Trail Blazers 103, Kings 86
SACRAMENTO -- The Portland Trail Blazers ended a four-game losing streak Tuesday night by hammering the Sacramento Kings 103-86 before a disappointed and sparse crowd of 10,153 at Sleep Train Arena.
The Trail Blazers (3-5) received balanced scoring from their starters, but they were led by Damian Lillard, who had 22 points. The rookie point guard, an Oakland native, was passed over in the 2012 draft by the Kings. He had a large cheering section of folks who made the 90-minute drive from the East Bay.
Portland took control of the game in the third quarter. Sacramento held a 54-50 lead early in the quarter, but the Blazers scored 28 of the game's next 32 points to drive some of the Kings fans to boo.
The Kings (2-6) were unable to get within 10 points again.
Lillard hit seven of 10 shots from the field, including five of six from 3-point range. All five Blazers starters reached double figures even though the team played Monday night in Portland, losing 95-87 to the Atlanta Hawks.
Small forward James Johnson led the Kings with 16 points. Marcus Thornton added 14 points for Sacramento, which got eight points and 11 rebounds from Jason Thompson.
The Trail Blazers led 46-42 at the half.
Portland jumped out to a 25-10 advantage sparked by Lillard's perimeter scoring. Lillard, from Weber State, ended the half with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three-point range.
The Kings had no offensive flow until coach Keith Smart brought second-year guard Jimmer Fredette and rookie forward Thomas Robinson off the bench. The pair combined to score 18 points and helped push the tempo.
The Kings opened the game with a decidedly different starting lineup. Veteran Chuck Hayes replaced suspended center DeMarcus Cousins, while veteran guard Aaron Brooks stepped in for point guard Isaiah Thomas, who was not with the team because of a death in the family.
NOTES: The contest began a stretch of seven of Sacramento's next eight games at home. ... Cousins missed the second of his two NBA-mandated suspended games because of a confrontation with San Antonio TV commentator Sean Elliott last Friday. The Players Association filed an appeal on his behalf after Cousins served the first half of the penalty Sunday during the Kings' 103-90 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Elliott criticized Cousins during the broadcast for directing trash talk at the Spurs bench. ... Lillard began the game leading NBA rookies in scoring, assists and minutes.
