By Jason Jones
jejones@sacbee.com
FINAL
Kings 110, Pacers 93
INDIANAPOLIS - The Kings improved to 3-1 on their five-game road trip with a convincing win over the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Kings outscored the Pacers 64-40 in the paint and harassed the home team into shooting 35.2 percent for the game. Kings' points in the paint were the second most against Indiana this season. The Pacers were a woeful 4-of-25 on three pointers.
Defense is what Kings coach Paul Westphal credited for the win. His bigs controlled the pain and several Pacers had off shooting nights. Danny Granger scored a game-high 20 points for the Pacers but shot 4-of-13 and scored 11 points off free throws.
Backup guard A.J. Price was 4-of-15, including 1-of-9 on threes. Tyler Hansbrough was 3-of-13.
DeMarcus Cousins led the way with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Six Kings scored in double figures, including all five starters.
After missing the previous 19 games, Tyreke Evans had six points and eight assists off the bench.
The Kings play at Philadelphia on Sunday.
THIRD QUARTERKings 85, Pacers 68
INDIANAPOLIS - The Pacers rallied to cut the deficit from 22 to nine at 71-62 with 3:39 left in the third quarter. But the Kings didn't get flustered and built the advantage back up with a 14-6 run the rest of the way.
*The only starter not in double figures for the Kings is Beno Udrih with five points. Marcus Thornton has 10 points, but he has missed 13 of his 18 shots. Samuel Dalembert (16 points, 10 rebounds) and DeMarcus Cousins (14 points, 13 rebounds) continue to lead the Kings. Donte Greene has 15 points off the bench.
*Danny Granger finally got going a bit and is up to 20 points for Indiana. Eleven of his points have come from free throws. Granger is shooting 4-of-13 from the field. Overall the Pacers are 23-of-73 (31.5 percent).
HALFTIME
Kings 55, Pacers 37
INDIANAPOLIS - The Kings are having their way with the team that is currently seeded eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Kings have controlled the paint with DeMarcus Cousins (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Samuel Dalembert (10 points, seven rebounds).
*Tyreke Evans has three points and five assists in his first game back after missing the last 19 with plantar fasciitis. Evans played eight minutes, 45 seconds in the first half.
*The Pacers are shooting 25 percent, making 12 of 48 shots. The Kings are shooting 43.6 percent. The Kings are outrebounding the Pacers 38-23.
*Also of significance, the Kings have only five turnovers. Every King that has played has scored.
*Dahntay Jones leads the Pacers with nine points. Danny Granger, who had 37 the last time he faced the Kings has missed six of seven shots and has just six points.
FIRST QUARTER
Kings 22, Pacers 18
INDIANAPOLIS - This hasn't exactly been basketball at its finest.
The Kings are shooting 32.1 percent (nine for 28) while the Pacers are even worse at 21.7 percent (five for 23). Both teams only have two turnovers so there have been plenty of chances to get up shots.
*Donte Greene came off the bench for the Kings to lead the team with eight points. DeMarcus Cousins and Samuel Dalembert each have six points for the Kings. All the misses have meant plenty of rebounds. Cousins already has seven rebounds, Dalembert has six.
*Tyreke Evans made his return with 4:40 left in the first quarter and picked up an assist on his first possession, finding Greene for a three pointer. Evans missed both of his shots but had three assists in the quarter.
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