Author: tonyrenteria

by Tony Renteria

photo credit: sportal.com.au–The Sacramento Kings DeMarcus Cousins led all scorers with 18 points and 16 rebounds on Wednesday night

The Sacramento Kings headed to Memphis to play the Grizzles and fell 104-98 on a Wednesday night.   The Kings had been on a slight roll but recent loses have pushed backed their hopes for a playoff berth.

DeMarcus Cousins has been consistently putting up great numbers as he scored 18 points and grabbed a game high 16 rebounds.  Cousins has been the rock on the Kings offense.  As the Kings have used the up scale and full speed offense they have helped Cousins score points but have they really helped the best big man in the league shine.

Having Cousins run up and down the court at a high paced speed might have countered what could be his best asset, putting his back to the basket and intimidating opponents  down low.

The Grizzles were lead by Mike Conley and his 24 points.   Conley also led the his team with Five assists.

 

 

By Tony Renteria

photo credit: businessinsider–San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich showed his wares with a huge win over Sacramento on Wednesday night at Sleep Train Arena

The Sacramento Kings (24-31) were riding a mild hot streak as they hosted the red hot San Antonio Spurs (49-9) at Sleep Train Arena on somewhat chilly Wednesday night in the state Capitol.   The Kings tried to keep pace in the first quarter but fell behind early in the second as they fell to the visiting team 108-92.

The Kings are normally paced by All Star DeMarcus Cousins who is averaging over 27 points per game, but Cousins was a cold 1 for 10 from the field in the first half with only 1 point on the stat sheet. Cousins struggles doomed the Kings as went in the second half down by 11 points.

The Kings who usually struggle in the third quarter fought back to get with six points as the fourth quarter started but the experience of a Gregg Popovich led team pushed the lead up in the fourth by ten points to seal the win.

While everyone on the planet is looking at the Golden State Warriors quest for 73 wins this season the Spurs are putting together an amazing season.  Their current record of 50-9 is second best in a tough Western Conference.

The Spurs were led by point guard Tony Parker who not only had a solid 23 points but six assists as well.  Tim Duncan was scoreless in just over eleven minutes on play on 0-2 shooting.

The Kings leading scorer was Cousins who came back in the second half with 21 points to finish with 22 points and ten rebounds for a double double.

The Spurs who are now on a three game winning streak head to Utah tomorrow to face the Jazz while the Kings try to rebound against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday at Sleep Train.

By Tony Renteria

photo credit: Sacramento Bee–Charlotte’s Marvin Williams (2) drives on Sacramento’s Rudy Gay (8) Monday night at Sleep Train Arena

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings (20-23) headed into tonight’s match up with five straight wins looking for six against the visiting Charlotte Hornets (21-23) but the Hornets took the Kings for a double overtime win 129-128.

The Kings jumped out to an early 31-16 lead in the first quarter but lost that pace in the third when the Hornets came roaring out of the locker room at half time to score 42 points in the third.

DeMarcus Cousins scored a career best 56 points in the game before fouling out in the second overtime.   He previous high was 48 points.   Rajon Rondo had 20 assists as he worked the court like a Field General feeding player after player great passes for easy baskets.

The Hornets were led Kemba Walker and his 24 points.   Jeremy Lin also chipped in 20 points.

The Kings head to Portland on Tuesday night as the Hornets head to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder.

 

 

 

By Tony Renteria

photo credit: sacbee.com Sac Kings Kosta Koufos grabs rebound against NO Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca Wednesday night at Sleep Train Arena

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings are still fighting to shake off an identity of a team that continues to struggle as the host Sacramento Kings lost the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 109-97.  Sacramento faithfully has lost two games for every win this season and as the All Star break gets closer they proving that they are the team there record says they are as they sit 15-23.

The Pelicans sit in last place in the Southwest division but the Kings were not able to defend home court against a team they should be able to put away at home.

The Kings were by DeMarcus Cousins 32 points and 12 rebounds but the he was not able to keep the Kings close in this game, the score was not even as close as the game really was as the Pelicans we up by over 25 points at one point of the game in the third quarter.

The Kings look to bounce back as they head to Salt Lake to face the Jazz on Thursday and Pelicans return home to the Big Easy to face the Bobcats from Charlotte on Friday.

 

By Tony Renteria

photo credit: USA Today DeMarcus Cousins scored 33 points on Monday night vs. OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY–The Sacramento Kings are starting to do the one thing they could not do all season, they are winning basketball games on the road, they went into Oklahoma City beating the home Thunder 116-104.

The Thunder played with out Kevin Durant who sat out with a sprained big toe on his right foot.   This opened up the way for De Marcus Cousins to get a seasoned high 19 rebounds to go along with his 33 points.

The Kings who have suffered with sub pat third quarter play took a small lead into the second half and extended that lead by setting the tone in the third quarter by out pacing with Thunder 22-16 to start the second half. They held on in the fourth quarter to get the road win.

The Thunder were led by Serge Ibaka who scored 25 points for the home team. Russell Westbrook scored 17 and played over 41 minutes trying to keep pace with an energetic Rajon Rondo who had 19 assists.

The Kings continue the Texas swing by heading to Dallas Tuesday night and the Thunder stay home Wednesday to host the Grizzlies.

 

 

By Tony Renteria

photo credit USA Today Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis and Kings center Kosta Koufos have a little misunderstanding during Thursday night’s game in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings (8-15) scored big early and held off a strong run in the fourth quarter by the visiting New York Knicks (10-13) to capture a 99-97 win.

The Kings led 46-29 in a low scoring first half. The Kings have been rumored to have some internal turmoil between the Head Coach George Karl and some players.  Yet tonight they were able to put that past them selves as they won their second consecutive game.

The Kings were led by All Star DeMarcus Cousins with 27 points and eleven rebounds with eight on the defensive end.  Cousin continues to play solid despite the locker room turmoil and some nagging injuries.

The visiting Knicks Carmelo Anthony to no surprise was the leading scorer for  the visiting team with a 23 points and an also not surprising five turnovers.

The Knicks head up north to play Portland while the Kings have five days off before they play Houston Rockets in Sacramento next Tuesday.

 

Sacramento CA

By Tony Renteria

photo credit bing head coach George Karl Sac Kings

The Sacramento Kings(1-7) are fighting thru a horrible start and some internal strife while having to host a hot Detroit Pistons(5-2) squad managed to start fast early and hold on to a 101-92 victory.

The Kings who are been rumored to have a serious rift between Head Coach George Karl and an All Star DeMarcus Cousins seemed for an evening to put that away as the Kings Jumped out to an early 36-23 lead after the the first quarter.

Cousins himself seemed to be a three point machine as was 4-5 from beyond the arc in pacing the Kings with 33 points to go along with nine rebounds.  Point Guard Rajon Rondo keep feeding Cousins at the three point line as the assists piled up and he ended the game with a triple double, 14 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists.

The Kings needed a win badly and Cousins put the squad on his back as he showed that once again he is the premier big man in the League.  Cousins who called a players only meeting the day before seems to ready for that leadership role the Kings organization has hoped he would assume to lead the franchise into the new arena in 2016.

The Pistons who play the Los Angles Clippers on Saturday down in south were led by both Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson who both had 16 points in the losing effort.

The Kings Next play Friday night against Brooklyn in Sacramento.