The Sacramento Kings have had it rough lately, riding a four-game losing streak including a recent 29-point loss against the defending champion Miami Heat.
The team hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night in attempt to get back on track. Before the losing streak they had won four-out-of-five games.
The Kings put up a strong scoring effort, leading 69-57 at halftime and led by as many as 13 points in the game, but the Cavaliers wouldn't give up so easily.
With Kyrie Irving having an off-night, rookie Dion Waiters picked up the slack with a career-night in scoring. Kings sophomore also picked up the scoring load for the Kings with Isaiah Thomas having trouble for the night .
Cleveland's Alonzo Gee drained a three-pointer to cut their deficit three points near the end of the game but the Kings good free throw shooting (29-for-33 from the line) helped the Kings hold off the Cavaliers by a score of 124-118.
DeMarcus Cousins finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three blocks for the Kings and Jimmer Fredette scored 16 points and less than 14 minutes. Tyreke Evans didn't miss any of his six shots, finishing with 18 points.
Marcus Thornton had 20 points off the bench and Thomas Robinson scored a career-high 12 points to go with seven rebounds.
Cavaliers rookie Dion Waiters scored a career-high 33 points and Tristian Thompson finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds. C.J. Miles also had 17 points for Cleveland.
Kings coach Keith Smart put in Robinson with Jason Thompson in foul trouble and it paid off:
"I thought the way Thomas Robinson had been playing — he's been really under control, hasn't been in too much of a hurry. If he can just play and use his energy, that would help but I thought he did a really good job when he came in."
Robinson, coming off another good game, said that he's trying to get back what got him into the league by hustling and using his athleticism:
"That's a gift that I have that most players at my position don't. I got to use what I've got, just try to out work every player."
The Washington Wizards will visit the Kings on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PST.
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