tries to shoot under pressure from Sacramento Kings guard John Salmons, left, during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. AP
TORONTO — DeMarcus Cousins scored a season-high 31 points and matched his career high with 20 rebounds, John Salmons scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and the Sacramento Kings beat the Toronto Raptors 105-96 on Friday night.
Jason Thompson scored 14 points and Isaiah Thomas had 11 as the Kings won their second straight road game. Sacramento had gone 1-13 away from home before winning at Cleveland on Wednesday.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Kings have won six of eight overall following their second five-game losing streak of the season.
Kyle Lowry scored 24 and Ed Davis had 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who came in having won eight of nine and a season-best five straight at home.
Alan Anderson scored 20, DeMar DeRozan had 14 and Jose Calderon added 13 for the Raptors, who also lost 107-100 at Sacramento on Dec. 5.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Raptors’ fate was sealed in a dreadful third quarter that saw them make just three of 21 field goal attempts and commit six turnovers as Sacramento turned a one-point halftime lead into a 19-point advantage heading into the fourth.
The Raptors went 11 for 39 from the field in the second half after going 19 for 40 in the first.
Cousins had nine points, four rebounds and three assists in the first quarter as Sacramento led 23-22. Anderson scored seven points as Toronto replied with a 17-5 spurt to start the second, taking a 39-31 lead with 7:02 to play. But Sacramento closed the half on an 8-0 run to lead 54-53 at intermission.
The Kings surged ahead with a 12-0 run to open the second half as Toronto fell apart. Toronto was outscored 28-10 overall as the Kings used 10 points from Cousins to take an 82-63 lead into the final quarter.
NOTES: Cousins’ previous high this season was 29 points, set against Brooklyn on Nov. 18. This was the third 20-rebound game of his career. … Toronto F Linas Kleiza (right knee) missed his third straight game. … Sacramento G Marcus Thornton (left ankle) missed his third straight game. … Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista and first baseman Adam Lind attended the game.
