Hamilton scores 30 points as Pistons cruise past Kings 101-89

Hamilton gets 30 in Pistons’ 101-89 win over Kings

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Richard Hamilton scored 30 points and the Detroit Pistons pulled away in the third quarter to defeat the struggling Sacramento Kings 101-89 on Tuesday night.

After taking a 12-point lead in halftime, Hamilton keyed a third-quarter effort that hiked the Pistons’ advantage to 30 at one point. Hamilton scored the first eight points of the quarter and finished the period with 14 as the Pistons took an 83-58 lead into the fourth.

Tyreke Evans had 28 points and a career-high 13 assists for the Kings, who have dropped five straight since beating the Pistons in their final game before the All-Star break. Carl Landry scored 18 points in his Sacramento debut after being acquired last week from Houston.

Tayshaun Prince scored 22 points for the Pistons, who shot 58 percent in winning their second straight game. Rodney Stuckey had 13 points, while both Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva added 11.

Hamilton, averaging 30.5 points in his last four games, made 12 of 20 shots and hit all five free throws.

The loss was the 23rd in 27 games for the Kings, a young team that had a surprising 14-16 start this season after having only 17 wins a year ago when they had the NBA’s worst record.

It didn’t get any better off the court, either. Kings center Spencer Hawes, who has started 42 games this season but has often seen his minutes fluctuate with each game, watched in street clothes for disciplinary reasons, according to head coach Paul Westphal.

In a story in Tuesday’s Sacramento Bee, Hawes was openly critical of Westphal’s unpredictable allotment of playing time for the entire team. Westphal has used 24 different starting lineups this season and frequently changes his substitution pattern every game.

Prince scored 12 points and Hamilton had 11 in the opening half when the Pistons pulled away in the second quarter for a 54-42 lead. Evans had 12 points for the Kings, who played a listless second quarter and were outscored 25-16.

NOTES: The Kings waived guard Larry Hughes on Tuesday. Hughes was acquired from the New York Knicks as part of a three-team trade last week and did not appear in a Kings game. … The father of Pistons coach John Kuester died Saturday at age 89. Kuester will attend Monday’s memorial service in Richmond, Va., and return in time for Tuesday’s home game against Boston. … Detroit won for the second straight time in Sacramento after losing 10 of the previous 11.