Head coach Keith Smart addresses the media following the Kings' loss to the Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors had a different look when they took the floor Tuesday night. Guard Stephen Curry was sidelined by an ankle sprain. Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh were not with the team amid reports of a proposed trade.
But the Warriors have been one of the best three-point shooting teams in the league this season, and against the Kings, that was no different.
The Warriors made 12-of-24 shots from beyond the arc and the Kings, who have struggled this season guarding teams with good perimeter shooters, had no answers in the second half of a 115-89 loss at Power Balance Pavilion.
The Kings (14-28) removed their starters late in the fourth quarter. They play again Wednesday night at home against the Detroit Pistons.
The Kings trailed by five points at halftime before being outscored in the second half, 61-40. They fell behind by as many as 27 points in the fourth quarter.
Since defeating the defending champion Dallas Mavericks at home on Friday night, the Kings have looked sluggish in back-to-back losses to the Atlanta Hawks and the Warriors (18-21).
Kings head coach Keith Smart said he thought the Kings allowed themselves Tuesday night to be influenced by the Warriors' lineup fluctuations.
"That's all the chatter was in the locker room and things just got crossed up from there," Smart said. "Preparing to play against one team and not playing, having pieces missing, somewhere the mindset wasn't there.
"That group that was starting had been pretty much their backups, and they had been playing really well, helping to win games or helping them get back into games. They got a chance to play tonight, which we knew was going to happen, and they came out and outplayed us in every facet of the game.
"We just did not step up to a challenge -- that we should've had a chance to play great in this game and we didn't. We just did not play how we are capable of playing and it's very frustrating and disappointing for this basketball team."
David Lee, Nate Robinson and reserve Brandon Rush each scored 17 points for the Warriors. Dorell Wright added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Charles Jenkins had 15 points off the bench.
DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but scored just four points in the second half.
Tyreke Evans had 16 points and Isaiah Thomas scored 15 points. Francisco Garcia added 11 points off the bench. Marcus Thornton had nine points on 4-of-13 shooting.
After dominating the boards in these teams' first two meetings this season, the Kings were out-rebounded by the Warriors, 45-44. They committed 14 turnovers and forced just seven.
The Kings shot 40.2 percent from the field, while the Warriors shot 50.5 percent, making 23-of-41 shots in the second half.
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