AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

By Jeff Hall

SACRAMENTO –

The Kings played strong and beat the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 116-111 at Sleep Train Arena . Omri Casspi had a career high night in scoring with 31 points. Rudy Gay led the Kings scoring with  33 points Minnesota has lost 11 of it’s last 17 games.

In the beginning of this one the Kings came out firing against the T-Wolves and jumped to an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter. But once the Kings started doing what they have been doing throughout the season and started turning the ball over. It allowed the T-wolves to bounce back and they took advantage of the sloppy play and jumped ahead five minutes into the first.   The Kings had seven turnovers in the first quarter. Former King Kevin Martin led all scorers in the first quarter with ten first quarter points. Omri Casspi led the Kings in scoring with nine points in the first. The T-Wolves led the Kings 31-23 at the end of the first. The Kings turned the ball over nine times that led to eight points for Minnesota.

Turnovers have been the Kings primary issue all season long and

The Kings began the game short on players with DeMarcus Cousins out with a sore foot and Carl Landry (serving a one-game suspension) and Darren Collison Karl was asked if it was difficult to coach with the small line-up. “Actually it’s easier.” Karl said.

The Kings played their strongest quarter of the game in the third quarter. And finished with a 19 point lead 90-74. By the end of the third the Kings were shooting 54.8 percent from the field. The Kings had no turnovers in the third quarter. Minnesota was shooting 42.3 percent by the end of the third.

The Kings got back into to the game thanks in most part to the offensive play of Rudy Gay who scored nine points in the first four minutes of the second quarter and regained the provided an offensive spark to the Kings and put the Kings back into the lead . The Kings only made two turnovers in the second quarter. 54-49 at the half Gay led all scorers with 14 in the first half an Martin led Minnesota with 17 first half points

Former Sacramento King Kevin Martin had a strong performance against his former team scoring a game high 37 points.

Career Highs

It was a big night for Omri Casspi who had a career high in points in the third quarter with 28 points, Casspi reached the mark with a three point shot giving the Kings their largest lead of the game a 19 point margin. “ I was happy with the way I played, but winning is the more important to me.” said Casspi

Ray McCallum had a career high night in rebounds with nine rebounds.

Magic Johnson is not on this team

Prior to the game Kings Head coach George Karl said he wanted to see his players work on spacing and simplicity as they close out this season “ too many times we try to make the Magic Johnson pass. We don’t have Magic Johnson on this team.” Karl said.

Kings Make History again Introducing first time players from other countries

The Kings made history when they called on the 7 foot 5 360 pound center Sim Bhullar  in the game’s final 16 seconds.  Bhullar received a strong ovation from the 16,770 in attendance to see him become the first player of Indian Descent to play in the NBA. The Kings are no stranger to introducing players to the league Tariq Abdul-Wahad (also known as Olivier Sant-Jean) became the first player to be raised in France to play in the NBA in the 97-98 season.   Many Kings fans will remember Hedo Turkoglu was the first Turkish player in 2001 and Omri Casspi became the first Israeli player to play in the NBA when he debuted for the Kings in the 2009-2010 season,

Up next the Kings will head to Utah and take on the Jazz tomorrow night at the Energy Solutions Arena.