Author: swhelch

Journalist trying to document my life, my interests and those I'm lucky enough to have in it.

Kings Can’t Overcome Playoff Hungry Thunder, Lose 116-103

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By Shawn Whelchel

In a fight for the eight and final spot in the Western Conference, the Russell Wilson led Oklahoma City took down the depleted Sacramento Kings with a 116-103 final to keep their playoff dreams alive.

With both Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka still ailing, it was up to Westbrook to lead the Thunder’s charge. The dynamic young point guard didn’t disappoint, dropping 27 points while dishing 10 assists against a Sacramento team still missing both DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay.

But Westbrook wasn’t alone in his charge, as a slew of supporting characters on the Oklahoma City roster helped him out with a balanced scoring attack. Alongside Westbrook, fellow starters Enes Kanter and Dion Waiters finished with over 20 points on the night, while Anthony Morrow provided 19 off the bench.

But despite what the final 13 point deficit might suggest, the Kings did not make it easy for the Thunder to grasp the victory. After being up as many as 13 points in the first half, the Kings battled back to head into the final frame with just a six point deficit. However, the Thunder would not relinquish their grip on the lead, and would outscore Sacramento by seven points in the fourth to hold on for the win.

Like the Thunder, the Kings scoring attack was fairly balanced, with Ben McLemore leading the team with 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting. He was followed by Omri Casspi, Ray McCallum and Derrick Williams, all of whom finished with 15 points or more on the night.

The Kings have now lost 7 of their last 8 games while clearly missing their top two scorers in Gay and Cousins. They still have three games left in order to finish the season on a high note by concluding their road trip at Denver before heading home to face the Lakers for their final home game of the season on Monday. They will then travel to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers yet again to play their season finale on April 15.

Sacramento Kings Can’t Hold Off Jazz, Fall 103-91

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By Shawn Whelchel

The injury ridden Sacramento Kings could not stave off a late scoring run by the Jazz on Wednesday night, as Utah went on to clinch the season series with a 103-91 win at home.

Sacramento was without two of their top scorers in the lineup on Wednesday, as DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Darren Collison were all held out of action with their respective injuries. Omri Caspri led the Kings makeshift starting lineup with 16 points, while Jason Thomas followed with a double-double on 12 points and 11 boards.

Despite their lack of starting depth, the Kings headed into the locker room at halftime with a six point lead over the Jazz, who struggled to get on the board early. But the Jazz would come out stronger in the third, outscoring Sacramento by 8 in the quarter to regain control of the game.

The two teams traded buckets early in the fourth before the Jazz would go on a 15-0 run with a little over 9 minutes left in the game to secure the victory, and the season series, against Sacramento. The Kings were brought down by poor perimeter defense in the second half, allowing the Jazz to dump in 10 three-pointers in their comeback effort.

Rodney Hood led Utah with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Derrick Favors followed him with a double-double on 18 points and 11 rebounds. Utah finished with six players in double figures.

Despite the Kings being poised to end the season on a sour note after losing six of their last seven games, fans of the team were treated to a historic moment with just under 20 seconds to go in the game as Sim Bhullar, the 7’5 giant recently acquired by Sacramento, became the first person of Indian decent to score in the NBA after dumping in a nifty jump hook in the middle of the post. He finished the game with just those two points.

The Kings will travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder on Friday night.

SaberCats Win Home Opener 54-28 Against KISS, Remain Undefeated.

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By Shawn Whelchel

 

SAN JOSE-The San Jose SaberCats welcomed back fans of the sport by remaining undefeated on Saturday after steadily dispatching the Los Angeles KISS in a 54-28 blowout win at SAP Center.

For the second straight game, the SaberCats offense eclipsed the 50-point margin while keeping Los Angeles at bay with their stifling defense, handing the KISS their second loss of the season.

The SaberCats got off to a hot start on both sides of the ball on Saturday night as they were able to put 34 points on the board by the end of the first half. Full back Odie Armstrong rumbled his way into the end zone to open up the scoring for San Jose before quarterback Erik Meyer rattled off three consecutive passing touchdowns to a trio of different receivers.

San Jose’s fearsome defense picked up where their offensive counterparts left off, forcing the KISS into two-straight turnover on downs to open the game. The SaberCats defense was helped out by a number of miscues from Los Angeles’ offensive line, who continued to get flagged for penalties throughout the first quarter.

Los Angeles would clean up their play in the second, going on to score their first touchdown in the early minutes of the frame after quarterback Adrian McPherson connected with WR Donovan Morgan on a 33-yard bomb on fourth-and-long. They would score again later in the second, but not before the SaberCats secondary would make them pay with a pick-six by David Hyland near the goal line. San Jose would ride a comfortable 34-14 lead into the locker room.

The third quarter was dominated by the SaberCats, as they held Los Angeles to yet another scoreless frame while adding on to their lead with a 15-yard touchdown by David Hyland and the second defensive touchdown of the game after Virgil Gray jumped the lane on a pass by KISS quarterback Brian Zbydniewski for a 27-yard pick six.

