Evans leads Kings past Cavaliers

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Tyreke Evans scored 21 points and the balanced Sacramento Kings rallied to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-104 on Saturday night.

Omri Casspi added 20 points for Sacramento, which trailed by 16 in the first half. Beno Udrih had 12 points and 11 assists, and rookie DeMarcus Cousins finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Cleveland, which has lost two straight after beating Boston in the opener, was led by Ramon Sessions, who had 21 points.

The Kings went 2-1 on their season-opening road trip and host Toronto in their home opener on Monday. They had a chance at a perfect start but they blew an eight-point lead late in Friday night’s game against New Jersey and lost 106-100.

Casspi gave the Cavaliers an opening when he missed two free throws with 5.9 seconds left and the Kings leading, 106-103.

Cleveland called timeout and advanced the ball to midcourt. The Kings fouled Jawad Williams, who made the first free throw and missed the second intentionally. Cousins got the rebound and was fouled. He missed the first shot, but made the second.

Daniel Gibson, who had 20 points for Cleveland, tried a desperation heave from halfcourt, but the shot was short.

The Kings fell behind 60-44 in the second quarter and trailed 67-53 at halftime, but erased the deficit and then some in the third. Cousins’ rebound basket tied it at 80 with 2:22 left. Darnell Jackson’s two free throws against his former team gave the Kings their first lead since early in the second, and Jackson hit a jumper in the closing seconds of the quarter to make it 84-82 Sacramento.

Leading 94-93, the Kings scored nine consecutive points, forcing Cleveland coach Byron Scott to call timeout with 5:50 left.