Sacramento Kings Blog – Page 58 – NBA Blog

Suns come from behind to beat Kings

The Phoenix Suns couldn’t seem to make a shot from anywhere, struggled defensively and gave up too many offensive rebounds while falling behind by 19 points in the first half.

No problem. Big comebacks are their specialty.

Shannon Brown scored 14 of his 22 points in third quarter to bring Phoenix back, Jared Dudley had 20 points and the Suns added to their list of comebacks by beating the Sacramento Kings 101-90 Monday night…

The Suns were back to their fall-behind-big ways against Sacramento, out of sorts at both ends in the first half, drawing boos from the home crowd and plenty of stomping along the sideline by Gentry.

Phoenix looked like a different team in the second half, working the ball around for open shots on offense, playing better defense and getting to the glass better…

Marcin Gortat had 14 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. Luis Scola gave the Suns his usual hustle while scoring 14 points and dishing out a career-high 10 assists. Dudley hit a couple of big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter when the Kings tried to rally…

Aaron Brooks added 12 points for Sacramento, which had a 51-38 rebounding advantage, including 18 on the offensive glass…

Hitting the shots that weren’t falling early, Phoenix went on an 18-4 run midway through the third quarter, going up 61-58 after Brown hit three straight shots, including a 3-pointer as he fell into Sacramento’s bench.

— Reported by John Marshall of the Associated Press

Kings recall Tyler Honeycutt from D-League

The Sacramento Kings recalled second-year forward Tyler Honeycutt from the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League today, according to Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Honeycutt was assigned to the Bighorns on November 8, 2012.

The first D-League assignment in the NBA this season, Honeycutt averaged 10.9 points (.462 FG%, .357 3pt%, .786 FT%), 9.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.7 blocks, and 31.1 minutes per game in seven contests, starting three. He recorded three double-doubles. Honeycutt recorded 18 points (8-11 FG, 2-2 3pt), 12 rebounds, four steals, and two blocks in 35 minutes off the bench in a 127-98 win over Bakersfield (December 7). The next night against Bakersfield, Honeycutt tallied 17 points (7-11 FG, 2-3 3pt, 1-2 FT), 15 rebounds, three assists, five steals, and two blocks in 40 minutes in the 106-86 win. His third double-double of the season came in a 134-124 triple-overtime loss on December 15 at L.A. Defenders as he recorded 18 points (7-15 FG, 1-4 3pt, 3-3 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and four blocks in 37 minutes in his third start of the season.

Selected in the second round (35th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Kings, Honeycutt finished his rookie campaign (2011-12) averaging 1.3 points per game (.333 FG%, .333 3pt%, .600 FT%) in 15 games off the bench for Sacramento, but has yet to see any action this season.

Nuggets score 122 on Kings

Although it’s been a challenging first two months of the season with a long stretch of road games, the Denver Nuggets appeared pretty fresh Sunday against the Sacramento Kings.

Reserve JaVale McGee scored 19 points, Danilo Gallinari had 18 and the Nuggets built a big lead in the first half to cruise past the Kings 122-97.

It was a lopsided victory for the road-tested Nuggets, who have opened the season with 18 of their first 25 games coming away from home. Already ahead by 18 at the half, Denver outscored the Kings 33-21 in the third quarter to take a 97-67 lead heading into the fourth…

”I’m enjoying what we are going through,” said Andre Iguodala, who had 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. ”We have a tough schedule and it’s a chance for us to build something. We’re trying to play at a high level and be mentally tough.” ..

Sacramento’s Aaron Brooks committed a hard foul against Andre Miller late in the first quarter and a mild altercation ensued involving DeMarcus Cousins of the Kings and Kenneth Faried of the Nuggets. All four players were given technical fouls.

Reserve Jordan Hamilton had a season-high 15 points and Kosta Koufos had 12 points for the Nuggets, who improved to 7-11 on the road this season. Ty Lawson added 11 points and seven assists. Denver’s reserves had 64 points.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Mavs continue to beat Kings in Dallas

Dallas relied on defense to build a massive lead and extend its recent home dominance against Sacramento.

O.J. Mayo scored 19 points and the Mavericks took control with a 31-3 run in the first half to win their 17th straight regular-season home game against Sacramento with a 119-96 victory over the Kings on Monday night.

The Mavericks held the Kings without a field goal during the game-turning run. Sacramento missed 12 straight shots and committed nine turnovers in a span of nearly 11 minutes…

Dallas (11-10) picked up its third win a row to go over .500 for the first time since Nov. 21…

Francisco Garcia, who was 7 of 12 from 3-point range, and DeMarcus Cousins scored 25 points apiece for the Kings, who haven’t won in Dallas during the regular season since Feb. 27, 2003. Jason Thompson added 11 points and 12 rebounds…

Dallas starting forward Shawn Marion missed his second straight game with a strained right groin.

