SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Center DeMarcus Cousins capped a 28-point night by hitting a jumper from just inside the top of the key at the buzzer, and the Sacramento Kings overcame a fourth-quarter collapse to edge the Phoenix Suns 85-83 on Sunday at Sleep Train Arena.
Cousins, who also finished with 12 rebounds, made his shot after the Kings squandered a 73-59 lead entering the quarter. It gave Sacramento at least one more victory under coach Tyrone Corbin, who played amid reports he may not be on the job much longer.
Guard Ben McLemore added 13 points, and Sacramento ended a six-game home losing streak, its longest in seven seasons, despite playing without forward Rudy Gay (left ankle sprain) and guard Darren Collison (hip flexor). The Kings (18-32) snapped a three-game skid and won for just the second time in 13 games overall.
Guard Isaiah Thomas scored 26 points, including 11 straight in the fourth quarter, as Phoenix used a 24-8 run to take an 83-81 lead with 1:21 left.
The Suns (29-24) also were short-handed. Guard Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix’s leading scorer (16.9 points per game) and passer (5.9 assists per game), missed the game to attend the birth of his child. Center Alex Len missed his second straight contest with a sprained ankle.
Without them, the Suns were held to a season-low scoring output and shot just 36 percent from the field. Guard Goran Dragic scored 13 points for Phoenix, but twin forwards Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris combined for only 13 points on 5-for-28 shooting.
Phoenix lost its fifth straight road contest. Markieff Morris’ jumper from short range put the Suns ahead 83-81, but Cousins made a layup amid a crowd to tie the game with 57 seconds left, and Markieff Morris missed a jumper and forward Miles Plumlee couldn’t convert two putbacks. That set the stage for Cousins’ game-winner.
Sacramento’s win was its seventh in 26 contests under Corbin, who coached amid reports the Kings are in discussions to hire George Karl to replace him. Corbin was hired Dec. 15 to replace Michael Malone, who was fired after an 11-13 start.
Karl has coached 25 seasons in the NBA. He coached the Denver Nuggets to a 57-25 mark in 2012-13, his last season on the sidelines.
NOTES: Playing without F Rudy Gay (foot) and G Darren Collision (hip) cost the Kings an average of 31.7 points per game. Collison had scored in double figures in 22 straight games before suffering his injury against Dallas on Thursday. Gay was 3-for-21 shooting in his past two contests. … Without G Eric Bledsoe (expectant father) and C Alex Len (ankle), the Suns were missing a combined 24.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Bledsoe was 8-for-13 from 3-point range in his previous five contests. … Kings C DeMarcus Cousins, who totaled 59 technical fouls in his first four seasons, picked up his sixth late in the first half. Cousins, who never has finished with fewer than 14 technical fouls, was five behind Suns F Markieff Morris, Los Angeles Clippers F Matt Barnes and Oklahoma Thunder G Russell Westbrook, all of whom were tied for the NBA lead before Sunday. … Phoenix, which is 15-6 against the Eastern Conference, closes out the first half Tuesday at home against Houston, then plays six of its first nine after the break against the Eastern Conference.