NBA: Sacramento Kings Blog

2008-11-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

You guys ready for Kings v Nets tonight? 7pm, everyone.

2008-10-30T11:17:00.001-07:00

Whoever wins will be President, not King, but still...Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th, King fans!

2008-10-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

How cool is this? Click here and you can ask a Kings player a question! We'll see if they answer my question. I'll post the link here if they do!

Lucky Kids!

2008-07-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

Jason Thompson should rent himself out for kids' birthday parties. He's really great with them, and the kids love it. Cute video. The kids probably don't have any idea how lucky they are, but they'll figure it out someday.

Help?

2008-07-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

I should know this, but I don't. Any idea when the NBA tickets and schedule for '08-'09 are released? If I find out, I'll try to update for other clueless folks.

What a Lineup

2008-07-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

With NBA resting, I was looking for some Sacramento concert tickets to keep myself occupied. It turns out we've got a lot of good comedy coming to town in '08 and even into '09. (I didn't even know comedians scheduled so far in advance!)

We've got George Lopez, Weird Al Yankovic (c'mon, you know you'd love to say you saw him live), Lily Tomlin (she's still doing standup??), David Sedaris and Dave Barry (two of my favorite writers). I don't know that any one of them would be my first choice, but as a whole, it's pretty cool.

Dunking Video

2008-06-30T08:50:00.001-07:00

Some people have so much time on their hands that they can make video montages of their favorite team. I only have enough time on my hands to watch those videos.

For your offseason viewing pleasure...

Udrih to sub for Bibby

2007-11-07T13:18:00.001-08:00

In case you haven't heard, Mike Bibby is out due to a thumb injury and may be out for 2 months. Last week, the Kings decided to fill that hole with Beno Udrih (who helped the Spurs take home 2 championship titles). Since the Kings are in 4th place in the Pacific Division, Udrih really needs to step it up.

Bye bye, Stan Van Gundy

2007-06-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

So Stan Van Gundy decides Florida's better than California? Not sure how he thinks the Orlando Magic is a better place to go than here with the Sacramento Kings, but he has his reasons, I'm sure. Maybe they'll get lucky and he'll stay longer than a week.

Frees up the spot for someone who can really deliver, though, and to me, that's a good thing. Rick Barry, maybe? Reggie Theus? Brian Shaw? There's more fish in the sea...

Kings on the throne?

2007-03-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

Lose, lose, lose. What happened Kings? A 9 point lead in the fourth-quarter lead and puff it's gone. I am howling mad. The Wolves should have lost. Where are my NBA players?

2007-01-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe Kevin Martin missed that 3-pointer, especially after scoring 30 points for the Sacramento Kings. Way to disappoint.

They Call This Playing

2006-12-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Sacramento Kings 113-126 Monday night.
Biedrins, a notoriously poor free-throw shooter, went 6-for-6. He also went 7-for-7 from the field. The Kings G Jason Hart fouled out in just 13 minutes of action.
Kevin Martin scored 32 points and Ron Artest had 22 for the Kings, who lost their fourth straight road game. Golden State tied Sacramento's franchise record for 3s allowed in a game. The Kings haven't led in the first quarter of any road game this season.

What Happened?

2006-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

This previous week has not been a good week for the Sacramento Kings who have gone from a 3 game winning streak to a 5 game losing streak in only 7 days. On Sunday the Kings will play the Atlanta Hawks who have no current injuries and are staying fairly consistent with no consecutive losses.
The Kings on the other hand have no injuries, but Maurice Taylor has just been suspended for the next 5 games because he tested positive for marijuana for the 3rd time. I can’t say that Taylor’s absence will hurt the Kings because he hasn’t played the last 3 games and has only scored 4 points all season.
The Kings need to get rid of him already and replace him with someone who will benefit the team.

Big Test for Kings Tonight

2006-12-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

The red hot streaking Dallas Mavericks are hosting the Sacramento Kings tonight. This is going to be quite the test for the Kings who are on a 3 game win streak, but are forced to play the Mavs who are on an 11 game winning streak. And the road trip doesn't get any easier because the Kings then have to turn around and face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. This is definitely an early test of the character of this Kings team.

Car problems

2006-11-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

I hear that Ron Artest has missed playing time due to back spasms, which in turn were due to his driving to work at Arco Arena in his wife's Mercedes SL 500, which was due to his wife deciding that the Mercedes was not her style. I can understand how it might not be Ron's style either, seeing as he's 6'7".

Just wanted the Artests and the Sacramento Kings organization to know that this loyal, not to mention, shorter, fan would be glad to swap out. Except my Honda Civic wouldn't be much better. How about my uncle's ancient El Camino?

Wow! What Goes Around...

2006-11-04T16:26:00.000-08:00

...comes around, they say. But I'll bet the Chicago Bulls weren't expecting it so soon! Of course, I'm talking about upset victories, not blow-outs like the one they had over last year's champion Miami Heat. But our 89-88 was just as much a win as Chicago's monster-sized opening victory. And when you think about it, which game would you rather have had tickets to see?

Fantastic job, Kings!

Crazy Nickname, Cool Player

2006-11-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

I was just reading a discussion of Sacramento guard Kevin Martin, referred to in the headline as “K-Mart.” Makes me wonder if he’s been stuck with that since his days in Zanesville, Ohio, or if some brilliant NBA publicist came up with it.

