DeMarcus Cousins returned to the lineup for the Kings and was sensational, but his jumper at the buzzer that would have won the game rattled the rim and was no good as Sacramento lost 108-107 to the Bucks.
Sacramento (11-15) lost its fifth-straight game -- the second under interim coach Tyrone Corbin -- to the Bucks (14-13), who were playing in the second of a back-to-back.
Cousins in his first appearance after missing 10 games with viral meningitis led Sacramento with 27 points and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes of play, while Ben McLemore added 22, Rudy Gay 20 and Darren Collison 15 points in the defeat.
The Bucks displayed balanced scoring and were led by Brandon Knight's 20 points, while OJ Mayo and Jared Dudley contributed 19 points apiece. Jerryd Bayless (17) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (11) rounded out the double-figure scorers.
A Dudley old-fashioned 3-point play, including a layup and free throw with 6:41 to go, gave the Bucks their largest lead of the game at 101-91.
However, the Kings rallied with a 14-4 run led by eight points from Gay, including his layup with 1:01 to go to tie the game at 105.
Then Milwaukee took the lead momentarily on Zaza Pachuila’s layup.
McLemore’s pair of clutch free throws tied the score again at 105 with 30.4 seconds to go.
Dudley missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession but McLemore was whistled for a foul, sending Pachulia to the free throw line. He went 1-for-2 and the Kings secured the defensive rebound and called timeout to plan for the last possession trailing 108-107 with 6.8 seconds to go.
That set the stage for Cousins, who missed a jumper at the buzzer that left Sleep Train Arena and the Kings deflated.
The Kings entered the game fifth in the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage defense and were severely tested by the Bucks who shot 16-for-21 good for 62 percent from downtown.
Turnovers also hindered Sacramento’s effort to the tune of 21 blunders, including five in the fourth quarter which led to 17 points for the Bucks.
Another Kings conundrum has been major talent going off, and Tuesday it was Mayo hotter than mustard taking center stage going for 17 points in the first half.
Sacramento did hold Mayo to just two second-half points.
Sacramento raced out to an 18-6 lead at the 6:58 mark of the first quarter to start the game. However, the Bucks countered by outscoring the Kings 19-11.
Brandon Knight asserted himself in the second quarter going for 16 points and the Bucks ascended to a 57-54 halftime lead.
The third quarter ended tied at 81 and included four ties and three lead changes. It also included more torrid shooting for the Bucks, who went 10-for-17 from the floor.
STANDOUT PERFORMER: Co-MVPs go to Brandon Knight, who scorched Sacramento for 16 first half points, and OJ Mayo who scored 17 points in the first half. Mayo also played a big role by setting the tone on the road. The pair combined for 12-for-20 from 3-point range.
TURNING POINT: The game was tied at 83 with 11:47 to go in the fourth quarter when the Bucks outscored the Kings 9-1, aided by three Sacramento turnovers and capped by a Dudley 3-pointer to take a 92-84 lead.
It was another example of Sacramento’s self-inflicted wounds that created yet another deficit they've yet to fight back from.
INJURY UPDATE: Kings – Rudy Gay (right Achilles tendinitis) and C DeMarcus Cousins (viral meningitis) played while F Reggie Evans (left knee and hip contusion) and F Omri Casspi (knee contusion) were out.
Bucks – F Jabari Parker (ACL tear left knee), John Henson (left foot sprain), Ersan Ilyasova, (nasal fracture) and Damien Inglis (post surgery- right ankle) were out. F Giannis Antetokounmpo (left ankle sprain) and Johnny O’Bryant (right knee sprain) played.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Kings five-game ends Sunday as the Lakers visit California’s capital city.
