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Thornton guides Kings over Grizzlies

Mar 21, 2012 - 6:27 AM Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Marcus Thornton erupted for 31 points and also had seven rebounds, six assists and three steals as the Kings defeated the Grizzlies, 119-110, on Tuesday.

DeMarcus Cousins poured in 23 points and Isaiah Thomas netted 18 with seven assists for Sacramento, which won its third straight and snapped a four-game skid against Memphis. Jason Thompson contributed a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double in the victory.

"We are just trusting each other and being very unselfish," said Thomas. "There's a lot of plays where guys have open shots."

Rudy Gay paced the visitors with 23 points and all five starters scored in double figures, but it was not enough for the Grizzlies, who have lost three of four. Marc Gasol scored 15 points and pulled down 10 boards in the loss.

"They did whatever they wanted to," said Gasol. "When they wanted to shoot from the outside they had every shot they wanted. When they wanted to run, they ran. When they wanted to go inside, they went inside."

The game was tightly contested early, with five ties and three lead changes in the first seven minutes, but the Kings ended the first quarter on a 9-1 run and led 37-28 after one.

Memphis threatened in the second after trailing by as many as 13 in the frame when, down 56-46, Gasol and Gay combined for eight straight points.

The Kings responded with 10 of the final 12 points, however, to replenish their double-digit edge, 66-56, by halftime.

The Grizzlies made it close again in the final stanza, cutting their deficit to three at 95-92 on a jumper from Zach Randolph -- before the hosts answered again, rolling off 11 of the next 13 points, capped off by a big dunk from Jason Thompson, who finished with 14 points.

Game Notes

Sacramento scored 74 of its points in the paint, while Memphis tallied 64...The Kings held a 47-37 rebounding advantage and a 27-21 edge in fastbreak points...Sacramento made just 65.6 percent (21-of-32) of its free throw attempts...The Kings' Donte Greene was charged with a technical foul at the 8:35 mark of the second quarter.