The article talked about Martin’s endorsement contracts, which is one way to measure how his pro basketball career is going. Fortunately, there was also some mention of Kevin’s serious attitude and wholehearted determination: he was the first to criticize his sloppy play in our opening loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But the Kings can see past an off night, and so can the NBA’s general managers, who put Martin near the top of their list of players ready for a breakout season.

Kings’ Preseason Ends on Upswing

2006-10-31T15:02:00.000-08:00

No Arco tickets, so I had to rely on Sam Amick of the Bee for the news about Sacramento beating the Portland Trail Blazers 84-78. Love the write-ups anyway, because, unlike this humble blogger, most sports columnists have a touch of the poet. For example, “Kings center Brad Miller running the floor as if chasing someone who stole his monster truck.” Nice image. And evidently the point of it was that Miller has been powering up his defense, part of the strategy Eric Musselman wants the Kings to emphasize this year.

Next time, I want to see that in person.

Sacramento Kings Fans Need to Vote

2006-10-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

Kings fans, we'd get more use out of a beautiful new arena than anybody. Even if you only follow the Kings from your couch and never buy a ticket, developing the old railroad yard downtown into an arena would be good. Even if you don't give a flip about basketball.

Because what Sacramento does not need is a hazardous waste dump left festering--that place is a Superfund site, the grossest of the gross. I hate to even use the turning-lemons-into-lemonade image, because those are some mighty toxic lemons. Yuck.

Of course this kind of enterprise is expensive and big profits go to the developers. But the millions it takes to build a sports and entertainment complex don't just float away--they are salaries for construction workers and profit margins for suppliers. And when the place is open, well, even the Kings concession stands makes more money than an abandoned railyard.

Mike Bibby Too Short For The NBA? Naaaa!

2006-10-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

The Sacramento Kings made a smooth move when they signed Mike Bibby in June of 2001. This 28 year old has game beyond his years AND beyond his height! I was amazed to see this guys stats and see that he comes in at only 6ft 1 inch. Sacramento better hold onto this one or another NBA team will luck out with him on their team! Don't let his height fool ya, he's got GAME!!!!

Kings hire new coaches

2006-10-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Musselman has kept only one of six assistant coaches from last season, T.R. Dunn. In choosing the new coaches, Musselman has assembled a youthful staff that will hopefully inject some energy into the program. New hires include Scott Brooks, Brendan O'Connor, Mark Hughes, Jason Hamm, and scout Clay Moser. I have high hopes for the new crew, but I will withhold any judgment until I see a few performances.

The King chooses his champion.

2006-06-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

Well the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat have advanced to the NBA Finals. I am really hoping the Miami Heat can pull this off because I hate the Dallas Mavericks. They have been one of our big rivals for a long time and I wouldn’t mind seeing them have to try again to get their first NBA Championship. It’s cruel I know, because I have no loyalty to the Miami Heat as a Sacramento Kings fan. But this is war and in war someone has to lose. Go Heat.

Kings’ Reign is Over

2006-05-08T17:07:00.000-07:00

The Sacramento Kings were knocked out of the Playoffs in the sixth game of their series against the San Antonio Spurs. We were only down by seven when the third quarter started but we quickly lost our hold and slipped behind to end the game with 83 to the Spurs 105. Despite great play from Mike Bibby and Bonzi Wells, who racked up a double-double, the Kings just couldn’t come back from their double digit deficit.

Not an exciting game.

2006-04-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

The Sacramento Kings are squashing the New Orleans Hornets as we speak. This has been a low scoring game on both sides but it appears it is just not in the cards for the Hornets to win tonight. Believe me it is no fault of some great performance by the Kings because there hasn’t been one. Do I sound bitter? At least we will probably make the playoffs.

Someone please step forward.

2006-03-19T16:54:00.000-08:00

I was a little disappointed to see us lose to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Sacramento Kings seem to be falling short of their reputation of the past few years. Mike Bibby is getting a lot of help from Ron Artest and Kenny Thomas and we have won 5 of our last 6 games, but Bibby seems to be slacking in his role as leader of this team.

Artest Proves Useful Against Hawks

2006-02-14T09:56:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that Ron Artest has brought this Sacramento Kings team to a higher level of defensive play. Adding him into the mix seemed like a risky move but you’ve got to admit he moves really well and melds well with the other players. Artest’s value can also be seen in the six assists and six steals he executed during the King’s win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Peja Traded for Problem Child

2006-01-30T17:50:00.000-08:00

I am sure everyone knows by now that the Sacramento Kings have acquired Ron Artest from the Indiana Pacers. This news is deeply troubling because players like Artest can be very harmful in the locker room. If he does something to hurt the Kings reputation or player morale I hope they just bench him.

Needing to Take Charge

2005-10-22T04:05:00.000-07:00

A golden opportunity has come the Kings way and hopefully they can take advantage of it. The Phoenix Suns big man Amare Stoudemire will be out for the first 4 months of the season due to a knee injury, and so with that gap in the Suns lineup the Kings need to capitalize and take an early lead in the Pacific division. The Kings start their season on a 4 game road trip, but then spend most of the rest of the month at home with a mixture of good to mediocre teams. So now this is where I say the obvious thing, the Kings need to win the games against those lesser teams, i.e. New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and Charlotte Bobcats. It’s definitely going to be an exciting season in the Pacific division, it’s not going to be a lock like everyone thought it would be.

New Season With New Faces

2005-10-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

The 2005-06 season for the Kings kicked off last Monday, with Media Day, but practice began that following Tuesday. The thing that seems to stand out the most right now is how deep the Kings seem to be with young talent. With the addition of rookie center Luke Schenscher, whom they claimed off of waivers from the Denver Nuggets, and rookie forward Eric Sandrin, for example. Keep an eye out for this team; they have a dangerous combination of enthusiastic young players filling right in with the experienced veterans.