But Los Angeles wouldn’t go quietly, as they came out gunning to open the final quarter of the game with a 42-yard bomb from Zbydniewski to Morgan to cut the score to 47-21. The two teams would trade touchdowns until time ran out, rewarding San Jose with their second straight win of the season.

The SaberCats will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Storm on April 10.

Kings Extend Win Streak, Beat Phoenix 108-99.

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By Shawn Whelchel

With both a balanced scoring attack and, perhaps more importantly, a solid defensive outing, the Sacramento Kings earned their fourth straight victory on Wednesday night as they beat the Phoenix Suns 108-99 at US AirwaysCenter.

Sacramento had seven players score in double figures, including all five starters, while leading the Suns throughout the entire game. DeMarcus Cousins led the charge for Sacramento with a team-high 24 points and 11 rebounds with an efficient 11-of-19 shooting from the field.

But while the Kings balanced scoring efficiency is sure to excite some fans, tonight’s battle was won on the other side of the ball, as Sacramento held the usually hot-shooting Suns to under 100 points. Sacramento, who holds the second worst defensive ranking in the NBA by allowing 105.1 points per game, held Phoenix to just 43.7 percent shooting on the night, including a measly 24 percent from beyond the arc.

The game wasn’t a cake-walk for Sacramento though, as a late Phoenix surge brought the Suns to within striking range in the fourth quarter after pulling to within five points with just under five minutes left in the game. But shooting guard Ben McLemore scored six of his 12 points on two consecutive three pointers to extend the cushion for Sacramento heading into the final minutes.

Although the fourth quarter would be the only time that Phoenix would outscore the Kings, the comeback attempt was too little and too late, as Sacramento would hold on for their fourth straight win while advancing their road record to 10-24.

Not only does Wednesday night’s victory improve an abysmal road victory, but it gives the Kings a semi-respectable 8-11 record since George Karl took command of the club. The victory also secured their first season series win over Phoenix since the 2010-11 season.

The Suns will look to continue their hot-streak against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

Kings Fight Off Hornets, Hold On For A 113-106 Road Win In Charlotte

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By Shawn Whelchel

The Sacramento Kings were able to snap a four game losing streak on Wednesday, as a pair of strong performances from DeMarcus Cousins and Ben McLemore lifted them to a 113-106 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

In what proved to be a close game, the Kings were able to execute on both the offensive and defensive sides of the court late in the fourth quarter in order to sneak away with a rare road win.

Cousins was perfect in the fourth quarter, shooting 4-for-4 to reach 20 points and 14 rebounds on the night, while McLemore added 27 of his own. Rudy Gay added a strong showing as well, dumping in 26 of his own points on the night.

The Kings were aided by the diminished role of Hornets star Kemba Walker, who scored just six points in 16 minutes of play as he continues to recover from a knee injury. Charlotte lost another key piece when center Al Jefferson left in the third quarter.

The loss of Jefferson opened the door for Cousins to go to work late in the game, with both he and Gay scoring 18 combined points on a perfect 6-6 shooting from the field.

With Walker still recovering, the Hornets relied on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist for their scoring output, as he poured in 23 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting on the night. Mo Williams followed Kidd-Gilchrist with 20-points and eight assists.

The Kings will have a day off before taking on the 76ers on Friday.

Hot Shooting Hawks Hand The Kings Their Fourth Straight Loss.

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By Shawn Whelchel

 

The Sacramento Kings were steadily dispatched by the Eastern Conference leading Atlanta Hawks, as they suffered a 130-105 blowout on the road Monday night.

In what amassed to a shootout, the Kings allowed all five Atlanta starters to reach double figures, with the team being led by Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll, both of whom scored 20 points on the night while leading their team to victory over the Kings.

The Kings couldn’t come up with timely stops en route to giving up 130 points on the night, allowing the kings to shoot 60 percent on the field while surpassing their previous season high of 127 points in the process.

Sacramento’s defense was especially poor beyond the arc, where it allowed a league leading 20 three-pointers in the contest. Atlanta also set another NBA season record with 42 assists on the night in route to their scoring outburst.

The Kings were able to break the centennial amount on the night, led by Rudy Gay’s 23 points, but it was too little to match the sharp shooting Hawks, who seemingly couldn’t miss. DeMarcus Cousins notched another double-double under his belt by scoring 12 points and grabbing 14 boards on the night.

The Kings have not gotten out to as hot of a start as expected since new coach George Karl took over, going just 3-7 in that span while sporting a four game losing streak. The Kings will continue their road trip against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

Kings End First Half On A Sour Note, Drop To The Bucks.

