Sacramento Kings On 13-Game Losing Streak Versus Warriors, Curry Has 30 Points In Victory

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sacramento, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings are now 0-3 on a seven-game homestand, one of their toughest of the season. The last two games were difficult to say the least.

The Golden State Warriors got the Kings (15-22 overall, 7-10 at G1C) this time and they walked away with a 117-106 victory at Golden 1 Center. Both teams lost on Friday, but the Warriors had something more at stake and the Kings were perfect team to pick on.

The Warriors have 124-consecutive games without suffering back to back losses, an NBA record streak. Golden State lost 128-119 in overtime to the Memphis Grizzlies in Oakland on Jan. 6, and the one-game loss stopped there. The Kings fell to Los Angeles Clippers 106-98.

The Kings led 58-51 at halftime, but the Warriors’ swampy defense produced a 39 points in the third quarter that got them 90-80 lead to start the fourth quarter. The Kings got as close as eight points in the fourth quarter.

But two steals here, block there, a cutting dunk, and couple of 3-point shots gave Golden State a comfortable 17-point lead with 1:52 remaining in the game. The Kings currently have a 13-game losing streak versus the Warriors.

“We didn’t defend in the first half,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “We kind of started to in the third quarter, but we knew we had to make them feel us defensively in the third quarter. We did a much better job of getting into them, making them uncomfortable, and forcing some missing that allowed us to get out a run.”

Golden State Warriors power forward shakes hands with fans at Golden 1 Center following the team's 117-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey. Jan. 8, 2017.

Stephen Curry had a game-high 30 points, six assists, four rebounds, and two steals for the Golden State Warriors (32-6 overall, 16-3 on the road). Kevin Durant added 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four blocked shots. Klay Thompson finished with 18 points and six rebounds.

After the Miami Heat 107-102 debacle at home on Jan. 4, the Kings had to face the Los Angeles Clippers and Warriors. They jumped out on Golden State, something the team seldom does, but it was ineffective.

“We tried to attack them early and we tried to push at them,” Kings head coach Dave Joerger said. “I thought we were in a good place in the first quarter. It makes a difference if you’re getting stops or not or if you’re scoring it helps you get stops. Their (Warriors) transitions after our missed shots...they get out and run and they don’t shoot layups.”

Rudy Gay had 15 points off of 6-for-8 shooting from the floor and 2-for-2 at the free-throw line in the 1st quarter. The Kings led 33-24 to start second quarter. Gay finished with 23 points, three assists, and two steals for his second game since returning with a lingering hip injury.

DeMarcus Cousins had 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals for the Kings. The Warriors went after Cousins with double-teams and sometimes triple teams. That’s been the norm lately with opposing teams.

“It’s been a lot more hands on and I can tell they are being a lot more physical with me. Especially, when I’m driving to the basket I am taking more bumps than usual,” Cousins said. “I don’t understand why that’s allowed, but that’s the case right now. It’s tough right now, but I’ll find a way to adjust to it.”

Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger talks to the media before his team played the Golden State Warriors. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey. Jan. 8, 2017.

Cousins picked up his third foul, followed by a technical foul, in the second quarter while the Kings were leading 54-41. The Kings shot 52.3 percent, 23-for-44 from the floor in the first half, which lead to a 58-53 halftime lead.

When the third quarter arrived, the Warriors stepped up to the plate and start hitting shots after shots, mainly by Durant, Thompson, Curry, and Zaza Pachulia. Curry had 12 point in the third quarter while Durant, Pachulia, and Thompson each made six points.

“This is the NBA and you can’t be surprised if a team comes out, especially in an atmosphere like tonight and has a good showing,” Curry said. “But over 48 minutes, if we stick with that, and don’t have that many lapses, we’ll be fine.”

Draymond Green had nine points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds while Pachulia added 10 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Oddly, Pachulia is leading Western Conference post players in NBA All-Star votes.

“He’s playing great and he was excellent defensively out there tonight,” Kerr said of Pachulia. “He’s a really good complimentary player for the group that we have. He gives us toughness.”

Anthony Toliver chipped in 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals for the Kings. Garrett Temple and Darren Collison each had 14 points in starters’ minutes for Sacramento.

The Kings play the Detroit Piston on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Golden 1 Center. Joerger assured the fans that the Kings are working diligently to get victories.

“They are trying hard. Our guys are playing their tails off,” Joerger said. “I mean, so, they are playing as hard as they can.”

By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist

Publicity Agents’ PRESS INFORMATION:

• Five All-Stars and Olympic Gold medalists on the floor of Golden 1 Arena. DeMarcus Cousins, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green were all NBA All-Stars last season. Cousins, Green, Durant, and Thompson won gold medal in the Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro.

• DeMarcus Cousins is climbing the ladder in games played on the Sacramento Kings-era career leaders’ list. Cousins has played in 451 games, three games behind Vlade Divac, and Lionel Simmons. Divac and Simmons are currently tied for seventh with 454 games played in a Kings’ uniform.

• The Warriors have (123-consecutive) games without suffering back to back losses, an NBA record streak.

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green have a little private chat before exiting Golden 1 Center. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey. Jan. 8, 2017.

Kings Change Starting Lineup, Again

Anthony Tolliver and Garrett Temple joined the starting lineup for the Kings with Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins for the match up with the Warriors.

Garrett Temple: “We saw a team (Warriors) that’s a little different that any usual team. So he (Dave Joerger) wanted to matchup certain guys with other guys.

Joerger is a coach that doesn’t talk much about how he uses starting lineups. Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins are fixture in the starting unit. That’s a fact. But with the other players it’s anyone’s guess.

When asked if that could be permanent, Temple said, “You’d have to ask him (Joerger) that.”

T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.