The DeMarcus Cousins Administration Defeats Pelicans 105-99, Boogie Picks Up 17th Tech
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sacramento, Calif. – As a unit, the Sacramento Kings have a lot of personalities in terms of how they perform on the court. Some of them are bad and cause the team to lose games while others are the ingredients needed to win ball games.
Every NBA team is always looking for that identity to cultivate a winning style. What opposing teams are learning about the Kings is that they play competitive defense. Yes, the Kings fall behind more often than not, but to overcome deficits the team play defense.
The Kings (23-32, 12-15 G1C) defense in the second against the New Orleans Pelicans gave them a 105-99 and an 4-2 record to end a six-game homestand. The Kings outrebounded the Pelicans 46-36, collected 11 steals, had five meaningful blocks.
The Kings have been more alert on the basketball court, aggressive in every manner, and they know where they should be at just about all times. The DeMarcus Cousins Administration is not the same faction that went 1-6 at Golden 1 Center during the last homestand.
“Guys are flying around and the other thing is that everybody is pitching in on the glass to not give up second chances,” said Kings head coach Dave Joerger. “We can be a resilient group and we can keep fighting because we have a good locker room.”
Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger talks about his team following a 105-99 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey. Feb. 12, 2017.
DeMarcus Cousins had 28 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals for the Kings. Darren Collison recorded his third-straight 20-point game by scoring 20 points. He also had eight assists, six rebounds and three steals.
Anthony Davis had 32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Pelicans (21-34, 7-19 road). Jrue Holiday had 16 points, 11 assists, and five steals while Dante Cunningham added 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
The Pelicans led 56-53 at halftime. At the beginning of the third quarter, the Kings emerged with a raging defense. Sacramento opened up with a 13-0 run to lead 66-56 after Arron Afflalo made a 14-foot basket at the 8:45 mark.
The Pelicans did come back to tie the game on two occasions, but they would never regain the lead.
Rookie Buddy Hield was ejected after he committed a flagrant 2 foul against DeMarcus Cousins with 2:55 remaining in the first half. Hield hit Cousins in the groin, but said after the game it was not on purpose.
“It was nothing intentional,” Hield said. “I’m pretty sure if it was intentional, knowing DeMarcus' personality, he would have come after me and made a big fuss about it. But DeMarcus sold it enough that the refs looked over to review it.”
Cousins himself was assessed with a shady technical foul at the 1:06 mark of the first quarter after having clear physical contact with under the basket with Donatas Motiejunas. Cousins will be suspended again if he gets one more technical foul.
Cousins has already lost $206, 803.65 of his $16,957,900 salary for two fines and a suspension this season. The league could rescind the technical foul upon review.
“Me playing the way I play is what makes me a better player that I am,” Cousins said. “I’m trying to find a way to do what theses guys are asking me to do. It’s not easy but I’m trying. I’ve accepted it. (Expletive), they are after me, so just play.”
By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist
Twitter: Tony Ray Harvey @PublicityAgents
PA’s PUBLIC INFORMATION:
Ty Lawson sat out his second-straight game with a left adductor strain. He is still considered day to day.
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.
