On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Charlie O the Kings plan to leave DeMarcus Cousins and possibly Rajon Rondo at home as it’s expected that neither one will travel , Cousins for sure will not travel. The Kings play their last two games of the season at Phoenix and Houston and want to rest Cousins in particular. Cousins will be getting a procedure done for his foot because of tendonitis the procedure is called plasma platelet rich therapy. It will take four weeks before the procedure will take effect. For the first one to two weeks his feet will be tender.
The Kings want to rest Rondo as well and he’s had that turf toe and he’s been beat up and there’s no reason to keep playing him and he needs the rest at this juncture of the season. Rondo has been like a liaison between head coach George Karl and the players. The problem is he might not return next season because there are other teams that are interested in Rondo and would like to pay him the big bucks and the New York Knicks are one of those teams.
The Kings plan for Saturday night in Denver was simple and straight forward. Leave Cousins and Rondo at home to rest, give the younger players some much needed playing time and put on a good show in the “Mile High City”.
No there was no mention of winning the game. Wins are secondary for Sacramento at this point in the season. In fact, the Kings need to finish in the bottom 10 of the NBA overall standings to avoid losing their 2016 first-round draft pick (listen to this week’s Kings podcast for the details). It is not that the Kings do not want to win but winning might not be that helpful at this moment.
Something strange can happen when you give the second unit a chance to play more minutes. Those second unit guys want to step up and show the world they got game. That is what happened on Saturday in Denver.
The Kings allowed the Nuggets to set the pace in the first half. Denver scored 62 points in the first half and appeared to ready to run the Kings off the court in the second half, but someone from the Nuggets forgot to tell Seth Curry to go along the plan.
Curry carried the Kings on his back in the first half scoring 17 points while connecting on 7-of-8 shots from the floor. The Kings would go on to score 55 first-half points and trailed the Nuggets by just seven points at the half.
The teams played an even third quarter with the Kings outscoring the Nuggets 29-26 in the period. The Nuggets still had an 88-84 after three quarters.
The Kings caught fire in the fourth quarter outscoring the Nuggets 31-18 in final 12 minutes. Darren Collison led the charge for Sacramento scoring 10 of his 14 points in last quarter. Collison shot 2-for-4 from the floor and converted 6-of-7 opportunities from the free throw line. He also dished out four assists. Ben McLemore scored eight points and Rudy Gay added five points in the period.
At the final buzzer, the Kings had beaten the Nuggets 115-106 to record their 31st win of the season.
Kings
Rudy Gay led the Kings scoring attack on Saturday with 25 points. Gay also grabbed nine rebounds and had three assists. He shot 7-for-18 from the floor and an impressive 10-for-13 from the charity stripe.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Ben McLemore and Darren Collison scored 14 points each.
Kosta Koufos and James Anderson added 13 points each.
The most impressive stat of the night for the Kings was their assists to turnover ratio of 4-to-1. Sacramento had 27 assists and turned the ball over just seven times. Not bad for a team that has been averaging 16 turnovers per game.
Sacramento was also strong at the free throw line hitting on 25-of-31 attempts for a 80.6- free throw shooting percentage. For the season, the Kings have shot just 72.7-percent from the free throw line.
This was also just third time the Kings have won when DeMarcus Cousins did not play in the game. They have lost 11 games when Cousins was not available.
Nuggets
Gary Harris led the Nuggets in scoring with 19 points. Harris had four rebounds and two assists to go with those 19 points.
Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay had a strong game scoring 15 points and dishing out six assists. Mudiay did foul out of the game.
Joffrey Lauvergne played a strong 24 minutes off the bench for Denver. He scored 15 points, grabbed six rebounds and had two assists in those minutes on the floor.
Alex Toupane scored a career-high 14 points off the bench for the Nuggets.
Up next
The Kings have just three games left to play in Sleep Train (Arco) Arena. Portland visits Sacramento on Tuesday and Minnesota comes calling on Thursday night. The Kings final game ever in the arena they have called home for 28 years will take place next Saturday night when they host Oklahoma City Thunder. This reporter will be filing the story live from the arena that night.
~ If only it was an April Fool’s Day prank, but it was not, as Golden State’s streak fell at 54 to the Boston Celtics, Friday, 109-106.
The Celtics had ties to another one of the Warriors’ streaks. While last matchup, Boston was not directly tied to ending the streak of Golden State aiming to be the first to go 7-0 on the road, the Celtics did take the game the night before to double overtime.
The Warriors’ Stephen Curry finished with 29 points, all but one his shots from the field a three, five rebounds, six assists and nine turnovers. For Boston, Isaiah Thomas, Evan Turner and Jared Sullinger had 22, 21 and 20 points respectively. Sullinger had a double-double with 12 rebounds.
Golden State lost the turnover battle 14-22. The Celtics outscored the Warriors in the paint 48-30.
It was a tough first quarter for Curry. After a rebound, he committed four straight turnovers when he had the ball, five overall in the quarter. Curry did not have a point until a three with 4.3 seconds left in the quarter, to give Golden State the lead heading to the locker rooms.
