FINAL Kings 111, Raptors 108
The Kings like to make it interesting.
The Kings rallied to win their home opener, 111-108 at Arco Arena. In each of their wins, the Kings have trailed by double digits.
The Kings (3-1) trailed by 17 before storming back to take control in the fourth and hold off the Raptors (1-2).
After pulling ahead 107-99, the Kings appeared to be in control. That's when the Raptors went on a 9-2 run capped by a dunk by DeMar DeRozan with 13.3 seconds left that made the score 109-108.
Beno Udrih would make two free throws after being fouled and the Raptors were unable to convert to tie the game.
Tyreke Evans led the Kings with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Udrih had 17 points. DeMarcus Cousins had 16 points. Omri Casspi had 14 points, nine coming in the fourth quarter.
Andrea Bargnani led Toronto with 28 points. DeRozan had 24 for the Raptors. Reggie Evans had 19 rebounds for the Raptors.
THIRD QUARTER Raptors 86, Kings 78
Tyreke Evans returned his bout with an upset stomach and helped the Kings cut into what had been a 17-point lead.
The Raptors finally had a bad shooting quarter, going 9 of 25, which helped the Kings get back in the game.
Evans (21 points) and Beno Udrih (15 points) are carrying the offense.
Reggie Evans has been a problem. He has 18 rebounds for the Raptors. Toronto has 35 as a team. At one point, Evans was laughing at the Kings bench after grabbing an offensive rebound.
The Kings went with Samuel Dalembert to help keep Evans off the glass. Dalembert has 10 rebounds.
HALFTIME Raptors 62, Kings 51
For the third straight game the Kings have allowed 60 or more points in the first half. In the other game, they gave up 58.
Needless to say defense needs to be addressed. The Raptors are shooting 57.9 percent. Only one Raptor that has played didn't score.
The Kings shot 41.7 percent and will start the third quarter without Tyreke Evans, who went back to the locker room with an upset stomach. His return is questionable.
Evans has 16 points to lead the Kings.
FIRST QUARTER Raptors 33, Kings 16
Instead of falling behind in the second quarter, which has been the case in their first three games, the Kings have already dug themselves a big deficit.
The Kings are shooting 33.3 percent (8 of 24) and have more fouls (10) than rebounds (9). DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Beno Udrih and Samuel Dalembert all have two fouls for the Kings.
Toronto forward Reggie Evans has more rebounds than the Kings with 10 of the Raptors' 15 rebounds. Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan each have 10 points for Toronto, which is shooting 52.6 percent.
The Kings have shown the ability to rally in each of their games this season. But they need to defend better and stop fouling.
--Jason Jones
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