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Kings snap skid in win over Warriors

Mar 15, 2011 - 6:22 AM Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Marcus Thornton couldn't miss, scoring a career-best 42 points, in Sacramento's 129-119 victory over Golden State.

Thornton made 13-of-20 shots and 12-of-14 free throws in the scoring onslaught. His previous career high was 37 points on February 23, 2010 versus Cleveland. Samuel Dalembert also posted a career-high with 27 points to go along with 16 rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins donated 15 points and nine rebounds, while Francisco Garcia chipped in with 13 points for the Kings, who snapped a six-game losing streak.

"There's a historic rivalry between our two clubs and every time we meet up there is going to be energy on the court," said Sacramento head coach Paul Westphal.

Al Thornton led Golden State with 23 points off the bench, while Stephen Curry scored 19 points, including five treys, and Dorrell Wright totaled 18 points. Vladimir Radmanovic posted 16 points for the Warriors, who saw their two-game winning streak come to an end.

"You need energy and effort if you want to win," said Golden State head coach Keith Smart. "The two go together, if you just have one you're going to fail."

Golden State mustered just one field goal over the game's first 5 1/2 minutes, and after Wright's trey started the scoring, the Kings put up the game's next 19 points capped by five straight from Marcus Thornton for a 19-3 game. The margin grew to 32-13 in the period's closing minutes on another Marcus Thornton bucket, but Golden State scored seven of the final nine points to pull within 35-20 on Radmanovic's three-pointer just before the horn.

Sacramento restored order with the first six points of the second stanza and 12 of the first 15. Two free throws by Dalembert made the score 47-23 with just over 9 1/2 minutes to go in the half. The points kept coming for the Kings, who reached the 70-point plateau on Dalembert's tip-in with 26.5 ticks to go. Sacramento held a 71-59 lead after 24 minutes of game action.

The Warriors got as close as 11 points, but Sacramento regained its footing, pushing its edge to 100-82 on Dalembert's layup with just over two minutes to play. Another mid-range Dalembert jumper capped the third-period scoring for a 107-84 lead.

Golden State rallied, cutting the deficit into single digits late in the fourth quarter, but couldn't get over the hump and ran out of time.

Game Notes

Sacramento made 56.6 percent of its shots on the game and 61.4 percent of them in the first half...The Warriors made 50 percent of their shots and 11 three- pointers, including four by Radmanovic...Monta Ellis totaled 15 points with nine assists in defeat...Luther Head added 10 for the victors...Golden State won the two previous meetings this season, both in overtime.