Who’s Going to Run the Show?

2005-09-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Mike Bibby is due for an unbelievable year. Sure he’s always been a reliable point guard that did his job as expected. But this is the time for him to truly establish himself as one of the top 2 or 3 point guards in the league. Bibby has increased in his points per game, assists per game, and minutes per game every year since he’s been in Sacramento. Without Chris Webber there, traded last season to the Philadelphia 76ers, Bibby should be able to step up and play a more dominant role.

An Old Friend Calls It Quits

2005-09-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

Vlade Divac announced he was going to retire after 15 seasons. Divac said he was going to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach. So let’s remember this former comrade and the 7 great seasons he gave to the Kings. Divac only played 15 games last season for the Lakers because of injuries, and these injuries eventually led to the decision of hanging it up. In his first season with the Kings in 1998, Divac helped the Kings get back to the playoffs, and ever since then the Kings have been a playoff contender year in, year out. Vlade deserves the thanks and respect of the Kings organization and its fans.

Summer Time

2005-06-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

Guess what the youngest player on the team has been doing in his off-season?

Shooting guard Kevin Martin has been preoccupied in his hometown of Zanesville, Ohio. In honor of his NBA career his high school alma mater retired his jersey in May. He went around town talking to the youth of the city and was interviewed by the local news station, The Zanesville TimesRecorded. Soon it will be off to Sacramento to get ready for the 06’ season.

Who is Better?

2005-05-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

A new debate has aroused my thoughts, a debate that will probably continue for ages to come. The question being; who is better Shaquille O’Neal or Wilt Chamberlin? Now before anyone decides to answer this question, one should take time to think about it. To think about all the factors that comes into play.

For one I am not a big fan of Shaq but the man is very good at what he does and will some day join Wilt in the Basketball Hall of Fame. But consider it was two different eras and two different styles. It is almost like comparing Joe Montana to Brett Favre, both great players but two different eras. So what do you all think?

Get Better

2005-05-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

At the nice ol’ age of 57 is president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie, of the Sacramento Kings. Petrie had an angioplasty to remove the blockage that was found after he complained of chest pains to his wife.

Petrie started getting chest pains while he was running. He complained about tightness in his chest and it turned out to be a blocked artery in his heart.

What the?

2005-05-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

This is something I didn’t know about. There was a basketball fan, Mark Leidheisl, killed in a fist fight after a Sacramento Kings game in the Arco Arena parking lot. This guy was only 39 but apparently was drunk and on some type of opiate.

Who goes to basketball game on an opiate? Well the Sacramento Country District Attorney, Jan Scully, said the other men in the fight were defending themselves and not at all the aggressor. So no charges could be pressed nor were their any arrests.

End of season quote

2005-05-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Brad Miller had something to say as well...

“It’s probably my second-hardest season basketball-wise and emotionally, with everything that goes into it, right behind winning 17 games in a year. It was just something that there was a mindset with everyone who was here at the beginning of the year thinking that we would make a run at a championship. But after everything that has happened, there was just a lot of curveballs. We would have never had guessed any of these moves that happened at the beginning of the year. It was just tough with all the injuries.”

We have come to and end

2005-05-09T10:27:00.000-07:00

Here is what Peja Stojakovic had to say about this recent season and the offseason to come.

"I think we all should understand what our coach has done for us and for this organization and the city and maybe we should appreciate him more than we do. He should deserve more respect."

"It was a weird season, losing three starters through free agency and trades, and having injurieswe tried to mix in new guys. Everything was a part of this year. Still we were able to make the playoffs as the sixth seed, we didnt have home court advantage and Seattle played good basketball all year long. They deserved it and they played better basketball all series long."

"I really believe that this team has talent. So what is going to bring next year, what kind of moves are going to be made I dont know. But I do believe that this team has talent."

What about the ffseason?

"Besides the regular things, for sure I need to work on my post game and get some new move into my repertoire and try to get better. Its tough in Greece to find guys to play basketball because theyre all chasing around the beach and no one wants to play ball in the summertime."

Being punished

2005-04-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

Sacramento guard Cuttino Mobley was fined $15,000 by the NBA on Monday for making an obscene gesture toward fans at the end of the Kings' first-round playoff game at Seattle.

Mobley, who scored 22 points in an 87-82 loss, made the gesture after hitting a 3-pointer with 42.4 seconds to play that cut the SuperSonics' lead to 83-82.

Game 2 of the Kings-Sonics series is Tonight night in Seattle.

Kings Open can of Woop Ass

2005-04-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

Kenny Thomas put up 32 points and 14 rebounds, a career-high, and Mike Bibby had 24 points and eight assists for the Sacramento Kings in there latest victory over the Los Angeles Lakers 124-105 this past Sunday.

The Kings picked apart their biggest rivals with 68 points in the second half and 51 percent shooting on the day and to top it off the Kings also 62 rebounds compared to the Lakers 32.

Since the Webber trade the teams has opened their offense a little more just with in the last 7 games the games at least made 118 points in five on those games. It looks like momentum will carry on into the playoffs for the kings.

In to the Playoffs

2005-04-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Kings have won 10 of the last 16 games and they did it with out C. Webb. The Kings have been playing with a lot more effort and a certain type of edge that is making their offense produce more so than it is has all season.

