Kings conquer Cavaliers in high-scoring affair

SACRAMENTO — DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and the Sacramento Kings snapped a four-game losing streak with a 124-118 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.

Jimmer Fredette and Cousins both scored eight points in the fourth quarter for the struggling Kings, who had allowed nearly 118 points per game during the losing streak and had three losses of 20 points or more.

Marcus Thornton had 20 points and Tyreke Evans added 18 for the Kings. Fredette had 16 points, John Salmons 14 and rookie Thomas Robinson tied a career high with 12 points and added seven rebounds.

Reserve Dion Waiters scored a career-high 33 points for the Cavaliers, who have lost three straight and eight of 10. CJ Miles scored 17 points and Tristan Thompson had 17 points and 15 rebounds. Kyrie Irving had 15 points, but shot 6 of 19 and had six turnovers.

Waiters made two straight treys, cutting the Sacramento lead to three points. After the Kings made a free throw, Waiters missed at the other end and Cousins secured the rebound and was fouled. His two free throws sealed the victory.

Irving made two free throws and a jumper to get the Cavaliers within five, but he lost the ball on consecutive possessions and the turnovers led to fastbreak layups by Thornton and Cousins, giving Sacramento a 116-107 advantage with 1:29 to go.

Rumors continue regarding the sale of the Kings. The Maloof ownership is reportedly on the verge of selling the team to a Seattle-based ownership group that would move the team to the Emerald City next season.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is searching for a local group that will buy the team and keep it in Sacramento.

Evans made his first start since missing 16 games, including 11 straight, with a sore left knee. Evans, who played in a reserve role the previous three games, got going early, scoring seven points in the game’s first four minutes.

Evans made all six field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, and converted four of four free throws.

Fredette converted a three-point play, then added two free throws following a hard foul near mid-court. Fredette’s five straight points put the Kings ahead 106-98 with 5:31 remaining. Fredette was finished. He made consecutive 3-points to give Sacramento a nine-point lead with just over four minutes left.

Waiters scored seven points in a short span to keep the Cavaliers close in the fourth quarter. His driving layup with 6:42 left cut the Sacramento lead to 101-98.

Ineffective in the first half, Thompson was a major factor in the third quarter when the Cavaliers outscored the Kings 30-24. The Cavaliers’ second-year forward had 11 points and seven rebounds in helping Cleveland pull to within 93-87 entering the fourth.

Cousins scored 14 points and eight rebounds in the opening half when the Kings led 69-57. Evans had 12 points and the bench contributed 31 points in helping the Kings shoot 56 percent.

Miles had 14 points and Waiters added 12 in the first half for Cleveland.

Notes: Cousins was called for a technical foul in the third quarter after committing his first foul of the game. Less than a minute later, Cousins was called for a controversial flagrant 1 foul against Zeller. … Making a rare early appearance, Robinson had six points in the first quarter, highlighted by a dunk off a lob pass with one second left in the period. … Former King Omri Casspi had a strong second quarter off the bench for Cleveland, scoring 10 points. … Sacramento had its entire roster available, which hasn’t been the case for much of the season due to injuries and suspensions.