Preview: If the New Jersey Nets don’t want to finish with the worst record in NBA history, the next two home games may offer some hope.
Needing three victories in their final 12 games to avoid infamy, the Nets look to end an eight-game slide Wednesday night when they host the Sacramento Kings, who will again be without top rookie scorer Tyreke Evans(notes).
Time is running out for New Jersey (7-63) to surpass the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who went 9-73 for the worst record in league history. It doesn’t appear to be getting any easier as the Nets’ last four losses have been by double digits after the first four during the current skid were by nine or fewer points.
New Jersey is on a franchise-record 14-game losing streak at home, where it is 3-31. The final two contests of this four-game homestand, however, could represent chances to break that skid.
Sacramento (24-47) starts a five-game trip at the Izod Center before Detroit visits on Friday. Both opponents have 7-28 road records.
The Nets get the added advantage of facing the Kings without their best player in Evans, who leads all rookies in scoring (20.3 ppg). Evans suffered a mild concussion, a bruised jaw, lacerated gums and chipped teeth after taking an inadvertent elbow going for a loose ball in a 114-108 double-overtime loss to Milwaukee on March 19.
Evans will miss his third straight game but could return Friday in Boston.
“I saw where they’re (Kings doctors) anticipating his return probably in Boston, that would be great,” coach Paul Westphal said. “But we don’t want to rush him at all. We want him when he’s completely healed.”
The Kings split the two games without Evans, losing 102-85 to Memphis on Monday. Carl Landry(notes) led Sacramento with 23 points.
The Nets held halftime leads in the first two games of this homestand before being undone by dismal third quarters. Toronto outscored New Jersey 32-19 in the third in a 100-90 win on Saturday before Miami posted a 27-14 advantage in the period in a 99-89 victory Monday.
The loss to the Heat echoed a familiar storyline for the Nets.
“It was a tale of all tales,” guard Devin Harris(notes) said. “We had a good solid first half. The third quarter, obviously, we didn’t shoot the ball well and didn’t guard, and there was a six-minute stretch that we’ve been known to have from time to time and it dug us a hole we could not get out of.”
Brook Lopez(notes) led New Jersey with 26 points and Harris added 16.
The Nets played without interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe, whose mother is gravely ill in California. Assistant John Loyer replaced him, and could do so again for this contest if Vandeweghe does not return.
Sacramento is trying to sweep the season series after winning 109-96 at home Nov. 27 behind 21 points apiece from Evans and Beno Udrih(notes).
Showing posts with label Sacramento Kings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sacramento Kings. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
POD: Sacramento+10.5 (NBA) W
POD: Sacramento+10.5 @ Oklahoma City (3K units) W
Preview: Kevin Durant hasn’t scored 30 points in any of his last three games, but the Oklahoma City Thunder hope they’re approaching a point where they don’t need a big effort from their All-Star in order to win.
Durant and the Thunder seek their third straight victory and 12th in 14 games Tuesday night when they host the Sacramento Kings.
Durant’s 29.7 points per game rank second in the NBA behind LeBron James(notes), and his 33 30-point games are tops in the league. Oklahoma City (35-23) is 22-11 when its third-year star hits that plateau.
He had his streak of 29 straight games with at least 25 points snapped in a 95-87 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday - the team’s second consecutive defeat following a nine-game winning streak.
Durant has also failed to reach 30 in his last two contests, but the Thunder haven’t needed him to. He scored 25 on Friday in a 109-92 rout of Minnesota, then had 29 on Sunday in 32 minutes as Oklahoma City blew out Toronto 119-99.
“… We have that mindset of trying to be guys that go out and get after it and have that competitive spirit for 48 minutes straight,” Durant said. “That’s our brand of basketball here in Oklahoma City, and that’s how it’s going to be for a long time.”
Several teammates are helping Durant. Jeff Green(notes) has scored at least 16 points in eight of his last nine games, while Russell Westbrook(notes) is averaging 20.5 with 11.0 assists, 6.2 rebounds and two steals over his last six.