The Kings are holding the 5th seed for the playoff spot right now. The West is by far the more competitive conference, for example the Kings are in at the 5 spot with a 46-30 record as to were Washing is in with a 41-33 record with the rest of the East at mid range stats.

Skinner, Thomas outperform Webber

2005-03-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

By Ric Bucher, ESPN The Magazine

Chris Webber returned to Arco Arena on Monday night and showed why Kings fans developed such deep-seated feelings about him during a seven-year run that lifted an afterthought of a team to a perennial playoff contender.

He also showed why the Kings are better off without him.

Webber, dealt to the Sixers in February as part of a six-player trade, finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds in 40 minutes, but then the man has always been able to wield that pterodactyl's wingspan and massive mitts to fill a stat sheet. He also can be damn entertaining, whether it's with his dramatic facial expressions or moves truly audacious for someone listed as 6-foot-10 and 245 pounds.

It's when he gets those numbers that has long raised skepticism about his superstar status. Monday night's 118-109 Kings' victory only provided more fodder: The Sixers trailed by two going into the fourth quarter. Webber played nine minutes in the final period and contributed one rebound and three points. The Kings led 102-97 when Webber returned from a three-minute breather, replacing Marc Jackson. Less than two minutes after that, Sacramento had made a 9-0 run and put the game away.

Webber has sometimes been forgotten in the Sixers' offense while Allen Iverson runs rampant, but that wasn't the case here. Webber wasn't ready for an Iverson pass, producing one turnover. The next came when Kyle Korver tried to feed him in the post and Webber couldn't reach the ball. An air ball jump hook over Kenny Thomas followed.

To make it all worse, Brian Skinner and Thomas made it look as if they should've been the featured players in the deal. Skinner had 13 points and 19 rebounds, and Thomas chipped in 20 and 15, along with coaxing Webber, single coverage and all, into an 8-for-26 shooting performance.

"Maybe they won't say it, but they both had a bounce to their step," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "They were ready to play."

For Webber, meanwhile, file this one under the heading: Not Getting It Done. Or, maybe: Same Old, Same Old.

But if you're more into the WWE than W's and L's – and, for some reason, that seemed to be the theme – Webber delivered. Before the game, he focused on distributing 30 or so tickets to friends. After the game, he talked about his love for Sacramento and the friendships with Kings teammates that will endure, although it's worth noting that none got together with him when he arrived in town Sunday night. He hit some early jumpers and made a couple of strong fourth-quarter drives to get to the free-throw line for his three points, but otherwise he made GM Geoff Petrie appear to be a freakin' genius.

Even Adelman, who goes the extra mile to be diplomatic, couldn't disguise how little concern Webber warranted. "I told the team, it's all about how we play," he said. "After seven years, I know what Chris is going to do and where he's going to be. As you may have noticed, their offense is centered around Allen Iverson."

The night's emotions were centered on Webber, though, and everybody went along with it. The fans gave him a standing ovation of nearly a minute upon his introduction, the first half of which Webber whispered in Korver's ear as if to distract himself. These, after all, were fans who booed him when he tried to play his way back into form on his bad wheel last year and disrupted the flow the Kings had developed without him.

The fans outlasted him, though, forcing Webber to look up and around the arena and applaud them in return. A nice gesture, to be sure, though with Webber you never quite know what's sincere and what is simply the role he has chosen to play for the night.

Once the ball went up, he reverted to his long-running I'm-a-badass persona, a recurring role he first broke out with the Fab Five in Michigan. This time, though, he didn't play it with the same intensity seen in his first meetings with the Wizards, say, after they traded him or the first few times he faced Don Nelson after his exodus from the Warriors. He buried a 20-foot jumper 11 seconds into the game, then peered around Skinner to glower at former teammate Mike Bibby, as if to say, "Bring it." When Bibby drove for a layup, Webber stepped over to challenge the shot and knocked Bibby on his back in the follow-through, as if to say, "Don't think I won't." Or maybe it was: "Yeah, I didn't do much of that when I was here this season, but that doesn't mean I can't."

Then, when Peja Stojakovic came at him on a breakaway and missed a leaner, Webber grabbed the rebound and smirked, as if to say, "I told you he was soft." This being the Peja he vaguely accused last summer of not being tough enough and thereby contributing to why the Kings never reached the NBA Finals. When another turnover produced another Stojakovic drive on Webber, Stojakovic finished this one and drew a foul. Webber patted referee Gary Zielinski on the butt, said, "Good call," then sneered all the way back to the 76ers' bench. A little later, he grabbed a rebound and bounce passed it behind his back to Iverson while staring at the Kings' bench, as if to say, "Yeah, you once had a big man who could that."

All that, though, proved to be merely for show. If he really held any animosity or resentment toward his former teammates, it had dissipated by the second quarter. By the fourth quarter, so had his effectiveness. That left the door open for the other guys in the deal – Thomas and Skinner – to demonstrate that they had some emotions tied up in the night, as well. Skinner also played nine minutes in the final period, only his line read: five rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocked shots, two points.

It is, of course, only one night, and 76ers coach Jim O'Brien is gradually finding a way to take advantage of Webber's strengths and protect his weaknesses. The Sixers no longer blitz pick-and-rolls but force the ball to the baseline, saving Webber from having to jump out and back – since he can't. While Iverson remains their offensive focal point, they mixed in enough plays for Webber against the Kings to keep him happy.

But the Kings clearly aren't mourning his absence. They are playing with the zest of men freed from bondage. Maybe they aren't any more of a threat to win a title this year than they were with him – but the way they looked Monday night, they certainly aren't any less.

