The Kings fell 101-90 to the Cavaliers Friday at Quicken Loans Arena, extending their longest losing streak of the season to eight games.
Sacramento’s cold shooting, 35.7% from the floor including 3-for-18 for 16.7 % from 3-point range, doomed the Kings effort as the final score was not indicative of the Cavs' control of the victory.
The Kings (16-29) fall to 6-14 on the road and have yet to win a road game hosted by an Eastern Conference foe this season.
Cleveland (28-20) has now won nine straight games, representing its longest winning streak of the season. The Kings and Cavaliers have now split the season series and, ironically, Sacramento's last victory was a 103-84 triumph at Sleep Train Arena on Jan. 11.
After the loss, the Kings fall to 8-8 in back-to-back games this season and are 5-4 in the first game of back-to-back scenarios with Sacramento heading to Indiana Saturday.
DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings with 21 points and 13 rebounds, his 27th double-double of the season, while Rudy Gay added 20 points in the defeat.
Omri Casspi added 15 points off the bench while Darren Collison added 11 points and four assists.
Kevin Love led a coterie of Cavs in double figures, pouring in 23 points along with Kyrie Irving (21), LeBron James (19) and J.R. Smith (16) in the win.
With the game tied at 16 and 6:25 remaining in the first quarter, Cleveland outscored Sacramento 14-4 to take a 30-18 lead at the end of the first 12 minutes of action. Cleveland’s early production was fueled by Loves' 16 points in the stanza.
The Cavaliers led 55-44 at the intermission and it would’ve been a 14-point deficit for the Kings if not for a Collison 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. Gay and Cousins combined for 25 first-half points for Sacramento, while the Kings held Love to just two points in the second quarter.
Cleveland extended its lead to 22 points at 81-59 on a Iman Shumpert 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining in the third quarter - its longest lead of the game up until that point.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Love was hot early, scoring 16 in the first quarter and lead all scorers with 23 points.
TURNING POINT
Cleveland outscored Sacramento 31-21 in the third quarter, extending its lead to 86-65 heading into the fourth, and the Kings never seriously threatened thereafter.
INJURY REPORT
Kings: C DeMarcus Cousins (left ankle sprain) and F Carl Landry (right wrist sprain) were probable and played while F Eric Moreland (left shoulder labral tear) was out.
Cavs -- F LeBron James (right wrist sprain) was doubtful and played while F Anderson Varejao (left achilles tendon rupture) was out.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Kings road trip concludes at Indiana on Saturday versus the Pacers.
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