Nenad Krstic(notes) (8.1 points per game) has averaged 13.0 in the last two wins. Rookie Serge Ibaka(notes) (5.4 ppg) has averaged 13.5 points and three blocks.
“Serge is really developing into a nice player for us,” coach Scott Brooks said after Ibaka had his second double-double Sunday. “He brings energy, toughness and defense.”
Krstic’s highest-scoring game of the season came opening night against Sacramento (20-39). He had 20 points, while Durant scored 25 and Green added 24 in a 102-89 home win.
Durant had 37 on Nov. 10 at Arco Arena, but Jason Thompson(notes) (21 points, 14 boards) and Tyreke Evans(notes) (20 points, eight assists) lifted the Kings to a 101-98 victory.
Sacramento can win a third straight game Tuesday for the first time since a four-game streak Nov. 25-Dec. 2. Two nights after Evans and Beno Udrih(notes) combined for 49 points in a 103-99 win over visiting Utah, Evans had a game-high 22 points - including two late baskets to stretch a one-point lead to five - in a 97-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
“I like the big shots and I want to take them any chance I can get,” Evans told the NBA’s official Web site. “Ever since I was younger I’ve been hitting big shots.”
Evans has gotten help the past two games from center Spencer Hawes(notes), who didn’t dress against Detroit last Tuesday after criticizing coach Paul Westphal’s rotation. Hawes returned Friday and had 15 points and 12 boards, then scored 16 Sunday - including 10 in the first quarter.
Preview: Kevin Durant hasn’t scored 30 points in any of his last three games, but the Oklahoma City Thunder hope they’re approaching a point where they don’t need a big effort from their All-Star in order to win.
Durant and the Thunder seek their third straight victory and 12th in 14 games Tuesday night when they host the Sacramento Kings.
Durant’s 29.7 points per game rank second in the NBA behind LeBron James(notes), and his 33 30-point games are tops in the league. Oklahoma City (35-23) is 22-11 when its third-year star hits that plateau.
He had his streak of 29 straight games with at least 25 points snapped in a 95-87 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday - the team’s second consecutive defeat following a nine-game winning streak.
Durant has also failed to reach 30 in his last two contests, but the Thunder haven’t needed him to. He scored 25 on Friday in a 109-92 rout of Minnesota, then had 29 on Sunday in 32 minutes as Oklahoma City blew out Toronto 119-99.
“… We have that mindset of trying to be guys that go out and get after it and have that competitive spirit for 48 minutes straight,” Durant said. “That’s our brand of basketball here in Oklahoma City, and that’s how it’s going to be for a long time.”
Several teammates are helping Durant. Jeff Green(notes) has scored at least 16 points in eight of his last nine games, while Russell Westbrook(notes) is averaging 20.5 with 11.0 assists, 6.2 rebounds and two steals over his last six.
Nenad Krstic(notes) (8.1 points per game) has averaged 13.0 in the last two wins. Rookie Serge Ibaka(notes) (5.4 ppg) has averaged 13.5 points and three blocks.
“Serge is really developing into a nice player for us,” coach Scott Brooks said after Ibaka had his second double-double Sunday. “He brings energy, toughness and defense.”
Krstic’s highest-scoring game of the season came opening night against Sacramento (20-39). He had 20 points, while Durant scored 25 and Green added 24 in a 102-89 home win.
Durant had 37 on Nov. 10 at Arco Arena, but Jason Thompson(notes) (21 points, 14 boards) and Tyreke Evans(notes) (20 points, eight assists) lifted the Kings to a 101-98 victory.
Sacramento can win a third straight game Tuesday for the first time since a four-game streak Nov. 25-Dec. 2. Two nights after Evans and Beno Udrih(notes) combined for 49 points in a 103-99 win over visiting Utah, Evans had a game-high 22 points - including two late baskets to stretch a one-point lead to five - in a 97-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
“I like the big shots and I want to take them any chance I can get,” Evans told the NBA’s official Web site. “Ever since I was younger I’ve been hitting big shots.”
