FINAL
Bulls 93, Kings 87
CHICAGO - The Kings couldn't overcome their own mistakes in losing their season opener to the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
The Kings had 21 turnovers, with the 21st perhaps being the most costly.
Down 87-83 with 35.6 seconds to play, the Kings came out of a timeout to inbound the ball. Tyreke Evans was called for a five-second violation before he could call timeout.
So instead of having a chance to cut the deficit to two or one, the Kings were forced to give up the ball and foul and could never catch up.
The Kings (0-1) allowed 25 points off turnovers.
Evans finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Marcus Thornton had 15 points off the bench. DeMarcus Cousins had 14 points and seven rebounds.
Joakim Noah led the Bulls (1-0) with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Rip Hamilton had 19 points and Carlos Boozer had 18 points and eight rebounds.
THIRD QUARTER
Bulls 69, Kings 63
CHICAGO - All things considered, it could be worse for the Kings.
DeMarcus Cousins is in foul trouble. Sacramento is shooting poorly and the team has been careless with the ball most of the night.
The Kings had only four turnovers in the third, but still have 18 for the game. The Bulls have 23 points off Sacramento turnovers.
Tyreke Evans has 15 points to lead the King. Cousins has 10 points and five rebounds. Cousins also has a game-high six turnovers.
Joakim Noah has 18 points, nine rebounds and five steals for Chicago. It's helped that Cousins has been in foul trouble and played just 19 minutes.
HALFTIME
Bulls 44, Kings 40
CHICAGO - The Kings have given the Bulls all the chances they need to have a lead.
The Kings have 14 turnovers that have led to 21 points for the Bulls. So they're probably happy to only be down four.
If the Kings stop trying to dribble their way out of trouble that should cut down on turnovers. But old habits are hard to break.
Tyreke Evans ha 13 point, 2 rebounds and 2 assists and hasn't missed a shot. (5 of 5, 2 of 2 FTs). But all that's lost in all the turnovers. The Bulls have 10 but the King have just 11 points off Chicago mistakes.
DeMarcus Cousins has been effective with eight points and three steals. But he also has four turnovers and three fouls and had to sit out the end of the quarter.
In his first game of the regular season off the bench, Marcus Thornton missed four of his first five shots.
Rip Hamilton has 10 points for the Bulls. Joakim Noah has eight points and five rebounds.
FIRST QUARTER
Bulls 25, Kings 23
CHICAGO - The Kings have been their own worst enemy with nine turnovers that have led to 15 points for the Bulls here at United Center.
The turnovers have covered up the five turnovers the Kings have forced and their 56. percent shooting. Tyreke Evans has been good with 11 points and two assists. Evans has yet to miss a shot.
Three Bulls (Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Rip Hamilton) each have six points for Chicago. The Bulls are shooting 52.2 percent, helped by the Kings' sloppy play.
The Kings started the game with Isaiah Thomas, Evans, James Johnson, Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins, the lineup that started two of the final three preseason games.
Smart said he's known for a while that would be the starting lineup even as he experimented with groups during the preseason.
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