DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 20 rebounds and the Sacramento Kings had their best defensive performance of the season Sunday night in an 88-80 victory over the New York Knicks.
The Kings, who came in allowing a league-worst 109.6 points per game, easily surpassed their previous best of 88 points allowed, shutting down a Knicks team that played without leading scorer Carmelo Anthony.
Cousins emerged the winner in a good big-man duel with Robin Lopez, who finished with 23 points and 20 rebounds for the Knicks, playing through his usual frustrations with the officiating and even a security guard in this one.
New York fell to 0-8 this season without Anthony, who was still bothered by symptoms of a migraine that he began suffering from Saturday night in a loss at Washington.
Jerian Grant scored 14 points and Kristaps Porzingis had 13 for the Knicks in their first home game since March 5 after going 2-4 on their longest road trip in terms of games in 10 years.
