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Cousins powers Kings past Pelicans

Apr 1, 2014 - 4:42 AM New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - DeMarcus Cousins led the way for the Sacramento tallying 35 points and 14 rebounds as the Kings held off the New Orleans Pelicans, 102-97, on Monday.

Ray McCallum had a career-high 22 points and 10 assists for the Kings, who snapped a three-game skid. Rudy Gay and Ben McLemore contributed 22 and 14 points, respectively.

"I have a great opportunity to go out there and play, and I'm trying to make the most of it," McCallum said.

Anthony Davis totaled 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks for the Pelicans, who have lost two straight. Anthony Morrow and Tyreke Evans scored 23 and 15 points, respectively in defeat.

"We just did not have a great level of sustained effort," Pelicans head coach Monty Williams said.

Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Morrow netted seven straight to pull New Orleans within 84-83 with 7:19 on the clock. Gay responded with a trey, which sparked an 11-4 run for the Kings. McCallum put through the last eight points of the run that put Sacramento ahead, 95-87, with under four to play.

The Pelicans stayed within four points but would not get any closer down the stretch.

The Kings led 32-26 two minutes into the second quarter before a 13-2 burst by New Orleans. Morrow netted eight points during the run, which gave the Pelicans a 39-34 lead with 6:35 on the clock.

New Orleans remained in control the rest of the half and held a 55-53 lead at the break.

After three early ties in the third, the Kings jumped ahead with the help of a 12-3 run. Sacramento led by nine, 71-62, halfway through the third. The Kings stretched their lead to as many as 14, with the help of 16 points from Cousins in the period, and carried an 80-76 lead into the final frame.

There were four ties and three lead changes through the first 4 1/2 minutes before McCallum and McLemore nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Kings a 18-14 lead. Sacramento held 29-22 cushion at the end of one.

Game Notes

The Kings are now 36-34 all-time against New Orleans ... Cousins two blocks gave him 280 for his career and moved him into tie with Wayman Tisdale for ninth all-time on the Kings career block list ... The Kings had 22 second chance points, compared to four for New Orleans.