AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

By Jeff Hall
SACRAMENTO –

Despite poor shooting in the first half the Kings found a way to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 107-106 in front of 16,636 fans at Sleep Train Arena. The 76ers scored 70 points in the first half, but only scored 36 points in the second half allowing the Kings to pull away with the victory.

The victory gives the Kings their first three game-winning streak since November 20-25, 2014.

The Kings struggled on both ends of the floor early in the contest allowing the Sixers to jump out to an early lead in the first quarter. The Kings shot twenty-five percent in the first four minutes of the game. The Sixers shot 62.5 percent from the field, but despite their early struggles the Kings got themselves back into the game thanks in most part to the Kings strong play around the basket. The Sixers led the Kings 31-27 after the first. The Kings ended the quarter with 38.5 percent shooting from the field. Cousins Led the Kings in scoring with 10 first quarter points. Gay scored only two points in the first quarter. The highlight of the first quarter was that the Kings only turned the ball over once.

The second quarter began to be a similar style of play as the first quarter until Cousins was successful with a 3-point play and Gay slammed one down to give the Kings their first lead of the evening with six minutes into the second quarter. However, the Kings were not as strong around the basket as they were in the first. Simply put, the Kings were out-shot by the Sixers who scored 39 points in the second quarter and a total of 70 points in the first half. Cousins missed several close shots near the basket late in the second quarter. Despite his struggles, Cousins still led the Kings in scoring with 17 first half points.

The Kings continued to struggle shooting early in the third, but score continued to remain close. You had a feeling that the Kings were going to pull this game out, primarily because despite how well Philadelphia shot the ball they could not get a sizable lead. Cousins took charge and Cousins scored a game high 33 points with 17 rebounds.

The Kings took the game over in the fourth primarily because of the strong play of Cousins and improved defense by Cousins and the team.

Team Notes:

UCLA’s David Wear added to the King’s roster

The Kings signed David Wear to a 10-day contract according to Kings GM Pete D’Alesandro. Wear is a 6-10 235 pound forward who is averaging 16.3 ponts per game in 43 games for the Reno Big Horns, the Kings NBA D League affiliate. Wear played for UCLA. He will wore number 31 for the Kings. Wear did not play in the game against the 76ers.

A new way to find a win

For a good part of the season it has been Kings All-Star DeMarcus Cousins who has clearly been the needed go to man for the Kings to find a way to Win, but since the All-Star break good things happen with the great play of Rudy Gay.

Coming into tonight’s game the Kings have been finding ways to win with Rudy Gay leading the way, Gay started slowly in the first half, but ended with 21 points. In the previous game, Gay scored 26 points. He’s averaged 27.6 points and 51.6 percent shooting over his last eight games, and Sacramento is 14-7 when he scores 25 or more.

Gay credited his second straight start at power forward for helping open things up.

“The shots out there look differently because there is more spacing on the floor and more spacing to drive, not just for me, but for my teammates as well,” said Gay, whose 48.3 field-goal percentage against Philadelphia is tied for his second highest against an opponent.

Before tonight’s game George Karl spoke of Gay’s great play of late. “We’re asking him to expand his game a little bit which is always challenging to a very talented player. He’s done it well, We are getting rewards from it.”

Throwback Tuesday

It was Hardwood classic night at Sleep Train Arena with the Kings sporting throwback uniforms of the Rochester Royals.

Up next the Kings head back on the road to Phoenix to take on the Suns tomorrow night after wrapping up a five-game home stand.