Davis, Pelicans upend Kings
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sacramento, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Anthony Davis totaled 28 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as the New Orleans Pelicans upended the Sacramento Kings, 106-100, on Tuesday.
Ryan Anderson scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half, and Tyreke Evans donated 18 points -- all after the break -- to go along with six rebounds and five assists against his former team.
The Pelicans turned the ball over just six times and won for the third time in four games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It is big," Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday said of the win. "I think we cut down our turnovers. We pride ourselves in that."
DeMarcus Cousins posted his eighth double-double of the season with 24 points and 17 boards, but Sacramento nevertheless fell for the fourth time in five games. Rudy Gay and Jason Thompson both netted 15 points in defeat.
"It's just the same old story," Kings head coach Michael Malone said. "Tonight we didn't defend."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Kings jumped ahead by a dozen, 18-6, following a string of 12 straight points early on, and while their lead never grew, they never trailed until Davis and Anderson carried the Pelicans late in the third quarter.
Davis' dunk gave New Orleans its first lead, 63-62, since the opening stages, and Anderson drained three 3-pointers over the final four minutes to give the visitors a 76-69 lead after three.
Davis appeared to be hobbled a bit in the fourth, but his dunk, followed by an Eric Gordon 3-pointer, gave the Pelicans a 97-87 lead with four minutes to go.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A late 7-0 Kings run made it a two-possession game, before Evans, who spent the first four years of his career in Sacramento, ended the rally with a tough runner in the lane.
Cousins converted a three-point play with 1:09 remaining, but his ex-teammate, Evans, made an off-balanced turnaround in the lane over him at the other end.
Omri Casspi turned the ball over the next time down, and the Pelicans held on from there.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Davis is the first player to score at least 25 points against the Kings this season ... Gay was questionable for the contest with a sore Achilles ... The Pelicans forced 15 turnovers ... Gordon finished with 17 points ... Darren Collison logged 13 points and 11 assists in defeat.