Kings 109, Celtics 101: DeMarcus Cousins had 31 points and 15 rebounds as host Sacramento won in George Karl’s debut as coach.

Rudy Gay added 28 points for the Kings, who overcame a 16-point first-quarter deficit. Derrick Williams scored 11 points and Omri Casspi contributed a season-best 12 rebounds to go with seven points and six assists as the Kings posted a 57-40 rebounding edge.

Avery Bradley had 28 points, six assists and a season-high four steals for Boston, which lost for the fourth straight visit to Sacramento. Tyler Zeller scored 22 points, Marcus Smart had 16 points and a season-best five steals and Brandon Bass scored 13 points.

Zeller’s three-point play in the fourth quarter capped an 8-0 run and gave Boston a 90-89 lead with 6:46 to play. The Celtics scored just four points over the next 5 1/2 minutes and the Kings went on an 8-0 run to open up a 103-94 lead on two free throws by Gay with 1:29 left and finished off the victory.

Boston opened the game with a 16-2 burst and led 27-11 after Bradley’s basket with 3:38 left in the opening quarter before Sacramento scored the final 17 points of the period for a 28-27 lead. The Kings used a 10-0 burst to take a 10-point lead with just under five minutes left in the second quarter before settling for a 56-51 lead at the break and maintaining it through the third to lead 82-74 entering the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: PG Andre Miller had eight points and four assists in his Kings’ debut after being acquired before Thursday’s trade deadline, while Boston PG Isaiah Thomas hasn’t yet joined the club. … The Celtics were 15-of-26 from the free-throw line. … Sacramento committed 24 turnovers – nine by Cousins – leading to 38 Boston points.