AP Photo/Rich Pedroncell

By Jeff Hall

SACRAMENTO –

The Kings hosted the Charlotte hornets at Sleep Train Arena without DeMarcus Cousins who is struggling with a right calf strain. Rudy Gay gave the Kings a much needed hot scoring night without Cousins in the game and led the Kings to a 101-91 victory over the Hornets.

Gay had thirty-three points. Gay has scored 20 points or more in the last eight game he has played

The Kings opened the game with success from beyond the three-point line hitting five of six from beyond the arc. The Kings shot well overall in the first quarter Rudy Gay was five of six from the field with and led the Kings with 11 first quarter points.  Center Al Jefferson led the Hornets in scoring with eleven first quarter points The Kings shot 63.2 percent from the field. The Hornets shot 34.8 percent. The Kings turned the ball over eight times leading to four points for the Hornets.

The Kings led 57-46 at halftime. Gay scored eighteen points in the first half. Jefferson led the hornets scoring with thirteen points.

The Kings improved their ball control with just two turnovers in the second quarter and ten total in the first half.

Early in the first half the Hornets pulled within three points, then Derrick Williams was aggressive and scored two electrifying dunks that provided a spark to the  16,799 fans in attendance andit  seemed to turn the offense around and resullted in the Kings pulling away from the Hornets once and for all.

While Jefferson had a good first half, he struggled in the second half with just six points.

The Kings played well defensively and particularly in the second half. They held the Hornets to a poor offensive game by his status. And held Mo Williams to just nine points

The Hornets are fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference but are struggling and they have now Lost three straight games.

The Kings continued to struggle with turnovers and had 21 total turnovers which demonstrates how poorly the shooting was for the Hornets.

Reggie Evans stepped up defensively and gave the Kings 16 rebounds off the bench

“Reggie had 16 points in 20 minutes, that was big.” Said the Kings leading scorer Rudy Gay

Up Next the Kings the Kings host the Washington Wizards Sunday at the Sleep Train Arena. The Kings lost to the Wizards on their last road trip.