As one visiting scout suggested, upon hearing the standing ovation: "I wonder if they're applauding that he's gone."

In a Slump

2005-03-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

It might have been the double-digit scoring from all five of Miami starters that led to a ugly 104 - 83 loss for the Sacramento Kings.

Even though Mike Bibby had 22 points and seven assists for Sacramento and Cuttino Mobley had 17 points with Peja Stojakovic adding 15. The Kings still missed starting center Brad Miller. Miller was sidelined for the third straight game due a sore calf, making Kings depend mostly on jump shots.

Why...

2005-02-24T12:51:00.000-08:00

I have no idea or explanation why GM Geoff Petrie decided it would be in the best interest for the team to trade Chris Webber to the Philadelphia 76's for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner.

Who?

I mean Petrie didn't even seem like he knew the guys he just acquired when announcing the trade. I mean the trade didn't even help with the cap room nor did help Sacramento for a playoff push...

I just don't get it.

Kings Struggle

2005-02-23T14:44:00.000-08:00

from Foxsports.com

Maybe the Sacramento Kings could have used a few more days off. After a long weekend of relaxation, they barely had enough energy to hold off the team with the NBA's worst record.

Chris Webber scored 30 points, Mike Bibby had 23 and the Kings beat the Atlanta Hawks 114-104 on Tuesday night for just their second victory in eight games.
Though Sacramento was relieved when time finally ran out on a much-needed win, nobody celebrated.

After a series of lackluster efforts leading up to the All-Star weekend, where no Kings were invited for the first time since 1992, they needed a fourth-quarter rally to finish off the lowly Hawks' 16th straight road loss.

Kings Thwarted by Suns in Thiller

2005-02-09T13:21:00.000-08:00

from Kings.com

Chris Webber posted a second consecutive triple-double Tuesday, putting up 24 points, 10 boards and 12 assists against the Suns. But the Kings were foiled as Brad Miller's game-tying attempt was blocked as time expired, leaving Sacramento with a 125-123 loss. Mike Bibby paced the team with 27 points; Cuttino Mobley went 5-of-7 from behind the arc for 20 points.

King on Top

2005-02-01T15:04:00.000-08:00

The Kings where without Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic, who happened to be All-stars, going into Minnesota this past Sunday.

That didn’t matter, even though the Kings record before Sunday night in T’wolves territory was (2-12) in their last 14 regular season games there.

"Whenever we have people down, people step up,"- Mike Bibby

Brad Miller was one of those people as he posted 15 boards and had 27 points to help push the Kings to a 94-84 victory over KG and the Timberwolves.

Welcome Wagon

2005-01-18T13:41:00.000-08:00

It seems that Cuttino Mobley has done well in adjusting with his new team, the Sacramento Kings. In his second outing Mobley had 19 points to help push the Kings to a 89-93 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Of course Mobley could not have done it all by himself, Chris Webber came though and led the Sacramento Kings with 23 points and 14 boards. The Kings have now won four straight games and have won the past 8 of 10 games.
"I'm having fun. I'm lovin' it. I'm just trying to do what they want me to do out there. That's score and get some energy. Maybe when you are on a winning team, your defense shows up better." - Mobley
Mobley sunk 5 of 12 field goals, but the most important being a vital 3-pointer that gave the Kings 85-83 lead with 59.6 seconds left, and he finished his solid effort with a couple of free throws to put "the nail in the coffin" with 26 seconds left.

Kings on the Rise

2005-01-13T13:43:00.000-08:00

NBA.com

Faced with an ever-diminishing number of teammates, Peja Stojakovic and Mike Bibby did all they could Tuesday to get their team a win.

Stojakovic scored 27 points and Bibby added 18 and seven assists as the undermanned Sacramento Kings posted a 109-100 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

The triumph was the Kings' 17th straight at home against the Nuggets and made them winners in their first game since shipping Doug Christie to the Orlando Magic on Monday in exchange for Cuttino Mobley and Michael Bradley.

While star forward Chris Webber sat out to rest his sore left knee, Mobley and Bradley had yet to arrive in town, leaving the Kings with just nine players in uniform.

Stojakovic stepped up, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and nine in the closing minutes. His 3-pointer with 6:24 left snapped an 89-89 tie and gave Sacramento the lead for good.

Bibby left the game with 9:40 remaining after turning his ankle following a driving layup, and Denver quickly took advantage with a 9-0 run that tied the game, 85-85. A hobbled Bibby returned at the 7:54 mark, just before Stojakovic put the Kings ahead to stay.

Afterward, Bibby indicated he would be ready for Thursday's home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Sacramento clinched the game with free throws in the final minutes as Denver missed several point-blank opportunities against a zone defense, which had stalled the Nuggets much of the first half.

Kings top Spurs

2005-01-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

A well deserved win.

With an 86 - 81 win over the Spurs, the Kings managed to dodge a bullet with Stojakovic leading the way. Though it is only the second win against a team with a winning record. The last time was against the Lakers on Novomber 26.

So this really is a good way to start the New Year.

Warriors 98, Kings 94

2004-12-28T13:04:00.000-08:00

By Associated Press, from Foxsports.com

Jason Richardson made his first victory in Sacramento a memorable one.

Richardson scored all 26 of his points in the second half, helping the struggling Golden State Warriors rally for a 98-94 victory over the Kings.

The Warriors snapped an 11-game losing streak at Arco Arena, winning for only the second time in 22 games dating back to April 9, 1998.

