Kings overpowered by Bulls 104-86 at Union Center in Chicago (NBC on Yahoo Sports)

[Yahoo! Sports - NBA -]

The Kings fell to the Bulls on Tuesday 104-86 at the United Center and Sacramento has now dropped 12 of its last 14 games. Sacramento (18-33) was unable to perform on the road amid the uncertainty that coach, Tyrone Corbin, could be replaced with George Karl, who would be the Kings third coach this season. The Kings are now 7-20 under Corbin since he took over and have yet to win back-to-back games since November. [RELATED: George Karl expected to be named Kings head coach ] The Bulls outscored the Kings 19-4 to start a devastating third quarter run providing a 84-64 lead heading to the final quarter. The Kings secured only one field goal over the first seven and a half minutes of the third stanza. Sacramento trailed 84-64 entering the fourth quarter and closed the gap to 92-79 on a DeMarcus Cousins layup with 5:23 remaining in the game. However, the Bulls responded outscoring the Kings 12-7 over the remainder of the night to secure the win. Sacramento was unable to offer resistance to the Bulls as Chicago shot 52.5 percent from the floor including seven 3-pointers. Conversely, the Kings struggled from downtown shooting 2-for-12 from beyond the 3-point line. The Kings were without starting point guard Darren Collison for the third consecutive game, but starting small forward Rudy Gay returned after missing Sunday’s game against the Suns and scored 24 points. Cousins scored 15 points and Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum added 11 points apiece. Chicago was led by Pau Gasol’s 26 points while Tony Snell added 24 and Derrick Rose contributed 23 points in the win. The Kings are now 7-16 on the road, 10-11 in back-to-back games including 5-6 in the first game of back-to-back scenarios. In similar fashion to last season, the squads split the season series (1-1) after Tuesday’s Kings loss in Chicago and Sacramento’s 103-88 win over the Bulls on Nov. 20 at Sleep Train Arena. STANDOUT PERFORMER: Tri-MVPs Tony Snell, Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose combined for 73 points. TURNING POINT: The Bulls turned it on in third quarter extending an eight-point halftime lead to 20 entering the final stanza. INJURY UPDATE: Kings : G Darren Collison (right hip flexor strain), and F Eric Moreland (left shoulder labral tear) were out while F Rudy Gay (sore left foot) was questionable yet started. Derrick Williams, (right ankle sprain, happened pregame warmups, tripped on cord) did not play. Bulls -- F Mike Dunleavy (right ankle) was questionable yet started and played while G Kirk Hinrich (left turf toe) was out. G/F Jimmy Butler suffered a shoulder sprain and did not return in the second half after playing 22 minutes on Tuesday night. WHAT’S NEXT: The Kings visit the Bucks in Milwaukee on Wednesday in the second of a back-to-back and the last game before the All-Star break. - Bill Herenda, CSN Bay Area

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