MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Rudy Gay scored 23 points, Sam Young added 20 and the Memphis Grizzlies easily beat the Sacramento Kings 113-96 on Tuesday night.

O.J. Mayo had 16 points, and Mike Conley — returning from an ankle injury — and Marc Gasol scored 14 points each. Tony Allen added 10 points. Gasol also had 15 rebounds as Memphis outrebounded Sacramento 49-41. Tony Allen had 10 points.

With Memphis holding a double-digit lead for a bulk of the second half, the Kings’ reserves got extended minutes. Jimmer Fredette scored 17 points and fellow rookie Isaiah Thomas had 15 to lead Sacramento.

J.J. Hickson was the only Kings starter to reach double figures, scoring 12 points. Travis Outlaw added 11.

Memphis shot 55 percent from the field, led by Gasol at 7 for 10 and Gay at 10 for 16. The Kings shot 41 percent.

DeMarcus Cousins came off the bench, as expected, after missing Sunday’s game against New Orleans when coach Paul Westphal told him to stay away from the team after Westphal said Cousins asked to be traded. Cousins, who had denied the trade demand, finished with four points on 1-for-5 shooting in 22 minutes.

Before the game, Westphal said of the Cousins situation, “I wouldn’t say it’s resolved. We will see how it plays out. I think DeMarcus has to continue to show maturity and a desire to go the same direction as his teammates. We’re all hoping that happens.”

The Kings were down 17 points early and rallied to tie the score at 50-all in the final minute. However, Gay’s tip at the buzzer gave the Grizzlies a two-point lead at the break.

Gay scored 15 points in the first half, and no Kings player was in double digits. Both teams committed eight turnovers, but the Kings shot 12 for 18 in the second quarter to get back into the game.

Memphis then had a 9-0 run in the early minutes of the third quarter and the Kings never threatened the rest of the way.

Rudy Gay scored 23 points, Sam Young added 20 and the Memphis
Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings 113-96 on Tuesday night.

O.J. Mayo had 16 points, and Mike Conley _ returning from an
ankle injury _ and Marc Gasol scored 14 points each. Tony Allen
added 10 points. Gasol also had 15 rebounds as Memphis outrebounded
Sacramento 49-41. Tony Allen had 10 points.

With Memphis holding a double-digit lead for a bulk of the
second half, the Kings’ reserves got extended minutes. Jimmer
Fredette scored 17 points and fellow rookie Isaiah Thomas had 15 to
lead Sacramento.

J.J. Hickson was the only Kings starter to reach double figures,
scoring 12 points. Travis Outlaw added 11.

Memphis finished 55 percent from the field, led by Gasol at 7
for 10 and Gay at 10 for 16. The Kings shot 41 percent.

DeMarcus Cousins came off the bench, as expected, after missing
Sunday’s game against New Orleans when coach Paul Westphal told him
to stay away from the team. Cousins finished with four points on
1-for-5 shooting in 22 minutes.

The Kings were down 17 points early and rallied to tie the score
at 50-all in the final minute. However, Gay’s tip at the buzzer
gave the Grizzlies a two-point lead at the break.

Gay scored 15 points in the first half, and no Kings player was
in double digits. Both teams committed eight turnovers, but the
Kings shot 12 for 18 in the second quarter to get back into the
game.

Memphis then had a 9-0 run in the early minutes of the third
quarter and the Kings never threatened the rest of the way.

The Grizzlies got their offense back on track, scoring off
turnovers and getting out on the break. They also started
controlling the boards as they extended the lead to 23 late in the
third quarter.

Memphis outscored Sacramento 35-18 in the period and led 87-68
going into the fourth.

NOTES: Before the game, Westphal said of the Cousins situation,
“I wouldn’t say it’s resolved. We will see how it plays out. I
think DeMarcus has to continue to show maturity and a desire to go
the same direction as his teammates. We’re all hoping that
happens.” . Conley returned after missing two games with a sprained
left ankle he injured in the second game of the season. .The Kings
were playing the opener of their only stretch of three games in
three days during the compressed season. It was also the third of
five games in six nights. .During the game, it was announced that
Gene Bartow, who served as president of Hoops LLC, the parent
company of FedExForum and the Grizzlies, and a Hall of Fame college
coach, passed away after a long battle with cancer.

The Sacramento Kings and DeMarcus Cousins abruptly began to sever ties Sunday after the team said the promising young center demanded a trade.

Kings coach Paul Westphal released a statement before Sacramento hosted the New Orleans Hornets, criticizing Cousins’ commitment to the franchise and excusing him from the team’s game. He also confirmed that Cousins asked for a trade.

