Kings beat Suns as Karl ties for 5th-most wins
SACRAMENTO>> Sacramento Kings coach George Karl shrugged off his milestone 1,155th victory Saturday, preferring to focus on his team’s current plight rather than tying Phil Jackson for the fifth most career victories in NBA history.
DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and nine rebounds to help give Karl and the struggling Kings some temporary relief with a 142-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns, who lost their eighth in a row.
It’s been a long journey for the 63-year-old Karl, who has a sparkling 1,155795 record in 27 seasons, twice overcoming cancer in a five-year period.
Now he’s tasked with turning around a team that has experienced nine straight losing seasons.
Karl has a combined 2339 record with the Kings, including a 13-20 mark this season that has been characterized by erratic play. The latest loss was an agonizing one Wednesday at home to Philadelphia, which has the NBA’s worst record.
“Our record brings a lot of energizing drama to our team, and in today’s world it gets magnified in a crazy way,” Karl explained. “Our team has done a better job with what they have been dealt than people give them credit for most of the time.”
Karl isn’t comparing himself to Jackson, but he planned to enjoy the win.
“The beer will taste like champagne,” Karl joked. “It’s good, a fun thing with my family, my son, my
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daughter, my son-in-law and staff. We joke about it all the time. As I said before, he’s a great coach, maybe the best. I don’t know what our record is against him, but I’m pretty sure it’s not very good.”
Karl’s latest team was very good in the second half. The point total is the most scored by the Kings since they had a Sacramento-era record 154 points against Philadelphia, 23 years ago on Jan. 2, 1993.
Darren Collison had 21 points and six assists and Marco Belinelli had 19 points for the Kings. Rudy Gay added 16 points and Rajon Rondo had 15 points and 15 assists. The Kings shot 61.6 percent in snapping a three-game skid.
“When we get stops we are at our best,” Rondo said. “We were moving the ball, everyone was getting touches, and we were in rhythm. It was contagious.” PACERS 94, PISTONS 82 >> Paul George scored 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to lead Indiana to a victory over Detroit.
George Hill had 18 points and Monta Ellis added 14 for the Pacers (19-14), who snapped a two game skid.
Kentavious CaldwellPope had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Ersan Ilyasova and Reggie Jackson each scored 12 points for the Pistons (18-16), who have lost four of five games.
The Pacers went on a 12-2 run in the third quarter to take a 62-53 lead after George made two free throws and a dunk. NETS100,CELTICS97>> Brook Lopez scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading Brooklyn to a victory over Boston.
Joe Johnson added 20 points, Thaddeus Young scored 16 with 10 rebounds, and Bojan Bogdanovic had 13 points for the Nets, who won for the third time in 11 games.
Isaiah Thomas had 24 points and Jae Crowder scored 16 for Boston. The Celtics dropped their second straight after a season-high four-game winning streak.
Nets guard Jarrett Jack left the game after crumbling to the court and grab- bing his right knee late in the third quarter. The team said it was a sprain. THUNDER 109, HORNETS 90 >> Kevin Durant had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and Oklahoma City pulled away in the second half to beat Charlotte.
Russell Westbrook added 16 points for the Thunder, who put four other players in double figures in winning their fourth straight game.
Kemba Walker scored 32 points, Jeremy Lin added 15 and P.J. Hairston had 10 for the Hornets, who made a run in the third quarter, cutting a 12-point Oklahoma City lead to two.
Leading 66-54 at the break, Charlotte scored nine unanswered points to pull to 66-64 with 9:45 remaining in the third.