Chris Kaman, playing 21 minutes on a sprained left ankle which Carlisle described as ”a glowing purple” before the game, scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half and reserve Darren Collison added 15 points for the Mavericks.

— Reported by David Jimenez of the Associated Press

Virginia governor will not include money for new arena in budget

In a possible blow to Virginia Beach’s efforts to lure the Sacramento Kings, the governor of Virginia doesn’t plan to include any subsidy for the team’s move in his proposed budget.

Virginia Beach officials were seeking $150 million in state funds to bring the Kings to their city, including a $70 million contribution toward a new arena and $80 million to assist the team’s relocation.

But Gov. Bob McDonnell won’t include any subsidy in his 2013 proposed budget. In a prepared statement, McDonnell’s spokesman, Tucker Martin, indicated the governor wasn’t convinced the proposed subsidy penciled out.

— Reported by Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee

DeMarcus Cousins has 25 and 13, Kings beat Raptors 107-100

Tyreke Evans has been a solid scorer throughout his four-year NBA career. Still, the one thing he’s always lacked is a consistent outside shot.

Evans made two consecutive 3-pointers late in the game and teammate DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 13 rebounds to help the Sacramento Kings beat the struggling Toronto Raptors 107-100 on Wednesday night.

The Kings used strong fourth-quarter play from Cousins and Evans to earn a rare victory. Sacramento had dropped nine of its previous 11 games, including an embarrassing 35-point loss Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Evans, back in the starting lineup after missing the past two games with a bruised left knee, scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. The point total wasn’t a surprise, but hitting back-to-back 3s was unexpected. Evans entered the season as a 25 percent career shooter from 3-point territory and had made six of 22 attempts this season…

Jason Thompson added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings, while John Salmons scored 12 and Aaron Brooks 11.

Lowry had a season-high 34 points, two below his career best. He also added 11 assists and five rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost two straight and eight of nine.

Mickael Pietrus scored 21 points, DeMar DeRozan added 14 and Ed Davis chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Tyreke Evans wants to be the go-to guy

Evans has played well lately, averaging 21 points while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. So if the game is on the line, he wouldn’t mind having the ball.

“I want to try to take on that challenge if the coach puts the ball in my hands to make a play for me or one of my teammates,” Evans said after Wednesday’s practice. “That’s what I was trying to do (Tuesday) night. I thought I could have had the elbow jumper a little bit more, but I was looking for the assists, I was looking to pass the ball.”

Evans said the Kings usually look for the player who is hot late in games.

In the last two seasons, that’s sometimes meant finding Marcus Thornton, who has been a go-to guy in the fourth quarter.

Other times, the Kings have looked to DeMarcus Cousins. That’s been good in the past but hasn’t worked well in the last two losses.

— Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

Virginia Beach unveils NBA arena plan

The Virginia city that’s reportedly trying to lure the Sacramento Kings has sketched out a tentative financing plan for a new arena, including huge public subsidies.

Mayor Will Sessoms of Virginia Beach, Va., told his City Council late Tuesday that the city would contribute $195 million and the state will be asked to contribute $150 million toward the effort.

Of the state’s contribution, $70 million would go toward arena construction and $80 million to help with team relocation expenses.

— Reported by Dave Kasler of the Sacramento Bee

Mayor Will Sessoms has offered the first glimpse into how a deal to build an 18,500-seat arena and bring a professional sports team to the city might be structured. The big takeaways: It would be paid for mostly with public funds but might not happen at all.

In a quick message to the City Council at the end of its regular meeting Tuesday, Sessoms laid out what the three players – the city, the state and a private company – would bring to the table to build the arena now estimated to cost $300 million.

The city would contribute $195 million. The state will be asked for $150 million, of which $70 million would be for the arena, and Comcast-Spectacor, the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company that would lease and operate the arena and is working to recruit the pro sports team, would put in $35 million.

— Reported by Aaron Applegate of the Virginian-Pilot

DeMarcus Cousins says ejection was unfair

DeMarcus Cousins said he tried to be mature Saturday night.

Apparently, the official who ejected him thought differently.

Cousins, who was called for his second technical foul and ejected in the third quarter of the Kings’ win over Utah, said Monday he said nothing inappropriate and it was referee Gary Zielinski who was out of line.

“The referee cursed at me,” Cousins said. “He told me to go (expletive) ask the other referee (about the first technical foul). I was going to say something back, kept my cool and walked away and still end up with a technical. So I still don’t understand.”

Cousins said after Monday’s practice he “didn’t say a word” to Zielinski to warrant the technical foul.

— Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

Kings guard Aaron Brooks fined for throwing mouthpiece into stands

Sacramento Kings guard Aaron Brooks has been fined $25,000 for throwing his mouthpiece into the stands immediately following the Kings 104-102 road loss to the Utah Jazz on Nov. 23. The fine was announced today by Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Brooks is averaging 8.0 points and 2.0 assists per game for the Kings this season, and has started five of the 13 games he’s played.