Celtics 95 - 120 Kings
Final
  for this game

Thornton lifts Kings past Celtics

Mar 17, 2012 - 6:15 AM Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Marcus Thornton had 36 points and five steals, lifting the Sacramento Kings over the Boston Celtics, 120-95.

Jason Thompson added a double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Kings, who snapped an eight-game skid against Boston. DeMarcus Cousins tallied 20 points and seven boards.

"It felt like an away game," Thornton said. "We wanted to show our fans that we have heart and determination to win games."

Ray Allen ended with 26 points for the Celtics, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass donated 19 and 16 points, respectively.

The Kings led by as many as eight in the first quarter and took a 26-20 lead into the second.

But Boston outscored Sacramento by a 31-26 margin in the second to cut the gap to 52-51 at the half.

The Kings took control of the game with a dominating third stanza. The home team started the frame on a 17-1 run. Thompson's two free throws made it a 69-52 game with 7:52 left.

Thornton made two three-pointers and Cousins made a short jumper for an 87-68 lead with under two minutes remaining.

Sacramento cruised to victory in the fourth.

"We didn't come out with the defensive attitude that we needed to," Pierce said.

Game Notes

Sacramento beat Boston for the first time since a 104-101 triumph in California's capital back on February 20, 2007. Boston had won four in a row at the Kings...Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans (ankle) missed the game...The Kings shot 53.5 percent from the field and went 9-of-21 from three-point range.






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