Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins Can’t Tame Bobcats In Charlotte
Dec 17, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Quincy Acy (5) after being fouled by Charlotte Bobcats forward Cody Zeller (40) (not pictured) during the second half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
The Sacramento Kings take a 95-87 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on their first of four road games taking place this week. It was a dominating performance by Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins, but it was not good enough as the rest of the Kings players just couldn’t find a way to help him out offensively.
The game started with a sign that the team was going to have to fight for a win all night. After the Kings scored the first two points of the game, the Bobcats went on to score seven unanswered points. The Bobcats seemed to do anything they really wanted offensively and one person that took the offensive load most of the first half was Gerald Henderson. Henderson finished the game with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. He also had big help from Kemba Walker, who usually is a 31 percent 3-point shooter, but he had the touch from deep tonight.
The Kings really couldn’t find a way to stop the Bobcats through the first half, as the Kings at one point found themselves down by as much as 18. The Kings showed more of a fight in the second half; Isaiah Thomas showed a bunch of energy to bring the team back to within four, but sadly after a quick stretch, the Kings found themselves struggling to score.
This has been a problem for the Kings all season long. The Kings always find themselves in a shooting drought during some part of the game; you just never know when it will take place. This time it looked like it took place all night long. If your name was not DeMarcus Cousins, then you didn’t really know what the ball going through the basket looked like tonight. To completely sum up the teams shooting struggle tonight–Jimmer Fredette, Travis Outlaw, Ben McLemore and Rudy Gay combined for 5-of-32 shooting.
Rudy Gay struggled tonight, shooting just 1-for-6 from the field and could not return to the game after three quarters because of right knee stiffness, which leaves his status for tomorrow’s game in Atlanta questionable. That could be a good explanation for his play; he did not look comfortable on the court tonight and just like many others tonight, could not find his touch.
One positive you can take away from this game tonight–aside from DeMarcus–was the play of Quincy Acy. Quincy came into the game and brought a ton of energy with him. Acy wont be one of those players that will come in and be a complete game changer, but when he does come in he is a complete morale and energy booster. Acy finished the game with five points, three boards and two blocks.
The Kings take the hardwood again tomorrow, when they play against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta. That game will tips off at 4:30 p.m. Pacific, so for the ones who work late make sure you set your DVR’s.