Evans has gotten help the past two games from center Spencer Hawes(notes), who didn’t dress against Detroit last Tuesday after criticizing coach Paul Westphal’s rotation. Hawes returned Friday and had 15 points and 12 boards, then scored 16 Sunday - including 10 in the first quarter.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
POD: Sacramento-3.0 (NBA) W
POD: LA Clippers @ Sacramento-3.0 (5K units) W
Preview: Struggling on the road, the Los Angeles Clippers can’t afford to not have their All-Star center on the court. The Sacramento Kings also know what it’s like to play without their big man.
One game after being ejected, Chris Kaman(notes) tries to help the Clippers win for the third time in 19 road contests Sunday night against Spencer Hawes(notes) and the Kings.
Kaman was whistled for two technical fouls 20 seconds into the second half to get ejected for the first time in his career in Friday night’s 125-112 loss at Phoenix.
Los Angeles (24-34) had its three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 7-22 away from home.
“I told Chris I thought he let the team down and crossed the line with what he said to the referee,” coach Kim Hughes said. “He wasn’t getting calls and I agree with him, but it’s not going to do him any good what he said to the official. He can’t put the team in a position like that. He’s too valuable to be thrown out. It was just a bad basketball play.”
Kaman leads the Clippers with averages of 19.6 points and 9.2 rebounds. He had four consecutive double-doubles before leaving Friday’s game with 12 points and five boards.
Eric Gordon(notes), second on Los Angeles with 17.3 points per game, had 25 on Friday. The second-year guard scored 30 in a 99-89 home win over Sacramento (19-39) last Saturday and averages 24.7 points in three meetings.
Kaman also played a key role against Sacramento last week, scoring 22 points and pulling down 16 rebounds.
The Clippers have lost their last three visits to Arco Arena, with Kaman missing each game due to injuries.
The Kings, 14-14 at home, are trying to build on Friday’s 103-99 win over Utah, ending a five-game losing streak by overcoming some of their own disciplinary problems.
Hawes criticized coach Paul Westphal’s rotation and was benched for Tuesday’s 101-89 loss to Detroit. The two apparently reconciled, and the center had 15 points and 12 rebounds against the Jazz.
“We’re moving on, what happened is now water under the bridge,” said Hawes, who averages 10.5 points and 5.9 boards.
Hawes, the 10th overall selection in the 2007 draft, wasn’t much of a factor opposite Kaman last week, registering eight points with one rebound in just over 22 minutes off the bench.
Tyreke Evans(notes) continues to be a bright spot for the Kings, making 57.1 percent of his shots to average 22.3 points with 7.5 assists over the last four games. He scored 21 on 9-for-14 shooting against the Clippers.
The rookie guard leads the team with 20.3 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Preview: Struggling on the road, the Los Angeles Clippers can’t afford to not have their All-Star center on the court. The Sacramento Kings also know what it’s like to play without their big man.
One game after being ejected, Chris Kaman(notes) tries to help the Clippers win for the third time in 19 road contests Sunday night against Spencer Hawes(notes) and the Kings.
Kaman was whistled for two technical fouls 20 seconds into the second half to get ejected for the first time in his career in Friday night’s 125-112 loss at Phoenix.
Los Angeles (24-34) had its three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 7-22 away from home.
“I told Chris I thought he let the team down and crossed the line with what he said to the referee,” coach Kim Hughes said. “He wasn’t getting calls and I agree with him, but it’s not going to do him any good what he said to the official. He can’t put the team in a position like that. He’s too valuable to be thrown out. It was just a bad basketball play.”
Kaman leads the Clippers with averages of 19.6 points and 9.2 rebounds. He had four consecutive double-doubles before leaving Friday’s game with 12 points and five boards.
