NBA - Back to old ways. Kings get blown out

SACRAMENTO -- This isn't Hollywood, so endings aren't always happy.

A promising road trip fueled by back-to-back wins in Cleveland and Toronto ended badly for the Sacramento Kings Saturday night when they were thoroughly beaten by the Brooklyn Nets, 113-93, at a sold-out Barclays Center.

In a not so subtle departure from the inspired play they have manifested during their two-game roll, the Kings shot just 40 percent from the field (36-of-90) and were outrebounded 51-41.

But it was their barely existent defense that dashed the Kings' hopes. After allowing the Nets to shoot an outstanding 67.5 percent from the field, the Kings trailed 65-47 by halftime and never came close the rest of the way.

None of the Nets was singularly sensational, but they played beautifully as a team with six guys notching double figures in points led by center Brook Lopez who had 18 points and five rebounds. Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Andre Blatche and Marshon Brooks finished with 15 each while Mirza Teletovic added 14.

DeMarcus Cousins had 28 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento, which made only seven of 24 threes and missed eight of 23 free throws.

With their third consecutive win and fourth in five games under interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo, the Nets moved up to 19-15 in the Atlantic Division, 4 1/2 games behind the pace-setting 23-10 New York Knicks.

The Kings dropped to 13-21 and trail the Los Angeles Clippers by 13 1/2 games in the Pacific Division. (AMJR)

Photo: Kings center DeMarcus Cousins tallied 28 points and 11 rebounds in Sacramento's 113-93 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.