Richardson fueled the victory, hitting shot after shot in the second half when the Warriors outscored the Kings 62-48.

"I was aware of that (losing streak), but we haven't won in a lot of places," Richardson said. "It's huge for us. Sacramento has had our number the last couple of years."

The victory didn't come easy. The Kings scored seven straight points in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 91-88. Richardson responded with a long jumper and two free throws, putting Golden State ahead 95-89 with 22 seconds left.

Chris Webber made two 3-pointers in the final minute, the second one pulling the Kings to within 97-94 with 8.1 seconds left. Richardson made a free throw with 7.1 seconds and the Kings missed a 3-pointer as time expired.

"The difference in the whole game was Jason Richardson; it's that simple," said Webber, who led the Kings with 28 points.

Richardson made two jumpers and added a driving layup to open the fourth quarter as the Warriors went on a 14-3 run, taking their biggest lead at 89-73 with 4:54 remaining.

After a scoreless first half where he missed all six shots and both free throws, Richardson scored 15 points in the third quarter, helping the Warriors outscore the Kings 37-24 to take a 73-70 lead.

"He came out and shot the heck out of the ball in the second half," Speedy Claxton said. "He was huge for us."

Troy Murphy had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Warriors, who are just 3-10 on the road. Cliff Robinson had 11 points. Claxton had 10 points and nine assists and Derek Fisher also had 10 points.

The Kings had a subpar 2-3 record in their five-game home stand, a rarity the past six years. It was the second straight loss for the Kings, who fell to Miami on Friday night.

"We got what we deserved, we didn't play with energy," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "We talked about it at halftime that we needed to come out strong in the third quarter. It cost us and they deserved to win and we didn't."

Peja Stojakovic had 18 points for the Kings, Mike Bibby had 14, while both Doug Christie and Maurice Evans had 13.

Stojakovic scored 11 points and Webber had 10 as the Kings took a 46-36 halftime lead. games with a sprained right knee, had 10 points in 20 minutes. The Kings have four days off before playing Friday at Utah. A forward throughout his 16 years in the league, Robinson has started the last 11 games at center, replacing ineffective Adonal Foyle. With standout reserve Bobby Jackson out with a wrist injury, Sacramento used just seven players.

C-Webb Dashes Bucks from downtown

2004-12-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

from NFL.com

Chris Webber made a 3-pointer that didn't count, then made one that did.

Seconds after sinking a practice shot, Webber sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Sacramento Kings an 89-86 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Webber scored 23 points for the Kings, who rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and gave away a lead before improving to 8-0 against the Eastern Conference.

With the game tied, the Bucks used an extra foul to deny the Kings a shot. Webber ended up with the ball and fired a 3-pointer that went in. On the ensuing inbounds play, Webber took a pass and sank the game-winning 3-pointer before sprinting off the court.

"I wasn't prepared to shoot it," Webber said. "I was way out. But I'm thankful it went in. I looked at Mike (Bibby) on the back door and when I raised (the shot). I saw Brad (Miller) wide open waving his arms. But by then I had to shoot it."

"He took the first one and it didn't count," Kings forward Peja Stojakovic said. "It was a preview. It was an unbelievable shot, with a guy on him and the clock winding down. That's his spot."

The Bucks held an 85-81 lead before Stojakovic hit a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left and added a driving layup with nine seconds remaining to give the Kings an 86-85 edge. Bibby stole the ball from Michael Redd to set up Stojakovic's layup.

"We got a big steal with 15 seconds left that put us ahead and Chris hits a 3-pointer, just like I drew it up," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "We wanted to get Chris closer to the basket and we had some other options, but he didn't have the time. He got forced out further than we wanted. Fortunately for us, he made it."

Webber fouled Mike James, who sank 1-of-2 free throws with four seconds left, setting the stage for the Bucks to lose for the 12th time in 15 games.

A 3-pointer by James gave Milwaukee a 77-67 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Sacramento rallied with a 14-2 run, taking an 81-79 lead on Webber's hook with 2:46 left.

Doug Christie had all five of his points during the run and made a big save of a loose ball by diving headfirst into the stands.

"We had a 10-point lead that evaporated as quick as I have ever seen a 10-point lead evaporate," Milwaukee coach Terry Porter said. "We were there. We just have to make plays. Webber hits a 25-footer for them to win it. That is just the kind of luck we have been having right now."

"They played it the right way," Webber said of the final shot. "If I was them, I'd let me shoot it instead of Peja."

Bibby just missed a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to help the Kings sweep the season series with their 14th win in 16 games.

"A win is a win," Bibby said. "We'll take them any way we can get them. We just kept fighting. If we keep fighting, we'll win games like this."

Desmond Mason led five Bucks in double figures with 23 points. Redd scored 20 points and James added 15 off the bench.

"We just have to finish games off, especially at home," Redd said. "Tonight, we had a huge lead that we squandered away. Sacramento made big plays down the stretch."

Kings run past Celtics

2004-12-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

from NBA.com

Peja Stojakovic and the Sacramento Kings played the first quarter as if they were sleepwalking. Then they woke up.

Stojakovic scored just two points in the opening quarter but 25 thereafter as the Kings rallied from a 20-point deficit to easily defeat the Boston Celtics, 119-105, for their 11th victory in 12 games.

Brad Miller added 22 points and 10 rebounds and Chris Webber 18 and 10 as the Kings beat Boston at home for the ninth straight meeting.

Boston, which had a three-game winning streak snapped, held a 38-18 lead after a layup by Marcus Banks opened the scoring in the second quarter.