The second did not have that much activity until the very end. With 2:14 left, Curry hit another three. There were two ties. Sullinger had four points and the Warriors’ Klay Thompson had three. Curry had an offensive foul turnover and the next possession, a backcourt turnover. Bradley gave Boston the 45-43 lead with a three after missing one earlier and Thompson tried a three with .4 seconds left. Golden State had a seven point lead during the quarter.
Curry came out firing with two consecutive threes in the third. They would be the first of six total in the quarter, as Curry went three crazy. He scored a total of 21 points in the quarter. When Curry made the first of three consecutive free throws with 2:19 left in the third quarter, that was his first non three pointer. Curry’s last three in the quarter would be the last time the Warriors led though.
The Celtics’ lead grew to 10 points by 8:41 left in the third quarter, thanks to an 11-4 run. Marcus Smart had five points and Golden State missed three straight. Draymond Green almost single handedly brought back Golden State to within three with 3:58 left. He had six straight out of eight points he made starting with 5:26 left. Harrison Barnes’ three made it 106-107 with 10.2 seconds left, but a layup by Thomas with 8.3 seconds left, sealed the deal. Curry and Barnes tried a three apiece after to no avail.
Game notes: The Warriors’ Andrew Bogut left the game early after taking a drive to the ribs. Golden State also lost their six game win streak. The Warriors play the Portland Trailblazers Sunday at 5pm.
SACRAMENTO- The Kings had a horrendous defensive first half, giving up 39 first quarter points and 66 in the half. 66 points for the Heat in the first half was their season high and Sacramento looked doomed. The game looked very out of reach for the Kings when they were down by 24 points a little over halfway through the third quarter.
But the Kings found their stride and played tough defense in the second half. The Kings turned things on, especially in the fourth quarter with big offensive production from Darren Collison who had 11 fourth quarter points. Seth Curry was big as well with nine points in the quarter.
Sacramento was able to cut the lead to one with a minute and a half remaining as the crowd got louder. A surprising turn of events made a blow out into an incredible come back. As the Kings played tough defense and worked on double teaming and trapping Heat players, they left Luol Deng wide open for a corner three. Deng sunk the three with 45 second left to go and put the Heat up by six. Ultimately, the three would be the dagger as the Kings were unable to complete their valiant effort of trying to win their third straight at home.
Once again, the Kings lose a game with DeMarcus Cousins not playing in the game as he was suspended by the NBA for his 16 technical of the season. The Kings first half mishap cost them the game as they gave up 20 first half points to Gerald Green who started in place of Dwayne Wade. Green finished the game with a game high 30 points.
Collison scored 26 points for the Kings as he played while Rajon Rondo sat out for most of the second half. Curry matched his career high with 21 points as he continues to play well for Sacramento. The Kings defense forced ten second half turnovers, but the Heat’s first half was too much.
The Kings will head to the Mile High City to take on the Denver Nuggets tomorrow. Sacramento will be without Cousins in tomorrow night’s game as he will not play in road games for the rest of the season. Tip off is set for 6 p.m.
On the Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor the Warriors who picked up their 68th win their closing in on the Chicago Bulls all time winningest record. The 1995-96 World Champion year and during that regular season the Bulls lost only ten games that season going 72-10. The Warriors can make it interesting if they can win their next four games in a row. They face the Boston Celtics Friday night at Oracle in seeking win number 69.
The Warriors played the Utah Jazz in their last game it was a hard fought game in Salt Lake City and the Warriors who were down by eight points in the closing minutes miraculously escaped defeat for their 68th win of the season. Their aiming to get number 72 in the win column and according to the Warriors star Stephen Curry he’s a believer.
With just six seconds to play in the Kings victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, DeMarcus Cousins was issued a technical foul. It was the 16th technical foul of the season assessed to Cousins and 16 in a season means a one-game suspension for the player.
The Kings had hoped that the NBA would review the call and overturn the technical foul. On Thursday, the association issued its ruling and it did not go Cousins’ way. Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe announced that Cousins will be suspended for one game without pay. The suspension will be served tonight when the Kings host the Miami Heat.
This is the third time this season that Cousins has been suspended without pay. He lost a game and pay in November for an elbow/forearm that was thrown at a player’s head. His second suspension came in March after an on the bench tirade directed at George Karl. That suspension was leveled by the Kings.
But wait, there’s more. For every two additional technical fouls called on Cousins, he would face another one-game suspension without pay. The Kings have six games remaining after tonight, and it is fair to say that Cousins has a target on his back.
In a season that has been full of disappointments and bizarre occurrences, you can add this suspension to the list of forgettable moments.
photo credit: USA Today–Sacramento Kings DeMarcus Cousins was hit with a technical after clapping in the face of NBA official Marc Davis at Sleep Train Arena Wednesday night
SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings (29-45) used a strong second quarter to pull ahead of the visiting Washington Wizards (36-38) then played good enough to hold on for a 120-111 win.
