Sacramento - It has been a rare occurrence this season, the Sacramento Kings discussing defense and the role it played in their latest victory.
Tyreke Evans scored 22 points to help the Kings beat the Clippers, 97-92, on Sunday night. The Clippers shot 37% and Sacramento, which entered the game fourth-worst in the NBA in scoring defense (106.5 points a game), gave up a season low in points.
The Kings took the lead midway through the first quarter and never trailed again in winning two straight home games for the first time since mid-December.
"We understand the need to become a good defensive team," Kings Coach Paul Westphal said. "We've had two good defensive performances in a row and I think three of the last five. If that can be a calling card as well as being an offensive team that's tough to guard, I think that we're taking good steps toward becoming a legitimate NBA team that can expect to win whenever we play."
The defense was crucial in a game in which the offense tailed off in the second half, when the Kings scored 41 points. Sacramento, which led by 14 points at halftime, converted 16 of 24 free throws and was outrebounded, 49-43.
Carl Landry scored 18 points, and Spencer Hawes had 16 points and nine rebounds for Sacramento. Omri Casspi scored 12 points for the Kings.
Chris Kaman had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. Drew Gooden scored 17 points, and Eric Gordon, Rasual Butler and Baron Davis each had 13.
"I think we took the first half off. I don't believe we're a good enough team to play the first half like that with poor energy," Clippers Coach Kim Hughes said. "I thought we competed in the second half. I was disappointed in our bigs and I thought we turned the ball over way too many times (15). I think we gave up 25 points on turnovers and we got six."
Landry scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and made two free throws with 11.6 seconds left to give Sacramento a 97-92 lead.
Butler's three-pointer pulled the Clippers to 91-90 with 2:07 left. But on consecutive possessions, Evans ventured inside and came up with layups, the second one putting the Kings ahead 95-90 with 42.9 seconds remaining.
The Clippers lost their fifth straight road game and for the ninth time in 10 road games.
Evans "was tough and he put a lot of pressure on us defensively, attacking the basket," Gooden said. "It was a tough night defending him."