Eric Gordon(notes), second on Los Angeles with 17.3 points per game, had 25 on Friday. The second-year guard scored 30 in a 99-89 home win over Sacramento (19-39) last Saturday and averages 24.7 points in three meetings.
Kaman also played a key role against Sacramento last week, scoring 22 points and pulling down 16 rebounds.
The Clippers have lost their last three visits to Arco Arena, with Kaman missing each game due to injuries.
The Kings, 14-14 at home, are trying to build on Friday’s 103-99 win over Utah, ending a five-game losing streak by overcoming some of their own disciplinary problems.
Hawes criticized coach Paul Westphal’s rotation and was benched for Tuesday’s 101-89 loss to Detroit. The two apparently reconciled, and the center had 15 points and 12 rebounds against the Jazz.
“We’re moving on, what happened is now water under the bridge,” said Hawes, who averages 10.5 points and 5.9 boards.
Hawes, the 10th overall selection in the 2007 draft, wasn’t much of a factor opposite Kaman last week, registering eight points with one rebound in just over 22 minutes off the bench.
Tyreke Evans(notes) continues to be a bright spot for the Kings, making 57.1 percent of his shots to average 22.3 points with 7.5 assists over the last four games. He scored 21 on 9-for-14 shooting against the Clippers.
The rookie guard leads the team with 20.3 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
POD: Detroit-3.5 (NBA) L
POD: Sacramento @ Detroit-3.5 (3K units) L
Preview: The Detroit Pistons have desperately missed Tayshaun Prince’s scoring this season. The veteran forward, though, seems to be coming around approaching the All-Star break, and a matchup with the Sacramento Kings may do nothing to slow his momentum.
After getting a boost from Prince, the Pistons look to win two straight at home for the first time in nearly a month as they face the Sacramento Kings and their porous defense Wednesday night.
Detroit (18-32) ranks 29th in the league in scoring, averaging 91.6 points. Only league-worst New Jersey (90.1) has scored fewer.
Despite averaging a modest 93.0 points over their last four games, the Pistons have won three of those contests - two on the road.
One night after a 93-81 victory at Milwaukee, Detroit - which beat New Jersey 99-92 at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday - will try to win consecutive home games for the first time since a three-game run Jan. 15-20.
The Pistons dropped five straight at home following that stretch.
“It’s a matter of time before we get back in our flow,” Prince said. “It takes a while. You want it to come back as soon as you step on the basketball court, but in this game, it doesn’t happen that way.”
Another strong game from Prince would certainly help the Pistons’ cause. He shot 7 of 11 against the Bucks and finished with a season-high 18 points.
Prince averaged at least 14.1 points in four of his previous five seasons, but is scoring 9.2 per game in 2009-10, while being limited to 17 contests due to lower back and left knee injuries.
He averaged 24.5 points and 10.5 rebounds to help Detroit sweep last season’s two-game series against Sacramento (17-34), and may be in line for another strong performance versus the Kings.
Sacramento ranks 27th in the league in scoring defense, allowing 105.9 points per game. The Kings have been even worse over their last five contests, surrendering an average of 114.0 points.
Prince won’t be the only player Sacramento will have to worry about defending. Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey(notes) had 38 points - two shy of his career high - in a 98-92 victory over the Kings on Jan. 2, 2008, the teams’ last meeting.
The assignment of guarding Kings standout rookie Tyreke Evans(notes) will likely fall to Stuckey’s backcourt mate, Richard Hamilton(notes).
Evans led Sacramento’s comeback against New York on Tuesday night, finishing with 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Kings snapped a six-game losing streak with a 118-114 overtime victory. Evans had 12 points in the final 7 minutes of regulation to rally Sacramento from a 15-point deficit.
The 6-foot-6 guard, selected fourth overall in last year’s draft, leads all first-year players in scoring (20.5 points per game) but had been in a minor slump. He was held under 13 points in three of his previous four games, the only exception being a 32-point effort in a 115-113 loss to San Antonio last Wednesday night.
