LOS ANGELES — Forward DeMarcus Cousins scored 36 points and collected 16 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings rolled to 112-93 romp over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
Cousins connected on 13 of 22 shots and 10 of 12 free throws, boosting the Kings (18-23) to their sixth straight win over the Lakers. Cousins scored 30 or more points in seven of the last nine games.
Forward Rudy Gay had 16 points and six boards and point guard Rajon Rondo added 11 points, 17 assists and five rebounds. Rondo has 11 games with 15 or more assists this season, two shy of the Kings’ single-season record. Center Willie Cauley-Stein chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento.
Forward Brandon Bass had 18 points and seven rebounds for Los Angeles (9-35), which lost its fourth in a row. Forward Kobe Bryant and guard Lou Williams contributed 15 points apiece for the Lakers and guards Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell finished with 14 each.
A three-point play by Bass pulled the Lakers within 91-87 with 8:19 left in the contest, but a 17-0 surge, sparked by 3-pointer Collison and a bucket and dunk by Cousins, pushed the margin to 104-87 less than three minutes later.
Sacramento blitzed Los Angeles with a 20-6 run in the third after a 3-point bucket by guard Marco Belinelli at 3:37 of the quarter for an 82-66 advantage. By the end of the third, the Kings owned an 86-77 lead.
Sacramento never trailed. The Kings, who led by as much as 14 in the first half, cruised to a 28-18 advantage after one quarter and 57-52 lead at the break behind the play of Cousins. He made seven of 11 shots from the floor and six of seven free throws.
Bryant scored 11 of his 13 first-half points in the second quarter, helping the Lakers rally from double-digits Los Angeles outscored Sacramento 34-29 in the second quarter.
NOTES: George Karl said his sometimes-stormy relationship with F/C DeMarcus Cousins has improved. Karl added that although he frequently has disagreements with PG Rajon Rondo on game strategies, the Kings coach believes the discussions are healthy. “All point guards have a stubbornness to them and I have a stubbornness to me,” said Karl, citing previous clashes coaching Gary Payton, Nate McMillian, Allen Iverson and Andre Miller, among others. “Rondo and I argue a lot.” … Lakers F Larry Nance missed his second game with a sore right knee. Nance will be re-evaluated Thursday. He is questionable for Friday, coach Byron Scott said. … Sacramento begins a three-game homestand against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, while Los Angeles hosts the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.