Never get into a shootout with the Golden State Warriors. It’s a pretty basic, well-known concept. But the Sacramento Kings fell victim Monday night and the result was a 122-103 loss at Oracle Arena.
Omri Casspi did everything in his power to keep the Kings in the game. The Israeli-born wing shot the lights out, finishing with a career-high 36 points on 13-of-18 from the field and 9-for-12 from downtown. Casspi’s nine 3-pointers tied a Kings franchise record set by Mike Bibby.
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Rudy Gay tried to carry the load while DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo sat the bench in foul trouble. He finished the night with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Cousins played a total of 12 minutes before picking up his fifth foul and picking up a pair of technical fouls. The Kings All-Star center finished the night with just seven points and four rebounds.
With Rondo struggling to stay on the floor, Darren Collison put up 13 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in 30 minutes of action.
Stephen Curry started the game slowly, but torched the Kings for 17 points in a three-minute and fifteen-second burst to end the first half. The reigning MVP finished the night with 23 points, 10 assists and 14 rebounds for the Warriors who improved to 29-1 on the season.
NBA
Klay Thompson chipped in 29 points on 10-of-22 shooting and Draymond Green added 25 points and eight rebounds.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Casspi’s first half performance was incredible. After coming out with strong words for his team following the loss to Portland on Sunday, the 27-year-old forward put in 26 points before the intermission. You expect the night that Stephen Curry put on the Kings, but Casspi played the his best game of his career.
TURNING POINT:
The Kings and more specifically, DeMarcus Cousins, came undone in the third quarter. Cousins picked up his fourth and fifth fouls just minutes into the quarter. He backed that up with a pair of technicals and an early trip to the showers. In a big game, Cousins let his emotions kill all the positive momentum his team had built in the first half. Golden State responded with a 15-0 run after Cousins’ ejection.
INJURY UPDATE:
Willie Cauley-Stein (index finger) continues to improve, but no timetable has been set for his return. Big man Eric Moreland is out for at least two months after undergoing surgery on his left foot last week.
WHAT'S NEXT:
After facing the league’s best on Monday night, the Kings play the worst the league has to offer on Wednesday when The 2-30 Philadelphia 76ers come to Sacramento.