Records billed the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors as the game of the century—a 120-90 dud that the Warriors had wrapped up by halftime—but it’s styles that make great fights.
DeMarcus Cousins has been on a tear through January, averaging 34.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, and three assists. The Charlotte Hornets entered the game with an injured frontline. The Sacramento Kings don’t defend the perimeter well, and the Hornets offense fires off a heavy barrage of three-pointers every game.
Add in the fast pact that Sacramento usually plays at, and the table was set for an absolute gem of a game.
The front court match ups were a battle of attrition, as Cousins put on one of the greatest individual efforts from a big man that fans will ever see. Cousins was simply bigger and stronger than his opponents, bullying whoever Charlotte threw at him. Whether fronting, face guarding, or double teaming on the catch, Hornets’ defenders still couldn’t keep Cousins away from the rim and off the free throw line.
By the end of the game, three Hornets’ big men fouled out trying to defend Cousins—leaving them with only rookie Frank Kaminsky standing between he and the rim. Cousins scored a career-high 56 points, and likely would have had more if not for a questionable call in overtime that fouled him out.
Charlotte spent most of the night hanging on to Cousins and the game for dear life—erasing deficits by bombing away from the perimeter—hitting seven straight at one point in the second half, scoring 42 points in the third quarter.
The contrasting dynamics would make for a great Hollywood movie. There were supporting actors playing their parts to perfection, with Rajon Rondo slinging the ball all over the court for 20 assists, and Spencer Hawes taunting the Sacramento crowd like a wrestling villain after every made basket. There was redemption for Kemba Walker, who shrugged off a bad game to score 12 points in the fourth quarter, getting to the free throw line eight times, but missing what would have been the game-winning attempt. While Walker used his speed and handle to get free throw line, Cousins used his strength to get to the rim, scoring 14 points of his own in the fourth—a fitting duel between the two respective conference players of the week.
The two overtimes were about three things. Fouls, Troy Daniels, and DeMarcus Cousins. With 56 points, and a very realistic shot at 60, Cousins got called for an offensive foul—his sixth. Without their star big man, the Kings struggled to score. With both teams on their last legs, a great game seemed to lose its momentum. Shots fell shorts and referee whistles were more frequent—until little-known Troy Daniels saved everything.
Daniels scored 28 points on 10-for-15 shooting, hitting eight three-pointers—including two huge bombs in overtime, and the incredible game-winner:
Put this under your pillow. Sleep well Hornets fans. All HAIL the teal and purple! pic.twitter.com/kkXeGPhHqf
— Hive Talk Live (@HiveTalkLive) January 26, 2016
The best regular season game ever down in Oakland? That turned into another dominating Warriors win without any drama.
It’s funny how the game everybody expected to be great failed to meet expectations, but a random January matchup between two possible fringe playoff teams may end up being game of the season. Kings-Hornets had everything that an NBA fan could ever want. A dominating individual performance, dramatics, star power, and an underdog winning the game at the very end. This was the kind of game that creates new NBA fans, and is part of what makes the sport so great. It’s random, at times it doesn’t make sense, but any given night an incredible performance can break out from unexpected places.
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