The Sacramento Kings, behind DeMarcus Cousins 22 points and 14 rebounds, have finally won a game this season while leading big. The Kings pulled out a big victory for the team in a cruising way over the Bulls 103-88. Rudy Gay also chipped in 20 points.
"We really didn't want to give this one away; we've done that in three times before," said Darren Collison, who set acareer high with 12 assists. "In a way it was good; those losses taught us a lesson. It was a learning experience for us."
The Bulls were without Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol, but have been playing excellent this season. Any way the Kings can get a win is preferred.
Sacramento in general seems to have a new atmosphere around it. 3 of their losses have come from blowing double-digit leads and while they are only 7-5 now, this writer believes the fans expect them to win as well as the players expect themselves to win. This isn't the Kings of the past where they win 20 games and it just seems like a usual. This team has the tools at an 8 seed.
"We got a gap in the middle of the second quarter where we got hurt," Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau said. "The game was won there, and we couldn't get a handle on it the rest of the way."
The Bulls drastically drop off once Pau and Rose aren't there. Butler and Noah are both very good, but they were just no match for the Kings without 2 star players.
"This was a team that manhandled the Clippers on the road a few days ago," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "We held them to 59 points in the final three quarters. That was a great defensive effort."
The Kings will go onto play the Timberwolves on Saturday in Minnesota.