ARCO Memories: DeMarcus Cousins Sets Sacramento Era Record With 56 Points
Mar 9, 2022, 9:16 AM | Updated: 9:17 am
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
DeMarcus Cousins’ time in Sacramento will be remembered for many reasons, but the big man’s performance on January 25, 2016 might be at the top of the list.
Cousins established a new Sacramento-era record by scoring 56 points on 21-of-30 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots over 46 minutes against the Charlotte Hornets.
Unfortunately, the only thing to slow down Cousins that night was himself as he fouled out with 3:30 remaining in the second overtime period.
Charlotte took advantage of a Cousins-less Kings team down the closing stretch, securing a 129-128 win after guard Troy Daniels drilled a game-winning triple with nine seconds remaining (I was there that night and I’m 99.9% certain that Daniels traveled, but I digress).
Rajon Rondo finished the game with 20 assists in what was also the last game that a member of the Kings has dished out 20 dimes in a single game.
Cousins’ 56-point performance is historic for a few reasons:
- It established an arena record for points scored in a game at ARCO/Sleep Train Arena, eclipsing Tony Delk’s 53-point outing from 2001.
- Cousins became just the third player in the Sacramento era to score 50+ points in a game, joining Chris Webber (51, 2001) and Kevin Martin (50, 2009).
- Cousins’ 56 points are the most points scored by a Kings player since Jack Twyman scored 59 points for the Cincinnati Royals on January 15, 1960.
One season later on December 20, 2016, Cousins set a Golden 1 Center record that stands today with 55 points on 17-of-28 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds during a 126-121 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Cousins is the last King to score 50 points in a game and the only player to do so more than once since the Kings moved to Sacramento in 1985.
