NBA News Wire
Kings 103, Cavaliers 84
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — DeMarcus Cousins scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his 21st double-double of the season, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 103-84 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.
Sacramento forward Rudy Gay added 23 points.
Cousins, a 6-foot-11 center, also had five assists, four steals and three blocked shots, helping the Kings (16-21) win for the third time in five games. Sacramento is 5-8 since Tyrone Corbin replaced Michael Malone as head coach.
The Cavaliers lost their season-high fifth consecutive game while playing their eighth straight game without LeBron James. The star forward out with a strained left knee and lower back, and Cleveland is 1-7 during his absence.
Forward Kevin Love led the Cavaliers with 25 points and 10 rebounds for his 21st double-double of the season, and guard Kyrie Irving added 21 points and seven assists.
Center Timofey Mozgov made his starting debut for the Cavaliers in his second game since being traded to Cleveland from the Denver Nuggets. He had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Cavaliers (19-19) fell to .500 for the first time since Nov. 26, when they were 7-7.
Cousins scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds in the first half as the Kings built a 59-44 lead. Gay added 12 first-half points, and the Kings committed only one turnover.
Irving led the Cavaliers with 17 first-half points, while Love added 14 points and six rebounds.
Irving drilled three consecutive 3-point shots late in the first quarter, which ended with Sacramento leading 30-29. However, the Kings outscored Cleveland 29-15 in the second quarter, building their 15-point lead.
The Kings opened the third quarter on a 15-8 run, extending the advantage to 74-52 when Gay drilled a 3-point shot. Sacramento led 85-64 at the end of the third.
NOTES: Cavaliers coach David Blatt said it is very possible that F LeBron James (left knee/lower back strain) would return at some point during the team’s road trip, which stretches three more games. Blatt said he hoped James would be able to do some “live” work in practice Monday for the first time since being sidelined. “We’ve entered this process with the express idea of getting him back 100 percent,” Blatt said before the game. “When he’s ready, that’s when he’ll play.” … Cavaliers F Shawn Marion (left hip strain) missed his second straight game but hopes to play Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns. … Kings G Ramon Sessions (lower back strain) and F Omri Casspi (left knee bone contusion) remain sidelined. … The Kings beat the Cavaliers 124-80 last season in Sacramento.
