Sweep! There hasn’t been a lot for Kings fans to cheer for this season, but Tuesday’s 106-98 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers gave them reason to smile. For the first time since the Lakers moved to LA 68 years ago, the Kings have swept the season series 4-0.
Southern California native Darren Collison loves to play in front of his hometown crowd. The UCLA alum torched the Lakers from the opening tip, finishing with 22 points on 10-for-14 shooting. Los Angeles had no answer for Collison’s speed and quickness.
DeMarcus Cousins struggled to find a rhythm, scoring his first basket in final minute of the second quarter. That didn’t stop him from posting another quality game. The Kings’ All-Star big dropped in a modest 22 points and eight rebounds in the win.
Rudy Gay scored just six points in Sunday’s loss to the Utah Jazz, but he returned to form in LA. The veteran forward scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, handed out three assists and picked up three steals in his 35 minutes of action.
Rajon Rondo chipped in nine points and 12 assists, but he turned the ball over six times. Rookie Willie Cauley-Stein added eight points and seven rebounds in his return to the starting lineup and Omri Casspi dropped in 11 off the bench.
There is a reason the Lakers are 14-54 on the season. And without Kobe Bryant in the lineup, they are downright unwatchable. They fumbled the ball all over the court, turning it over 22 times which allowed the Kings to snap their five-game losing streak.
Lou Williams was one of the few bright spots for Los Angeles, finishing the night with 17 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the line off the Lakers bench. Rookie D’Angelo Russell had a quiet night but came up big in the fourth, scoring six of his 14 points in the final frame.
Second-year big man Julius Randle added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Larry Nance Jr. managed to score 12 points and grab nine rebounds.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Collison spent four seasons making a name for himself in Los Angeles as a member of the Bruins. He had a swagger about him from the opening tip as he attacked the soft belly of the Lakers all night.
TURNING POINT:
The Kings looked motivated from the opening tip Tuesday night at the Staples Center and the Lakers never came close to matching their intensity. Sacramento led 32-15 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.
INJURY UPDATE:
Ben McLemore missed his fourth straight game with a non-displaced fracture in the tip of his right ring finger.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Kings return home on Wednesday to take on the New Orleans Pelicans in the second night of a back-to-back.