“Whenever a new season begins, in any sport, there is great hope that everything will progress in only a steady, upward direction,” Westphal said. “As we all know, it seldom happens like that in this life! As coaches, we can only ask that our players do everything they can to improve themselves as individuals and teammates. If they do this with all their hearts, we live with the results.

“Everything that happens on a team does not become known to the public,” Westphal continued. “This is how it should be. However, when a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely.

“DeMarcus Cousins has demanded to be traded. In the best interest of our team as we go forward, he has been directed by me, with the support of management, to stay home from the New Orleans game tonight.”

When reached by phone, Cousins’ agent, John Greig, said he wasn’t informed of the Kings’ decision until Westphal’s announcement. He declined comment when asked if Cousins requested a trade.

“I have no idea what the Kings are doing,” Greig said. “The fact that I’m just finding out about this announcement now speaks volumes about them.”
The Kings had been expecting big things from Cousins this season.

They had been optimistic that he would show improved maturity after a strong rookie campaign that also had its share of temper tantrums and blow-ups. While the comical Cousins off the court never disappeared, the team expected its up-and-coming big man would learn to control his emotions.

Sacramento drafted Cousins with the fifth overall pick in 2010 after he spent one season at Kentucky. The 21-year-old Cousins was averaging 13 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes per game this season.

Cousins’ behavior has been well documented going back to high school and his one season at Kentucky, mixing in dramatic and astonishing plays with outbursts against players, coaches, trainers and referees.

His conditioning has been questioned and so has his work ethic, however, he showed up for training camp in prime condition and appeared ready for a breakout season.

Teamed with 2009-10 Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans, Cousins was expected to anchor the frontline for a young and emerging roster in the deep Western Conference. Sacramento finished 24-58 last season and missed the playoffs for the fifth straight year, although a late-season surge behind a healthy Evans provided hope that maybe the Kings aren’t that far off from making the postseason again.

Read More: Paul Westphal (H – SAC), DeMarcus Cousins (C – SAC), Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are clearly involved in a tense situation with their promising young big man, as DeMarcus Cousins was sent home from Sunday night’s game against the New Orleans Hornets. Cousins apparently demanded a trade, and Paul Westphal figured it was time to send a message to his young rookie.

While this might suggest Westphal is losing his grip on the team, it’s clear that management stands right behind their head coach on this decision.

However, there are multiple conflicting reports about how serious Cousins is about his trade demands. Cousins has been considered to be an immature player, and the trade demand could have been made in jest. The organization also doesn’t seem seriously interested in dealing one of their most talented players.

It would indeed be rather hasty for the Kings to decide to deal Cousins. This is likely Sacramento trying to be firm in disciplining the big man to try and avoid future headaches. There is really no one Petrie could make a deal for anyway to try and make up for the loss of a player like Cousins. Try and get the situation settled before things deteriorate out of control.

Although it seems like the situation is already in a bad, bad place.

To discuss Cousins and the Kings, head to Sactown Royalty.

The Sacramento Kings surprisingly announced that DeMarcus Cousins was sent home and would not play in the their January 1 game against the New Orleans Hornets. Coach Paul Westphal and the team released a statement explaining a trade demand as the reason Cousins was sent home and would not be playing in the game.

This news has to be a shock to everyone. Sacramento started the season off with a win against the Los Angeles Lakers before losing their next three games. Losing is always disappointing but this team was never expected to be anywhere near a championship contender this season. Losing is going to happen to a young team and the players can’t respond with trade demands. If Cousins acts like this as soon as his team begins losing, no team in the NBA is going to want him.

Through four games, Cousins is averaging 13.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. A positive sign has been a big improvement in his offensive rebounding so far. Cousins’ improved rebounding statistics have been helped by his improvement from an average of 2.7 last season to 5.8 offensive rebounds per game so far this season.

The biggest disappointment in his game has been his poor shooting. Cousins is shooting just 32.1% from the field and has not helped the team and their offensive struggles.

Sacramento knew what they were getting themselves in to when they drafted DeMarcus Cousins and are now paying for it. As talented as he is, Cousins is just 21 years old and is extremely immature. Fans will not tolerate the kind of behavior he is displaying. The team should not either.

Sacramento and their fans are counting on a breakthrough season this year. I thought that adding Chuck Hayes to the team would be a good veteran influence on the development of DeMarcus Cousins. Clearly that is not the case.

I hope that Sacramento does not give in to his demands and trade Cousins. Sending him home and telling him to stay away from the team is the right move here. DeMarcus needs to know that if he acts like this, he will not be a part of this team. I hope that he starts acting like this is his job and dedicates himself to helping the team win basketball games.

Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and a lifelong fan of the Sacramento Kings. He started going to Kings games at age six and has attended hundreds of games since. Follow him on twitter @kyler11.

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