Davis scores 31, Pelicans storm back to beat Kings, 115-112

By BRETT MARTEL

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Anthony Davis had 31 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans came back from a 17-point, second-half deficit to beat the Sacramento Kings 115-112 on Monday night.

Norris Cole scored 23 and Jrue Holiday 20 for New Orleans, which snapped a four-game losing streak. Dante Cunningham added a clutch 3-pointer - just his 40th of the season - to give the Pelicans their first lead of the second half at 111-110 with 36 seconds left.

DeMarcus Cousins had 40 points, 16 rebounds and four steals for the Kings, but also committed five turnovers and missed the only two shots he attempted - both layups - in the final two minutes.

Rudy Gay and Rajon Rondo each scored 18 but Sacramento, which led by 10 with about 6 minutes left but hurt itself with seven turnovers in the fourth quarter.

Ryan Anderson scored 19 for New Orleans, which shot 50 percent (13 of 26) in the fourth quarter.

Sacramento led 69-52 on Ben McLemore's free throws early in the third quarter, but Davis found his shooting rhythm, hitting 6 of 8 shots, including a 3, as part of a 17-point outburst in the period.

His free throws cut the Kings' lead to 89-83 heading into the fourth quarter, and the Pelicans tied the game at 89 on Holiday's driving layup.

Kings coach George Karl then called timeout and his team responded, scoring the next eight points on Rondo's driving floater off the glass and two 3s by Marco Belinelli, who finished with 12 points. Rondo's 3 shortly after that pushed the Kings' lead back to 10 with 6:07 left, but the Pelicans refused to fold.

Davis' dunk of Holiday's missed layup pulled New Orleans to 110-108, and the Pelicans had two chances to tie or lead, both times opting for 3-point shots from the corner by Cunningham, who scored just seven points all game to go with four steals and a spectacular block on McLemore's dunk attempt. Cunningham missed the first, but made the second. Then Holiday hit a jumper from the top of the key to make it 113-110 with 12.8 seconds left.

After Gay's layup made it 113-112, Cole hit two free throws and then Rondo lost the ball as he dribbled across half court, and Holiday, who had four steals, came up with the ball and ran out the clock.

The Kings outscored the Pelicans 32-11 to end the second quarter while shooting 68.4 percent (13 of 19) for the period. The Pelicans, by contrast, shot 36.4 percent (8 of 22) for the quarter.

Cousins scored 23 points in the first half, after which Sacramento led 63-50.

TIP-INS

Kings: Omri Casspi scored 15 points. ... Center Kosta Koufos returned from a one-game absence because of food poisoning. He played 6:52 without a point or rebound. He had one steal and committed three fouls.

Pelicans: New Orleans has won all three meetings this season and the teams meet once more in Sacramento on March 16. ... The injury-plagued Pelicans opened the game with their 29th different starting lineup this season: Omer Asik, Davis, Cunningham, Cole and Holiday.

UP NEXT

Kings: Host Cleveland on Wednesday night.

Pelicans: Visit Charlotte on Wednesday night.