Cousins leads Kings past Minnesota
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - DeMarcus Cousins posted another double- double with 31 points and 18 rebounds to lead Sacramento to a 113-101 road win over Minnesota.
Cousins was efficient, scoring his 31 points on just 15 shots, and he made all four free throws in the final minutes to seal the win. The Kings knocked down all nine of their attempts from the line in the fourth quarter.
The Kings dominated the game down low. They outrebounded the Timberwolves 50-37 and owned a 56-44 advantage in points in the paint.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After a slow first quarter with five points on six shots, Ben McLemore heated up. He was 7-of-11 from the floor the rest of the game and finished with 22 points and nine boards in the victory.
"I feel a lot better," McLemore said. "More confident in my shot. My all- around game. Everyone on the team and my coaches have confidence in me."
Sacramento also received a key contribution from former Minnesota forward Derrick Williams. He scored a season-high 12 points and pulled down six boards to contribute to the Kings' dominance inside.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Top draft pick Andrew Wiggins had the best game of his young career for Minnesota, setting career highs in points with 29 and steals with four. He hit 9-of-10 from the line and 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Mo Williams chipped in 11 points and a game-high 12 assists in defeat.
"No excuses for losing," said Wiggins. "We're a young team, but that's no excuse. Once you're in the NBA, no one cares about your age or how tall you are or how athletic you are. You just have to bring it every night."
With 10 first-half turnovers and 2-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc, the Kings allowed the Timberwolves to lead by as many as seven in the first half. At the end of the second quarter, a McLemore alley-oop and powerful Williams dunk set the tone for the Kings in the second half.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Minnesota owned a 52-48 advantage at halftime, but that would soon evaporate. Sacramento tied the game at 54 two minutes into the second half, and went on an 18-8 run. A McLemore basket capped the surge for a 72-62 game.
A Wiggins 3-pointer with 5:37 to go cut the Sacramento lead down to five, but Minnesota wouldn't get any closer. The Kings shot 4-of-6 from the field to keep the Timberwolves at arm's length. Darren Collison hit a key 3-pointer with less than three minutes to go.
After a solid first half hanging in with Cousins, Minnesota's Gorgui Dieng struggled after the break. He scored just two of his 12 points in the second half and only pulled down three of his 10 rebounds.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Cousins posted his sixth straight double-double ... Collison finished with 19 points and seven assists in the victory ... Sacramento won despite 19 turnovers ... Minnesota's Thaddeus Young is expected to return to the team in time for Wednesday's game against Milwaukee after missing the last five games for personal reasons.