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By Shawn Whelchel

The All-Star break couldn’t have come sooner for the struggling Sacramento Kings, who ended the first half of the season by dropping 13 of their last 15 games after suffering a 111-103 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

The 13-game skid sends coach Tyrone Corbin out on a poor note, as the team reportedly agreed to terms with George Karl to become the new head coach of the team when the second half of the season resumes on February 20th against the Boston Celtics.

Milwaukee was led by guard Brandon Knight, who is arguably having an All-Star caliber season despite being left off of the East’s roster. Knight led the Bucks with 20 points, 6 rebounds and five assists on the night. O.J Mayo provided some pop off the bench for Milwaukee by dumping in 21 points in 25 minutes as well.

The Kings received a strong effort from DeMarcus Cousins, who will be making an appearance in New York’s All-Star game, as the big man posted an impressive stat line 28 points and 19 rebounds in the losing effort. Cousins was followed by Rudy Gay, who had 17 points and 8 rebounds on the night.

The Kings will hope that Karl’s veteran coaching presence will be able to revive the struggling team, who currently sit 13th in the Western division, ahead of only the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves with an 18-34 record.

Karl is currently the sixth most winning coach in NBA history. CSN Bay Area reported that the deal is rumored to be anywhere between $4 million and $5 million dollars per year.

Trio Of Bulls Down The Struggling Kings

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By Shawn Whelchel

A trio of Bulls led the charge against Sacramento on Tuesday night, as Chicago steadily dispatched the stumbling Kings with a 104-86 trouncing at the United Center.

The Kings seemingly had no answer for Chicago’s Pau Gasol, Derrick Rose and Tony Snell, who combined for 73 of the Bulls’ 104 points on the night. Snell turned in a career night against the Kings, scoring 24 points on 9 of 11 shooting.

Sacramento’s efforts were derailed in the third quarter of Tuesday night’s contest after a 19-4 run in the beginning of the frame sunk any chance for the Kings to mount a comeback. The Kings did themselves no favor on the defensive side of the ball as well, as a lackluster effort allowed Chicago to shoot 52.5 percent from the field on the night, including 7-of-20 from beyond the arc.

The loss was yet another frustrating effort from Sacramento, who have now lost 12 of their last 14 games while earning an 18-33 record in the Pacific division.

But help might soon be on the way for the struggling Kings, as there are reports that George Karl may soon be at the helm of the team. The 63-year old veteran coach, who currently sits sixth in NBA history with 1,131 wins, can give the Kings some much needed guidance in order to turn the troubled club around.

In what may prove to be his final game as head coach, Tyrone Corbin and the Kings will limp into Milwaukee on Wednesday night to take on the Bucks before receiving a much needed break over All-Star weekend.

 

Blizzard Postpones Kings Trip To Madison Square Garden

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By Shawn Whelchel.

The Sacramento Kings received an impromptu day off on Monday, as a blizzard affecting the New York area forced a postponement of their contest against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The game has been rescheduled for March 3, forcing the team into a tough back-to-back schedule during an eight game road trip as they will fly to San Antonio to face the Spurs the following evening.

The storm is expected to dump as much as two feet of snow in some of the affected regions. As of 11 p.m Monday night, Subway and bus service was temporarily suspended in New York due to the weather.

The Kings will have another day off on Tuesday before traveling to Toronto to face the Raptors on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.  The postponement may prove to be a blessing in disguise for the struggling Sacramento Kings, who have lost seven of their last eight games.

The Kings, who are currently in a six game skid, currently sit in 4th place in the Pacific division with a 16-27 record after getting out to a hot start at the beginning of the season.

Th extra day off can give the Kings more time to regroup after being on the opposite end of a historical night last Friday after the Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson torched the group for 37-points in the third quarter of their 126-101 loss.

The outburst from Thompson, which included a perfect 13-for-13 shooting featuring nine three-pointers, was the most points scored in a single quarter in NBA history.

Kings Can’t Close Out Portland, Drop Fourth Straight.

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By Shawn Whelchel

The Kings couldn’t hold on to a fourth quarter lead Monday night, as the Portland Trail Blazers completed their late comeback to hand Sacramento a 98-94 loss.

The Kings, who have now dropped four in a row, held a 87-86 lead with a little over 2 and-a-half minutes to go in the fourth. But Portland’s Damian Lillard lead the late charge, dumping in 6 of his 22 points in the last 90 seconds of play to secure the win.

Portland left the door open for a late Sacramento tie, as Lillard and Nicolas Batum missed 3-of-6 free throws in the waning seconds of the game to keep it a one score game.

But a miss by Rudy Gay and a Darren Collison turnover sealed the Kings fate as Portland held on for the win following a Batum free throw.

Lillard’s team-high 22 points were accompanied by six rebounds and five assists. Gay lead all scorers on the night with 26 points for Sacramento. He was followed by DeMarcus Cousins who added 22 points of his own while hauling in 19 rebounds.

The Kings continue to be hurt by sloppy play after a total of 23 turnovers contributed to 29 Portland points. Sacramento will look to get back on track against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.