AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
By Jeff Hall
SACRAMENTO –
It was a rolling Thunder making it’s way though Sacramento as the Thunder shook the Kings in defeat 104-92. The loss was the Kings fourth straight defeat. It was the first time the team played without Michael Malone as the team’s head coach this season. Tyrone Corbin the teams interim head coach led the way after Malone was fired by the team which was announced on Monday.
Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro said the decision to fire Malone was due to philosophical differences. It’s believed that management wanted to see team perform a more up-tempo offense, where Malone asked his players to focus primarily on Defense. The new up-tempo offense was not too effective and the Thunder began the game on a 9-0 run and finished the first with 34- 20 lead. The Kings continued to struggle with poor ball handling turning the ball over seven times resulting in nine points for the Thunder.
In the second quarter the Thunder increased their lead to 16 points. Guard Russell Westbrook led the way for the Thunder with 17 points in the first half.
The Kings made things interesting and pulled themselves back into the game in the fourth going on an 12-0 run and erupted the crowd of 17,317 at Sleep Train Arena when the Kings pulled ahead for the first time in the game with back to back baskets by Carl Landry. The run faded quickly as the Kings got sloppy with ball handling turning the all over nine times in the fourth quarter opening the door for the Thunder to close out the Kings when Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook began to take the game away.. Durant scored 26 points and Westbrook scored 32 points
DeMarcus Cousins missed his 10th straight game still suffering with (viral meningitis) Cousins is now considered day to day. Omri Casspi also remained out with (left knee bone contusion).
With the win The Thunder has now won seven straight with The team has really turned around its play with the return of Forward Kevin Durant back in the lineup and the Thunder has now won eight of their last nine.
The Kings are hoping the same turnaround occurs when Cousins is able to get back on the floor.
The main reason for the loss is a common problem the Kings have struggled with in there last four losses, too many turnovers. The 19 turnovers in this game resulted in 26 points for the Thunder. “We can’t afford to turn the ball over like we did. ” said new interim head coach Tyrone Corbin.
Game Notes Kevin Durant scored his 15,000 point of his NBA career with his second basket of the game Durant reached the milestone in his 550th career game. Only three players have reached 15,000 in fewer games. Michael Jordan (460) Lebron James (540) and Shaquille O’Neal (547).
The Kings retired the number of Peja Stojakovic. His former teammates, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, Scot Pollard, Bobby Jackson and Brad Miller were in attendance.
Up next the Kings host the Milwaukee Bucks at Sleep Train Arena on Thursday Night.
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