The AP reports: Ron Artest (22 points) returned from a thumb injury to hit four clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and the Sacramento Kings dealt a big blow to New Orleans’ hopes for the top seed in the Western Conference with a 94-91 victory over the Hornets on Saturday night… John Salmons added 18 points and 11 rebounds and Garcia also had 16 points for the Kings, who will play a key role in the race for the top seed because they finish the season with games against San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers next week… David West led New Orleans with 30 points and 15 rebounds, and Stojakovic added 18 points. But All-Star point guard Chris Paul had another rough shooting night, finishing with 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting. Paul did have 12 assists, but is shooting just 16-for-48 the last four games.
Category: Sacramento Kings Blog
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Apr. 11: Kings 103, Blazers 86
The AP reports: Kings coach Reggie Theus let John Salmons know how unimpressed he was with his performance in the first half. After the break, the sub-turned-starter took over the game. Salmons scored all of his 18 points in the second half, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 103-86 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night… Francisco Garcia scored 16 points, Spencer Hawes had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Beno Udrih had 11 points for the Kings, who are now 25-14 at home this season… LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Portland, who only led in the game’s opening minutes. Travis Outlaw scored 18 points, Channing Frye had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Brandon Roy had 12 points.
Brad Miller has right elbow surgery
Sacramento Kings’ center Brad Miller underwent successful surgery today at the UC Davis Medical Center to remove a bone chip in his right elbow. Dr. Richard Marder performed procedure.
Miller will resume basketball activities in approximately three to four weeks.
Apr. 8: Warriors 140, Kings 132
The AP reports: Baron Davis had 33 points and nine assists, Stephen Jackson added 20 points and the Warriors stayed in a tie with Denver for the West’s final berth in their highest-scoring game of the season, a 140-132 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. Andris Biedrins had 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Warriors (47-31) as they kept pace in the power-packed West, where one club is certain to end up with the best record in NBA history for a non-playoff team… Al Harrington scored 17 points and Monta Ellis had 16 as Golden State scored 39 first-quarter points and never trailed in its third win in four games against its Northern California rivals—but the Warriors’ shoddy defense never allowed them to open a big lead, either… Francisco Garcia matched his career high with 31 points and Kevin Martin had 29—but just two in the fourth quarter—for the Kings, who matched the Warriors’ frenetic pace for much of an entertaining night.
Brad Miller done for season
The Sacramento Kings announced today that center Brad Miller will miss the remaining five games of the 2007-08 season due to a stress fracture in his left fibular head and a bone chip in his right elbow.
Miller, currently in his 10th NBA season and fifth with the Kings, is averaging 13.4 ppg (.463 FG%, .311 3PT%, .848 FT%), 9.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 bpg and 34.9 mpg in 72 contests in 2007-08.
Apr. 6: Lakers 114, Kings 92
The AP reports: Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, Vladimir Radmanovic matched his season high with 21 and the Lakers stayed on track for the Pacific Division title with a 114-92 victory over the Kings on Sunday night. Radmanovic hit five 3-pointers and tied his career high with 14 rebounds after a pleading pregame pep talk from coach Phil Jackson, while Pau Gasol added 20 points and nine rebounds as the Lakers won their fourth straight… Lamar Odom, who’s 19-of-22 in his last two games, had 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as the Lakers snapped their longtime rivals’ four-game winning streak with an outstanding second half, with Bryant scoring 14 points and hitting three 3-pointers in the first 6:02 after halftime… Kevin Martin scored 22 points for the Kings, who simply seemed exhausted after winning at Denver one night earlier.
Apr. 5: Kings 118, Nuggets 115
The AP reports: Kevin Martin scored 36 points despite missing Sacramento’s shootaround with the stomach flu and the Kings capitalized on Kenyon Martin’s one-game suspension by getting 29 points from Francisco Garcia and 23 from Mikki Moore… The Kings, out of playoff contention and missing Ron Artest (thumb) and Brad Miller (leg), won their fourth straight game and snapped Denver’s nine-game home winning streak. They took advantage of sloppy play and silly mistakes by the Nuggets, who got 47 points from Carmelo Anthony, two shy of his career high… Linas Kleiza started in place of Kenyon Martin and scored 28 points, 21 in the first 18 minutes, helping Denver take a 41-32 lead.
Apr. 3: Kings 110, Clippers 98
The AP reports: Kevin Martin hit four 3-pointers while scoring 26 points, and the Sacramento Kings avoided a four-game sweep by the last-place Los Angeles Clippers with a 110-98 victory Thursday night. Francisco Garcia scored 17 points and Mikki Moore added 16 for the Kings, who took a 20-point lead in the third quarter of their fourth victory in five games… Corey Maggette scored 28 points and Elton Brand had 15 points and nine rebounds in his second game back from a 74-game absence for Los Angeles. Injured veterans Chris Kaman, Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas sat out their second straight game for the Clippers, who still beat the SuperSonics on Wednesday night in Brand’s first game of the season after surgery on his Achilles’ tendon. Clippers rookie Nick Fazekas, who played college ball two hours away at Nevada, scored a career-best 18 points.
Apr. 1: Kings 99, Rockets 98
The AP reports: Ron Artest scored 30 points, Kevin Martin added 27 and the Sacramento Kings dealt a blow to Houston’s chances of winning the Southwest Division with a 99-98 victory over the Rockets on Tuesday night. The Rockets (49-25) fell 2 1/2 games behind New Orleans and San Antonio in the division race with only eight games remaining, hurting their chances of hosting a first-round playoff series. Tracy McGrady scored 32 to lead Houston, but missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have won it. The Rockets have lost five of eight since a franchise-record, 22-game winning streak… Luis Scola finished with 20 points and Rafer Alston had 18 for Houston.
Mar. 30: Kings 120, Sonics 107
For the Kings, Kevin Martin (11-of-19) had 31 points, Ron Artest (12-of-23) had 29 points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocks, and Francisco Garcia (8-of-14) had 21 points and 5 rebounds. For the Sonics, Kevin Durant (10-of-18) had 25 points, Jeff Green (9-of-16) had 21 (but a few too many turnovers), Earl Watson (9-of-15) had 20 points and 12 assists, and Damien Wilkins (7-of-15) had 18. The Kings shot 55.1% from the field, and had 28-of-32 free throws, compared to just 11-of-15 free throws for the Sonics.