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Brooks, Kings outlast Warriors in high-scoring affair

Dec 20, 2012 - 6:57 AM Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Aaron Brooks, one of seven Kings scoring in double figures, hit a critical 3-pointer in crunch time to help Sacramento beat the Golden State Warriors for the second time this season in a 131-127 offensive showcase between Pacific Division foes.

The crowd at Sleep Train Arena, which housed a large contingent of Warriors fans, saw both teams shoot 50 percent from the field and 24-of-45 (53 percent) from 3-point range.

Brooks finished with 23 points, DeMarcus Cousins added 24 -- 14 from the foul line -- and Marcus Thornton netted 19 in his return from a four-game absence for the Kings, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

"Since I got here it's been a rivalry," Thornton said about playing the Warriors. "We get into it more because of the fans. Every time we play them it's always intense and we always try to come out ahead."

Stephen Curry led Golden State with 32 points before fouling out with 2:13 remaining. David Lee and Jarrett Jack chipped in 29 and 28 points, respectively, in the setback.

The Warriors, who had won seven of eight coming in, trailed by 14 one minute into the fourth, but used a 22-7 run to take their first lead since it was 9-8. Carl Landry scored on four straight possessions during the spurt, and Curry drained 3-pointers on consecutive touches for a 112-111 lead with 6:23 to play.

It stayed close coming down the stretch and was tied, 118-118, when Curry committed his sixth foul with 2:13 to play. John Salmons went 1-for-2 at the line to break the deadlock, and Brooks connected on a huge 3-pointer the next possession for a four-point lead.

After Jack made 1-of-2 at the stripe with 90 seconds left, Thornton hit from the same spot as Brooks on the previous possession. Sacramento, which wound up shooting 34-of-42 from the foul line, held on for the win by making all six free throw attempts in the final 21.3 seconds.

"We are a team that can be beaten by the best and beaten by the worst. We have to play our brand of basketball in order to stay successful and when we don't, we can be disappointed," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said.

The Kings scored 11 straight points midway through the first quarter to build a lead. Brooks had 12 in the opening 12 minutes and beat the buzzer with a fadeaway jumper for a 33-24 advantage.

The margin reached 15 when Jimmer Fredette drained a 3-pointer for a 50-35 edge early in the second, and Sacramento still led at the break, 63-55, despite Jack and Lee combining for 23 points in the frame.

The closest the Warriors got in the third quarter was six, and it was a 99-88 game entering the final stanza.

Game Notes

Sacramento beat the Warriors, 94-92, in its home opener on Nov. 5 ... Rounding out the Kings' high scorers were Salmons (17 points), Fredette (15), Isaiah Thomas (11) and Jason Thompson (10). Thompson also pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds ... Kings point guard Tyreke Evans (knee) sat out for the second straight game and seventh time this season ... Thornton missed the previous four for personal reasons ... The Warriors won the battle on the glass, 42-40. They were 16-1 when outrebounding the opposition ... Golden State is 8-1 against opponents with winning records on the day of the game and 5-6 against opponents with losing records.