The Sacramento Kings got back on track and won in overtime for the first time in three tries, outlasting the Detroit Pistons 109-103. The Kings survived brutal second and third quarters, but they were excellent early and late as they snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 4-5.
Mitch Richmond scored 27 points and Oscar Robertson had 25 points and seven assists. The duo scored all 10 of Sacramento’s points in OT. DeMarcus Cousins had his fifth double-double of the season despite a quiet offensive night with 10 points, though he collected a game-high 15 rebounds. Sacramento had season highs of 32 free throw makes and 41 attempts, which helped the Kings overcome 39.1% shooting from the field.
For the Pistons, Grant Hill and Bob Lanier both scored 29 points, and Lanier also had 12 rebounds. Isiah Thomas had 15 points and 10 assists.
The Kings got off to a remarkable start, building an 18-6 lead just 3 1/2 minutes in. Richmond had 10 of those points, including back-to-back three-pointers. Detroit cut into the deficit, however, and a high-scoring first quarter saw Sacramento take a 35-30 lead at the first break.
There weren’t as many points in the second quarter and neither team could even get 20. Robertson scored the first four points of the second quarter to give the Kings a nine-point lead at 39-30, but the Pistons went on a run to take a 44-43 lead. It went back-and-forth from there and Peja Stojakovic’s three-pointer at the buzzer put the Kings ahead 51-49. The Kings made just three field goals in the second quarter en route to 16 points.
Detroit again outplayed Sacramento in the third quarter, outscoring the Kings 25-17. An 8-0 run put the Pistons ahead 65-58, and they led 74-68 heading to the final quarter.
The Kings found their offense again in the fourth quarter, netting 31 points after collecting just 33 the previous two quarters. Mike Bibby’s basket put the Kings ahead at 80-78. Oscar Robertson had back-to-back field goals to give the Kings a 95-88 lead with just over four minutes to go. But, Detroit narrowed the gap to one point at 99-98 with a minute to go in regulation. The Kings failed to do anything positive on their final three possessions, while the Pistons could only get a game-tying free throw from Hill with 23 seconds left. Joe Dumars missed a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer.
The Pistons scored the first two points of overtime, as well as the final two points. But they had nothing inbetween and made just one of eight field-goal attempts as the Kings outscored the Pistons 10-4 in the extra period. Richmond scored the Kings’ first six points, and Robertson had the last four.
Next up: the Golden State Warriors.
ROGER SPORTS & GAMES 