Omri Casspi(notes), another Sacramento rookie, had 18 points versus the Knicks. The 6-9 swingman has been another bright spot for the Kings, averaging 12.1 points.
Preview: The Detroit Pistons have desperately missed Tayshaun Prince’s scoring this season. The veteran forward, though, seems to be coming around approaching the All-Star break, and a matchup with the Sacramento Kings may do nothing to slow his momentum.
After getting a boost from Prince, the Pistons look to win two straight at home for the first time in nearly a month as they face the Sacramento Kings and their porous defense Wednesday night.
Detroit (18-32) ranks 29th in the league in scoring, averaging 91.6 points. Only league-worst New Jersey (90.1) has scored fewer.
Despite averaging a modest 93.0 points over their last four games, the Pistons have won three of those contests - two on the road.
One night after a 93-81 victory at Milwaukee, Detroit - which beat New Jersey 99-92 at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday - will try to win consecutive home games for the first time since a three-game run Jan. 15-20.
The Pistons dropped five straight at home following that stretch.
“It’s a matter of time before we get back in our flow,” Prince said. “It takes a while. You want it to come back as soon as you step on the basketball court, but in this game, it doesn’t happen that way.”
Another strong game from Prince would certainly help the Pistons’ cause. He shot 7 of 11 against the Bucks and finished with a season-high 18 points.
Prince averaged at least 14.1 points in four of his previous five seasons, but is scoring 9.2 per game in 2009-10, while being limited to 17 contests due to lower back and left knee injuries.
He averaged 24.5 points and 10.5 rebounds to help Detroit sweep last season’s two-game series against Sacramento (17-34), and may be in line for another strong performance versus the Kings.
Sacramento ranks 27th in the league in scoring defense, allowing 105.9 points per game. The Kings have been even worse over their last five contests, surrendering an average of 114.0 points.
Prince won’t be the only player Sacramento will have to worry about defending. Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey(notes) had 38 points - two shy of his career high - in a 98-92 victory over the Kings on Jan. 2, 2008, the teams’ last meeting.
The assignment of guarding Kings standout rookie Tyreke Evans(notes) will likely fall to Stuckey’s backcourt mate, Richard Hamilton(notes).
Evans led Sacramento’s comeback against New York on Tuesday night, finishing with 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Kings snapped a six-game losing streak with a 118-114 overtime victory. Evans had 12 points in the final 7 minutes of regulation to rally Sacramento from a 15-point deficit.
The 6-foot-6 guard, selected fourth overall in last year’s draft, leads all first-year players in scoring (20.5 points per game) but had been in a minor slump. He was held under 13 points in three of his previous four games, the only exception being a 32-point effort in a 115-113 loss to San Antonio last Wednesday night.
Omri Casspi(notes), another Sacramento rookie, had 18 points versus the Knicks. The 6-9 swingman has been another bright spot for the Kings, averaging 12.1 points.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
POD: Miami-1.0 (NBA) W
POD: Miami-1.0 @ Sacramento (5K units) W
Preview: After finishing 2007-08 as the NBA’s worst team, the Miami Heat pulled off a massive turnaround last season and reached the playoffs.
The Sacramento Kings look like they could be inspired to equal the feat.
The Kings will hope to move back above .500 as they host Miami on Sunday night, while the Heat try to salvage a split of their four-game road trip after a heartbreaking loss in their most recent game.
With Dwyane Wade(notes) injured for much of the season and the Heat using an overmatched young lineup, Miami lost 67 games in 2007-08 - tying a franchise record originally set in its inaugural season.
But Wade led the NBA in scoring last season, averaging 30.2 points and carrying the Heat back to the playoffs. Miami won six of its first seven to begin 2009-10, but has been slumping lately, dropping four of five and seven of 10.
