Kings 96, Pelicans 89: DeMarcus Cousins led the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds as Sacramento handed visiting New Orleans its eighth straight loss.

Isaiah Thomas added 22 points and Rudy Gay scored 14 for the Kings, who snapped a three-game slide. Reggie Evans recorded 10 points and tied a season best with 13 rebounds off the bench as Sacramento moved into a three-way tie with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference basement.

Tyreke Evans put up a season-high 27 points and also contributed 10 rebounds and eight assists against his former team for the Pelicans, who have matched their longest skid of the season. Anthony Davis struggled to 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting and Brian Roberts scored 15 for New Orleans.

Evans converted a three-point play to pull the Pelicans within five points with 7:41 left but the Kings scored the next five points to push the lead to 83-73. Davis’ corner 3-pointer as the shot clock was winding down with 3:51 left brought New Orleans within seven points, but Sacramento scored five straight to help put it away.

Eric Gordon hit a pair of 3-pointers and Evans added another on three straight possessions to give the Pelicans a 52-46 lead midway through the third quarter. The Kings responded with a 9-1 run to take back the advantage and extended it out to 68-59 going into the fourth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Davis is 5-of-20 from the field in the last two games. … Sacramento F Carl Landry (knee) sat out his third straight game and is reportedly awaiting the results of an MRI to determine his timetable to return. … The Kings controlled the glass 47-31 to help make up for 19 turnovers.