SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Vince Carter scored a season-high 24 points, and the Sacramento Kings handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their second straight loss with a 109-95 victory on Wednesday night.
Carter had missed the previous three games due to a rib injury and coach's decision. The 40-year-old former dunk king gave Cleveland all kinds of problems in his return, shooting 10 of 12 in 30 minutes.
Willie Cauley-Stein had 17 points and nine rebounds for Sacramento, and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 16 points and eight assists. Zach Randolph had 14 points and seven boards.
Cleveland was coming off a 99-92 loss at Golden State on Christmas Day, stopping the Cavaliers' 26-game streak with 100 points or more. Cleveland had not dropped consecutive games since a four-game slide from Oct. 25-Nov. 1.
LeBron James had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists for the Cavs, and Kevin Love scored 23 points.
James cited the team's transition defense as the primary reason for its loss to Golden State. This time it was an inconsistent offense and a big night by Carter that did in the reigning Eastern Conference champs.
Carter made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give Sacramento an 85-80 lead heading into the fourth quarter. He connected again from long range to make it 101-87 with 5:38 left, and then made a 16-foot double-pump shot over Jae Crowder before leaving to a standing ovation with 20.1 seconds left.
Carter had not scored more than eight points in a game this season.
WAITING ON I.T.
Isaiah Thomas' long-awaited debut for Cleveland was held off for at least for another game. The veteran point guard, who is coming back from a right hip injury, worked out before the loss and there was speculation he might play against the Kings before being ruled out. Coach Tyronn Lue left open the possibility that he could be activated for Saturday's game in Utah.
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: Cleveland had won five of the last six against the Kings. Unlike the first game between the teams this season when the Cavs rallied in the second half to win, Lue's team was outscored 47-40 in the second half.
Kings: Rookie Frank Mason scored four points in his first start of the season as part of coach Dave Joerger's decision to go with a small lineup against the bigger Cavs. Malachi Richardson also made his first career start and also scored four points.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Play in Utah on Saturday. Cleveland has lost three straight in Salt Lake City.
Kings: Host Phoenix on Friday night.