The Heat (10-9) can hardly be blamed for their latest defeat, nearly pulling off a road upset of the reigning NBA champions before Kobe Bryant(notes) lifted the Los Angeles Lakers to a 108-107 win Friday night by banking in a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“If you told me before the game that it would be decided by Kobe shooting a one-legged backboard 3, I’d have taken that,” Wade said. “The basketball gods were with him on that one, but we did a great job and did what we’re supposed to do on the road - give ourselves a chance to win.”
Miami is 4-4 on the road this season with victories at Orlando and Portland. But winning at Sacramento presents another challenge, with the Kings having won four straight at Arco Arena.
Sacramento (9-9) is 8-2 at home one season after finishing an NBA-worst 17-65 overall, and the team’s surge has come despite leading scorer Kevin Martin(notes) missing the last 12 games due to a broken wrist.
Rookie Tyreke Evans(notes) has provided the biggest boost for the Kings after they drafted him out of Memphis with the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft. Evans has scored at least 20 points in 10 of his last 12 games, shooting 48.3 percent from the field in that stretch and leading the Kings to an 8-4 record.
His 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds weren’t enough, however, in a 115-107 loss at Phoenix on Saturday night, as Sacramento’s four-game winning streak came to an end.
The Kings led entering the fourth quarter, but they had problems defensively down the stretch and were unable to hand the Suns their first home loss.
“On the one hand, I’m really happy our young team played them so tough,” first-year Kings coach Paul Westphal said, “and on the other hand, I’m anxious for the day when we can learn the lessons we learned tonight and maybe get a game like this.”
They haven’t gotten many lately against Miami, which has won 10 of its last 11 against the Kings. Wade had 41 points in the Heat’s 119-115 overtime win at Sacramento on Jan. 9.
The Sacramento Kings look like they could be inspired to equal the feat.
The Kings will hope to move back above .500 as they host Miami on Sunday night, while the Heat try to salvage a split of their four-game road trip after a heartbreaking loss in their most recent game.
With Dwyane Wade(notes) injured for much of the season and the Heat using an overmatched young lineup, Miami lost 67 games in 2007-08 - tying a franchise record originally set in its inaugural season.
But Wade led the NBA in scoring last season, averaging 30.2 points and carrying the Heat back to the playoffs. Miami won six of its first seven to begin 2009-10, but has been slumping lately, dropping four of five and seven of 10.
The Heat (10-9) can hardly be blamed for their latest defeat, nearly pulling off a road upset of the reigning NBA champions before Kobe Bryant(notes) lifted the Los Angeles Lakers to a 108-107 win Friday night by banking in a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“If you told me before the game that it would be decided by Kobe shooting a one-legged backboard 3, I’d have taken that,” Wade said. “The basketball gods were with him on that one, but we did a great job and did what we’re supposed to do on the road - give ourselves a chance to win.”
Miami is 4-4 on the road this season with victories at Orlando and Portland. But winning at Sacramento presents another challenge, with the Kings having won four straight at Arco Arena.
Sacramento (9-9) is 8-2 at home one season after finishing an NBA-worst 17-65 overall, and the team’s surge has come despite leading scorer Kevin Martin(notes) missing the last 12 games due to a broken wrist.
Rookie Tyreke Evans(notes) has provided the biggest boost for the Kings after they drafted him out of Memphis with the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft. Evans has scored at least 20 points in 10 of his last 12 games, shooting 48.3 percent from the field in that stretch and leading the Kings to an 8-4 record.
His 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds weren’t enough, however, in a 115-107 loss at Phoenix on Saturday night, as Sacramento’s four-game winning streak came to an end.
The Kings led entering the fourth quarter, but they had problems defensively down the stretch and were unable to hand the Suns their first home loss.
“On the one hand, I’m really happy our young team played them so tough,” first-year Kings coach Paul Westphal said, “and on the other hand, I’m anxious for the day when we can learn the lessons we learned tonight and maybe get a game like this.”
They haven’t gotten many lately against Miami, which has won 10 of its last 11 against the Kings. Wade had 41 points in the Heat’s 119-115 overtime win at Sacramento on Jan. 9.
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