The Kings who season has been a soap opera at least look to add a few more wins before they close down the season and Sleep Train Arena on April 9th 2016.
The Kings were paced by All Star DeMarcus Cousins who had 29 nine game high points, Cousins who might be gone by via trade after soon after the season also added in ten rebounds.
Seth Curry also got a rare start and played over 17 minutes and added in five points.
Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 24 points on 10-21 shooting. Marcin Gordat did grab a game high 12 rebounds in the losing effort.
The Wizards head to Phoenix on Friday to take on the Suns while the Kings host the Miami Heat on the same day.
Game notes: DeMarcus Cousins and the Kings Rajon Rondo both clapped at official Marc Davis in his face earning them each a technical foul and Cousins was suspended for clapping. Cousins was clapping after Davis called made a foul call. Davis immediately hit both players with a technical each. Rondo was ejected for arguing the first technical and left the game. Cousins who picked up his 16th technical of the season will be suspended for the Kings next game.
The Sacramento Kings desperately need to create a stable organization for the team, fans and investors. The organization took a major step toward stability by signing Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac to a multi-year contract today.
Divac was named to his current post on August 31, 2015. Prior to being placed in charge of basketball operations, he was Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations.
“My commitment to the Sacramento Kings goes back to my days as a player and I’m grateful to continue playing my part in creating a winning future for the Sacramento Kings,” said Divac. “I know that we have what it takes to be a successful franchise and I look forward to continuing to improve and build on the progress that we’ve made.”
Hopefully, this move is the first step in stabilizing the basket operations. With Divac firmly in charge, the Kings should be able to hire a coach that is philosophically compatible with team’s direction and personnel. The installation of a coach who will be around longer than a single season will also help the team meet a goal of becoming stable and successful on the court.
The Kings have not officially parted ways with current head coach George Karl, but it is hard to visualize Karl being retained after the end of this very disappointing season. Divac would be free to hire a head coach that could gain the confidence of the team.
The other major move Divac needs to make is to remove the title of general manager from his business card and hire an experienced G.M. who can handle the nuts and bolts of the salary cap plus trades and free agent signings. This would let Divac run things from the 10,000-foot level and deal with the overall direction of the team, league business, scouting and oversight of the D-league team in Reno.
Vivek Ranadive and the other owners are hoping that they can look back on this day as the one changed the Kings from an “also-ran organization” into real competitor in the National Bassketball Association.
Some of the information in this report was provided by the Sacramento Kings Media Department
OAKLAND, Calif — Reigning league MVP Stephen Curry led all scorers with 26 points and Draymond Green fell one assist shy for his 13th triple double of the season helping the Golden State Warriors fend off a pesky Washington Wizards team, 102-94 Tuesday night in front of a sold out raucous Oracle Arena crowd.
Curry shot just 9 for 20 from the field, but drilled 6 of 8 threes to go along with seven assists, seven rebounds, five steals and emphatic dunk in the closing moments of the first quarter as Golden State (67-7), tied the franchise mark for wins in a season from last season and remain on pace to break the all-time wins mark in a season.
The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls finished the season 72-10 en route to the NBA title.
With eight games to go, Golden State must finish no worse than 6-2 to set a new single-season record for wins in a season.
Green finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists, while Klay Thompson scored just 16 points after back-to-back games of 40+ points over the weekend for the Warriors, who picked up their 54th straight win at home dating back to last season.
Golden State is 36-0 at home this season and have a chance to break the 1985-86 Boston Celtics’ 40-1 home record, an NBA record.
Washington (36-38) played Golden State very tough for three quarters, scoring 25 points off of 16 Golden State turnovers and out-scoring the Warriors in the paint, 50-40.
Golden State did dominate on the glass, out-rebounding Washington 55-48 and held the edge on fast break points, 24-13.
Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 17 points, Markieff Morris had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Otto Porter Jr. finished with 11 points for Washington, who allowed Golden State to close the first half on a 12-0 run to take a 49-46 lead after building a nine-point lead.
Both teams return to floor quickly Wednesday with Golden State flying to Salt Lake City to play a surging Utah Jazz team, while Washington looks to bounce back when they visit Sacramento.
photo credit: mtv.fi–Sacramento Kings vice president Vlade Divac along with Kings management has decided to rest key players since the Kings will not be in post season
SACRAMENTO–The Kings benched four of their key players and this appears to be a planned strategy that’s coming from team vice president Vlade Divac the other folks in the front office with head coach George Karl. Saying “we know what were up against we are not going to the playoffs and we got a situation at this point wins aren’t important” that’s very odd to say in the world of sports.
The Kings are in a situation where if they finish outside the bottom ten in the standings their first round draft pick goes to the Chicago Bulls. This is a very complicated transaction that started off when they went to Cleveland and Cleveland and later to Chicago. It’s been sitting out there for quite awhile frankly it had to as the Kings have fallen into the bottom ten in the NBA draft standings.
Charlie O has a lot more on the Kings and who continues to sit and also the Kings chances in the NBA Lottery listen right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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