by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Cleveland Cavaliers (19-19) came into Sacramento without LeBron James in the line-up and left town having lost their fifth consecutive game. The Sacramento Kings (16-21) handed the Cavs a 103-84 loss and improved to 2-1 on their six game homestand.

After losing a shootout to Denver on Friday, the Kings needed to find their defensive focus, take care of the basketball and hit high percentage shots against the Cavaliers.

Sacramento gave up 29 points to Cleveland in the first quarter by allowing them to shoot 63.2-percent from the floor and 44.4-percent (4 for 9) from 3-Point range. The Kings locked down their defense in the second quarter and held the Cavs to a 31.6-Field Goal Percentage (6 for 19) and only allowed Cleveland to score 15 points in the period.

The teams went into halftime with the Kings leading the game 59-44.

The Kings gave up 20 points to the Cavs in the third quarter on just 7 for 18 shooting (38.9-percent). Sacramento did not let up on Cleveland in the fourth quarter allowing just 20 points on 8 of 22 shots (36.4-percent). For the game, the Kings held the Cavaliers to 42.3-percent (33 for 78) shooting from the field and 34.4-percent (11 for 32) from beyond the 3-Point arc. Cleveland had been averaging 90.1 points per game over their last eight games. The Kings held them to just 84 points on Sunday night.

Sacramento came into the game averaging 16.5 turnovers per game. They turned the ball over just five times against the Cavs (a season low). The Kings had zero turnovers in the second quarter.

The Kings outrebounded the Cavs 45-41.

The Kings needed to take higher percentage shots and they did. Sacramento outscored the Cavs 40-30 in the paint and led the game in Fastbreak points 17-5. The Kings scored 12 Second Chance points to just 7 for Cleveland.

The Kings dished out 20 assists for the game. Darren Collison led the team with six assists. DeMarcus Cousins added five, Ben McLemore four, Derrick Williams three and Rudy Gay two assists.

DeMarcus Cousins recorded his 21st double-double of the season putting up 26 points (game high) and grabbing 13 rebounds for Sacramento. Rudy Gay put up 23 points, Darren Collison 16 and Carl Landry 11.

Kevin Love led Cleveland with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Kyrie Irving added 21 points and seven assists. Timofey Mozgov, who just joined the Cavs from Denver, had a double-double with 14 points and and 12 rebounds.

Jason Thompson had the task of guarding Kevin Love on Sunday night. Love did score 25 but he had to put up 21 shots to record those points because of Thompson’s relentless defense.

There was a LeBron James siting. “The King” worked out before the game in front of adoring fans. James is expected to be back in the starting line-up as early as Thursday versus the Lakers in Los Angeles.

The Kings return to action on Tuesday when the host the Dallas Mavericks at Sleep Train Arena.