The Sixers entered the All-Star Break with a 114-110 loss to the Sacramento Kings after failing to hold on to a double-digit lead.
They were up by as many as 17 points in the third and led 87-75 going into the fourth. In the final quarter, the Kings outscored the Sixers 39-23 for a comeback win.
In the battle of the bigs, DeMarcus Cousins and Jahlil Okafor went at it for four quarters. Cousins (36 minutes) scored 28 points with 12 rebounds and five assists. Okafor (39 minutes) posted 26 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
Turning point
The Kings went on a 9-0 run late in the fourth. Cousins made a jumper from Rajon Rondo to take the lead, 106-105, with 2:19 to play. The Sixers tried to play catch-up after that.
A case of déjà vu
Wednesday's tilt was very similar to the Sixers' loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. In that one, they trailed 2-0 and never trailed in the game again until overtime of an eventual 98-92 loss.
Against the Kings, the Sixers trailed 7-6 and held a lead for nearly the entire game before allowing that crucial jumper from Cousins with just 2:19 remaining on the clock.
NBA
Inside the box score
Robert Covington led all players with 29 points. He also added five rebounds and six steals.
Darren Collison scored 25 points off the Kings' bench.
In addition to double-doubles from Okafor and Cousins, Rondo recorded one with 14 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds.
Turnovers play a role
The Sixers committed 19 turnovers, which led to 26 points by the Kings. Covington was charged with seven, Okafor with six.
Less shooting, more passing
Brett Brown emphasized better ball movement among the entire team after the Sixers' loss to the Clippers. In contrast to Monday’s game in which he shot 7 for 24, Ish Smith went just 2 for 5 against the Kings. Smith dished 10 assists.
Three for all
There is a consistency in Covington’s inconsistent three-point shooting: he won’t stop attempting them. After going 0 for 6 against the Clippers, Covington shot 7 for 11 against the Kings. He entered the night a combined 4 for 27 in his last five games, including three in which he didn’t make a trey.
Playing with a chip
Nik Stauskas went into “remember-when-you-traded-me” mode. The Kings, who drafted him with the eighth pick in 2014, dealt him to the Sixers last summer in a multiplayer deal. Stauskas scored 16 points, including 4 for 5 from three.
Injury update
Nerlens Noel was a late scratch from Wednesday's game with right knee tendinitis (see story). Jerami Grant started in his place.
Up next
The Sixers are entering the All-Star break. Okafor and Noel will head to Toronto for the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, although Brown said the latter is unlikely to play after sitting out against the Kings.
The Sixers will play their next game Friday, Feb. 19, in New Orleans against the Pelicans.