"It was just a lack of effort," Miller said. "They made easy layups and dunks. They had 24 or 26 fast-break points in the first half, and that's basically how they were scoring. Our guys just weren't getting back."

"You can't just let them run over you," said Kings forward Darius Songaila, who scored 14 points off the bench. "At some point, the guys on the court as well as the guys on the bench just have to say, 'That's enough,' and start playing."

But Stojakovic scored eight points in the period to pull Sacramento within 63-55 at the break, then added 12 points in the third quarter to help the Kings open a 93-80 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.

"I thought in the first half we moved the ball, we shared the ball, we did a great job playing together as a team," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "In the second half, I thought we each tried to win it by ourselves. The ball never moved."

"Once we started getting back and making play at half-court offense, things changed," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "On the offensive end, everything was one-on-one, everything was a pass and they weren't trying to force the issue. All we had to do was play and not force the offense."

Sacramento, which was outscored on the break, 40-15, led by as many as 26 points in the fourth quarter.

"We played well (in the first half)," said Celtics guard Gary Payton, who scored eight of his nine points in the first quarter. "Then the third quarter came and we stopped doing the things we do. We didn't share the ball. We didn't do what we did in the first half in the second half.

"(The Kings) started making shots, they started running, they did to us what we did to them in the first half and won the game."

Mike Bibby, who collected 15 points and 10 assists, scored eight straight points during Sacramento's 12-0 run early in the third quarter that turned a 69-65 deficit into a 77-69 lead. His jumper with 7:42 left in the period gave the Kings the lead for good, 71-69.

"We just have to share the ball," Bibby said. "When we play together, we're hard to stop."

Mark Blount scored 18 points and Raef LaFrentz chipped in 15 and 14 rebounds for Boston, which was opening a five-game Western swing. Paul Pierce added 16 points but, guarded mostly by Stojakovic, was blanked in the second half.

"It's the tale of two halves," Pierce said. "We just let our offense affect our defense, and that's how it's been all year."

Wolves Snap Kings’ Streak

2004-11-29T08:02:00.000-08:00

from NBA.com

The clocks were off the last few minutes. Sam Cassell and Kevin Garnett were not.

Cassell and Garnett combined to score 11 straight points down the stretch as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped the Sacramento Kings' seven-game winning streak with a 121-110 victory at Arco Arena.

The two teams have had a penchant for tight games over the years, including several overtime affairs and an all-time 30-30 record coming into the game. The trend continued in this one.

Sacramento trailed by just 106-104 after Bobby Jackson made a layup and free throw with 2:52 remaining. But the clocks stopped working, causing a delay of about five minutes, and eventually were turned off.

"The referees did a good job letting us know how much time was left," Cassell said. "We made some shots and executed our offense."

"Technical difficulties are out of everybody's hands, including the guys running the clock," Garnett added. "It's part of (the game)."

When play resumed, Jackson and Garnett nailed back-to-back jumpers, Jackson a 3-pointer and two free throws and Garnett a pair from the line to open a 115-104 cushion with 1:08 left.

"They hit some tough shots (after the clock malfunction), especially Sam Cassell," Kings guard Mike Bibby said. "We contested them but they were still going in."

Garnett collected 28 points and 16 rebounds, Cassell scored 25 points and reserve Eddie Griffin 20 for Minnesota, which was meeting Sacramento for the first time since winning their Western Conference semifinal series in seven games last season.

"Sam understands everything starts (with him)," Garnett said. "He and I were just sharing, making sure everybody got a touch. Tonight it was a collective win from everybody."

The oft-troubled Griffin, acquired prior to the start of the season, contributed made a season-high four 3-pointers as the Kings dared him to make shots.

"I feel comfortable shooting the three, stretching the defense," said Griffin, who shot 4-of-5 from the arc and 7-of-15 overall. "That's what they expect out of me."

Garnett welcomed the new offensive threat.

"Eddie's not your typical big man. He can shoot the three very well, he's unselfish," Garnett commented. "He's definitely made our team better, more versatile."

The Kings, who lost for the first time in seven games at Arco Arena this season, have lost four straight regular-season games to the Timberwolves, including three here.

Sacramento was in danger of being blown out in the first half after Minnesota's Fred Hoiberg nailed a long three to make it 41-31 with 10:34 left in the second quarter. But the Kings would ride the hot shooting of Bibby and Peja Stojakovic to pull within 61-60 at intermission, shooting 57 percent in the half.

Chris Webber contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds and Bibby and Stojakovic 22 points apiece for Sacramento.

Minnesota tied a season high for points in a quarter with 36 in the fourth and was a blistering 60 percent (9-of-15) from the arc.

"You give up 36 points in the last quarter, you're not going to win very many games," Kings Coach Rick Adelman said.

Timberwolves center Michael Olowokandi played 16 minutes, collecting four points, in his return to action following a team imposed two-game suspension after being arrested at an Indianapolis nightclub last week.

Miller’s Late Shot Carries Kings

2004-11-14T11:27:00.000-08:00

from NBA.com

Brad Miller hit a 20-foot jumper with 25 seconds remaining to give the Sacramento Kings their first road win of the season, a 113-111 triumph over the Phoenix Suns.

Sacramento held a 100-87 lead with eight minutes left before Steve Nash sparked a comeback by Phoenix. He sank consecutive baskets to bring the Suns within 110-109 with 44 seconds left.

Miller's bucket gave the Kings a 112-109 edge. After a pair of free throws by Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire, Doug Christie missed 1-of-2 from the foul line, giving Phoenix one last opportunity to win.

