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SACRAMENTO -- The Kings improved to 2-4 without DeMarcus Cousins in the lineup this season, defeating the struggling Utah Jazz on Monday night, 101-92, who suffered their ninth straight defeat.
Sacramento (11-10) received production from a few reliable sources and a new one as well.
Rudy Gay led all scorers with 29 points and Darren Collison added 16 points and dished for six assists.
However, it was a breakout performance by rookie Nik Stauskas, scoring a career-high 15 points going 6-for-12 from the field including 2-for-4 from 3-point range.
He also secured a career-high eight rebounds off the bench that was a welcome addition for Sacramento.
“I was really happy to see Nik Stauskas kind of become a man in the NBA tonight," Kings coach Michael Malone said. “He grew up tonight. You saw him becoming more and more aggressive as he saw the ball go in.
“I think that’s all he needs, a little bit of confidence to get him going. It was a great win, and I’m very happy for Nik.”
Stauskas’ maturation didn’t go unnoticed by Utah (5-16).
“Stauskas hurt us,” Jazz coach Quinn Snyder said. “He hasn’t been shooting the ball and playing at that level, recently . . . when you prepare for him you know he’s capable of doing what he did, and unfortunately he did it against us.”
For his part, last year’s Big 10 Player of the Year out of Michigan, who had scored 13 points combined in his previous six games, seemed relieved in the Kings locker room.
“Just to have this game and to have the support of my teammates and see how happy they are for me, it put a smile on my face,” said Stauskas. “I’m just ready to move on to tomorrow night and play the Lakers.”
Stauskas’ contribution was timely as Ben McLemore, the Kings' starting two-guard who has scored in double figures in thirteen of his last seventeen games, was quiet again offensively - limited to six points in 18 minutes after scoring only two points on Saturday in a loss to Orlando.
“I wanted to put Ben back in the game tonight, but I thought that it was important for Nik to finish the game out,” Malone commented. “He earned that, with the defense he played and the fact that he was making plays to the basket.
“This kind of helps out Ben because I kind of ran him into the ground the other night. Maybe tomorrow night (against the Lakers), his legs will be back and he can give us a great effort.”
Gay’s 29 points were vital to the Kings success but his defense was necessary as well.
After Gordon Hayward went for 12 points in the first quarter, the former UConn Huskie limited the Jazz’s leading scorer to just seven points over the final three quarters.
“I think Rudy Gay took on the challenge, which I think that he really needs to do,” Malone said. “With DeMarcus Cousins out, Rudy needs to not only carry us offensively, but he needs to set the tone defensively.
“Gordon Hayward is a hell of a young player, but I thought after that good start that he had, we made him work for whatever he got after that.”
THE GOOD
Gay’s defense, holding Gordon Hayward to seven points over the final three quarters, and his offense, pouring in 29 points, were huge for the Kings.
THE BAD
The Kings allowed a season-high 29 fast break points.
“You all heard me all night long imploring, begging, pleading with the team to get back and we didn’t do it,” Malone said. “I told our guys, we’ll take the win and holding them to 40.5 percent from the field, but allowing 29 fast break points is unacceptable.”
THE TAKE
Without Cousins, who missed his sixth straight game due to viral meningitis, this was a win that Sacramento had to have especially in its own building versus a reeling Utah team.
The victory keeps the Kings above .500, and with seven of their next nine at home, and the other two in California against the Lakers Tuesday and the red-hot Warriors on Dec. 22, perhaps Sacramento is stabilizing without Cousins, whose return is unknown at this time.
