The AP reports: Yao Ming had 24 points and 18 rebounds, Rafer Alston dished out a season-high 13 assists and the Rockets won again without McGrady, beating the Sacramento Kings 94-82 on Wednesday night. Luis Scola added 19 points and 11 rebounds and Ron Artest scored 19 for the Rockets, who improved to 12-6 with McGrady out of the lineup this season. .. Kevin Martin scored 18 points and rookie Jason Thompson added 14 in the game for the Kings, who’ve lost five in a row and 13 of 14. The Kings hit 11 of their first 18 shots to build an early lead. The 6-foot-11 Thompson scored 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the first 9 minutes, but then went to the bench with two fouls.
Category: Sacramento Kings Blog
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Rockets-Kings team connections
Rockets Head Coach Rick Adelman stands as the winningest coach in Kings history, recording a 395-229 (.633) mark in eight seasons (1998-2006) as head coach of Sacramento.
Elston Turner also spent six seasons as an assistant coach on Adelman’s staff in Sacramento.
T.R. Dunn joined the Rockets coaching staff after three campaigns as an assistant coach for the Kings.
Rockets Assistant Coach R.J. Adelman served five years as a scout for Sacramento, including the final three seasons as assistant video coordinator.
Houston forward Chuck Hayes, who was born in San Leandro, California, attended Modesto Christian High School.
The Rockets acquired forward/guard Ron Artest from Sacramento in a trade that included guard Bobby Jackson and forward Donté Greene on Aug. 14, 2008.
Kings President John Thomas is a former Senior Executive Vice President with the Rockets.
Sacramento forward Kenny Thomas was drafted by Houston in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft, playing the next three-and-a-half seasons with the Rockets.
Mavs beat Kings 118-100; Sacramento has losing season
The AP reports: Antoine Wright scored 23 points, his best scoring game in nearly three months, Josh Howard also had 23 points, and the Mavericks won 118-100 over Sacramento on Tuesday night to make the Kings the first NBA team guaranteed to have a losing season… Dirk Nowitzki added 21 points, Jason Kidd had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Erick Dampier had 16 rebounds. J.J. Barea, the primary fill-in for Terry, had 10 points and four assists without a turnover in 25 1/2 minutes… Kevin Martin had 18 points, though he missed nine consecutive shots at one point for Sacramento. John Salmons had 16 and Shelden Williams 15.
Kings may be losing big money
The Sacramento Bee (Ailene Voisin) reports: Responding to speculation about the Kings’ future in Sacramento, Kings co-owner Joe Maloof on Monday reiterated the family’s commitment to the community. However, he expressed concern about projected financial losses and an urgency regarding plans for a new arena. Though he refused to cite a figure, sources close to the team estimate the franchise could lose up to $25 million this season, making it seem more likely that the Maloofs would be receptive to offers from officials in other markets – with more profitable arenas – who are interested in acquiring an NBA franchise. One league executive identified representatives from Anaheim and San Jose as particularly aggressive suitors.
Durant scores 39, Thunder beat Kings 116-113
The AP reports: The Oklahoma City Thunder got caught up in Sacramento’s fast-paced style of play and just barely escaped with a victory. Kevin Durant scored 39 points—his fourth-straight game with 30 or more— as the Thunder held off the Sacramento Kings for a 116-113 victory Sunday night after blowing a 19-point second-quarter lead… Beno Udrih finished with 29 points, and John Salmons and Kevin Martin had 23 each for the Kings, who finished the night shooting 55 percent from the field and 67 percent (12-of-18) from 3-point range.
Suns beat Kings 129-81 for 48-point destruction
The AP reports: Jason Richardson scored 16 of his 24 points in the first quarter, Amare Stoudemire finished with 25 points and eight rebounds and the rejuvenated Suns ended a three-game home losing skid with their most lopsided victory of the season, 129-81 over the tired Sacramento Kings on Monday night… The Suns had very few problems Monday. They outrebounded the Kings 64-44, including 21 off the offensive boards; they finished with a season-high 30 fast break points; they had a season-high 16 steals, and they outscored the Kings 64-34 in the paint… Grant Hill added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Suns, Leandro Barbosa scored 11 points, Shaquille O’Neal had 10 points and nine rebounds, and Steve Nash had nine points and nine assists. John Salmons led the Kings with 19 points, Kevin Martin scored 13, Jason Thompson 12 and Francisco Garcia 10.
Kings beat Thunder in OT to end eight-game skid
The AP reports: Kevin Martin scored 37 points on his 26th birthday and the Sacramento Kings beat Oklahoma City 122-118 in overtime, ending an eight-game losing streak… Bobby Jackson had six of his 11 points in overtime for Sacramento, which held a players-only meeting on Saturday. The veteran guard put the Kings ahead for good with a floater in the lane and followed with a jumper to make it 120-116 with 1:42 left… Russell Westbrook had a career-high 34 points and added eight assists for the Thunder, who had six wins in their previous 10 games. Kevin Durant scored 33, Jeff Green had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Nick Collison added 10 points and 14 boards… Francisco Garcia had 17 points, and Jason Thompson scored 15.
Gordon, Deng help Bulls get past Kings 109-88
The AP reports: Ben Gordon and Luol Deng each scored 20 points for the Bulls, who defeated the Kings 109-88 for the first time since Jordan scored 33 points in that Nov. 23, 1997, game… Tyrus Thomas had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Kirk Heinrich added 11 points and seven assists for Chicago, which had lost 13 of its previous 19. The Bulls had little time to savor the win because they are facing Phoenix on Saturday with Noah likely matching up against Shaquille O’Neal instead of the Kings’ Brad Miller… Kevin Martin scored 27 points for the Kings, who have lost eight straight, matching their longest losing streak of the season. Sacramento has dropped 20 of 23 and has the worst record in the Western Conference at 10-38. John Salmons had 16 points and Jason Thompson contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, who shot 37 percent and had 22 turnovers.
Economy slows future Kings arena
The Sacramento Bee (Mary Lynne Vellinga) reports: The NBA’s urgent effort to get a new arena for the Kings built at Cal Expo has gone into slow motion because of the sputtering real estate economy. “There’s no lending out there right now, so real estate development is absolutely flat,” said NBA point person John Moag. Moag said this week that the NBA and Cal Expo likely will push forward with planning for a mixed-use project at the fairgrounds that would include an arena and a revamped venue for the State Fair. The two parties expect to seek proposals from developers in March, he said.
House helps Celtics crush Kings
The AP reports: Eddie House is all warmed up and ready for the 3-point shooting contest on All-Star weekend. All he needs is an invitation. The Boston sharpshooter scored 28 points on a career-high eight 3-pointers, going 8-for-9 from beyond the arc on Wednesday night to lead the Celtics to their ninth straight win, 119-100 over the Sacramento Kings… John Salmons scored 22 points, and Jason Thompson had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who lost to Boston by 45 earlier this season. Sacramento is 0-20 against the Eastern Conference—the only NBA team that has been blanked by entire conference so far.