The Suns did not call their last timeout and raced upcourt, only to have Shawn Marion miss a leaner in the lane and Joe Johnson miss an open 13-footer.

"I had some good looks. It just wasn't going in," Marion said. "It just happens like that sometimes. They don't always go in."

Chris Webber had a season-high 28 points and 10 rebounds, Peja Stojakovic scored a season-high 23 points and Mike Bibby added 20 for the Kings, who had lost their first four road games.

"Its really big because we have about 12 days at home," Webber said "I think we have an unfair record, But everyone could say that. We opened three arenas - Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. So it's good for us to get a road win."

"They are a really tough team to guard," Kings coach Rick Adelman said "But we played so much better offensively tonight than we have been. They made their run like teams at home are going to make runs at you."

There were 19 lead changes before the Kings went on a 10-0 run to open a 94-82 lead with 10:41 remaining.

"The difference compared to our previous games was patience and energy for all 48 minutes," Stojakovic said. "We know we'd have to accomplish that against this team, running the floor, taking care of the transition defense."

Stoudemire and Nash scored 29 points apiece and Marion added 14 and 15 rebounds for the Suns, who have lost two in a row following a 4-0 start. Phoenix has lost 12 of its last 17 meetings with Sacramento.

"We made a lot of good decisions and plays down the stretch offensively to get back in the game," Nash said. "We lost to a good team. They made us pay offensively and we certainly didn't get many bounces, either."

Sacramento Releases Liu, Two More

2004-10-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

From ESPN.com, by the Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Liu Wei, a starting guard for the Chinese national team, was among three players released by the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Liu joined the Kings shortly before their tour of Beijing and Shanghai with the Houston Rockets earlier in the month. He is a star with the Shanghai Sharks, Yao Ming's former club team in China.

The Kings also released center Anwar Ferguson and guard Tony Bland. They have 16 players left on their roster.

2004-2004 Kings Schedule

2004-09-15T07:59:00.000-07:00


 October 		Opponent

  10 Sun 	Golden State Preseason

  14 Thu 	@ Houston Preseason

  17 Sun 	Houston Preseason

  19 Tue 	@ L.A. Lakers Preseason

  22 Fri 	@ Utah Preseason

  23 Sat 	New Orleans Preseason

  28 Thu 	@ Dallas Preseason 

  29 Fri 	Phoenix Preseason

 November 		Opponent

  2 Tue 	@ Dallas

  3 Wed 	@ San Antonio

  6 Sat 	@ Houston	

  9 Tue 	Toronto

  10 Wed 	@ Seattle

  13 Sat 	@ Phoenix

  14 Sun 	Denver	

  16 Tue 	Chicago

  19 Fri 	Memphis

  21 Sun 	Milwaukee

  23 Tue 	Houston

  26 Fri 	@ L.A. Lakers

  28 Sun 	Minnesota	

  30 Tue 	@ Memphis

 December 		Opponent

  1 Wed 	@ New Orleans

  3 Fri 	Indiana

  5 Sun 	Boston

  7 Tue 	Charlotte

  10 Fri 	@ Minnesota

  11 Sat 	@ Indiana	

  14 Tue 	@ Milwaukee

  16 Thu 	L.A. Lakers

  19 Sun 	New Orleans

  21 Tue 	Washington

  23 Thu 	Miami

  26 Sun 	Golden State

  31 Fri 	@ Utah

 January 		Opponent

  2 Sun 	San Antonio

  4 Tue 	@ New York

  5 Wed 	@ Toronto

  7 Fri 	@ Atlanta

  8 Sat 	@ New Orleans

  11 Tue 	Denver

  13 Thu 	Utah

  15 Sat 	L.A. Clippers

  17 Mon 	@ L.A. Clippers

  18 Tue 	Portland	

  20 Thu 	Cleveland

  23 Sun 	San Antonio

  25 Tue 	New Jersey

  27 Thu 	@ San Antonio

  28 Fri 	@ Houston 

  30 Sun 	@ Minnesota

 February 		Opponent

  1 Tue 	Seattle

  2 Wed 	@ Golden State

  4 Fri 	New York

  5 Sat 	@ Portland

  8 Tue 	Phoenix	

  10 Thu 	@ Seattle

  11 Fri 	Dallas

  13 Sun 	@ Boston

  15 Tue 	@ Chicago

  16 Wed 	@ New Jersey

  22 Tue 	Atlanta

  24 Thu 	@ Dallas

  26 Sat 	@ Philadelphia

  27 Sun 	@ Washington

 March 		Opponent

  1 Tue 	@ Charlotte	

  2 Wed 	@ Orlando

  4 Fri 	@ Miami

  6 Sun 	Detroit 

  8 Tue 	Memphis	

  11 Fri 	L.A. Clippers

  13 Sun 	Houston 

  15 Tue 	Orlando

  17 Thu 	@ Golden State

  19 Sat 	@ L.A. Clippers

  20 Sun 	Golden State

  22 Tue 	Portland

  24 Thu 	Dallas

  26 Sat 	@ Denver

  28 Mon 	Philadelphia

  30 Wed 	@ Detroit

 April 		Opponent

  1 Fri 	@ Cleveland

  3 Sun 	Minnesota 

  5 Tue 	Seattle

  8 Fri 	@ Portland

  10 Sun 	L.A. Lakers 

  15 Fri 	@ L.A. Lakers

  16 Sat 	@ Phoenix	

  18 Mon 	@ Utah

  20 Wed 	Phoenix