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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12096010p-12966074c.html
Arco game report: Peja bounces back with big game
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, January 21, 2005
Peja Stojakovic had his bounce-back game.
Two days after his 134-game streak of consecutive games with double figures - the longest active streak in the NBA this season - ended against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Kings All-Star forward went on the attack early against Cleveland and LeBron James.
Stojakovic scored nine quick points, moved without the ball and played active defense on as tough an assignment as there is in the league in James. Stojakovic finished with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals and a nifty highlight move, a crossover that left James spinning out on the Arco Arena floor.
"Peja's probably the hardest guy he's going to have to check this year," Kings forward Chris Webber said.
Stojakovic didn't allow James any easy routes to the basket via dunks - he had none - or layups. James attempted only one free throw and scored 18 points on 9-of-19 shooting.
Webber's over-under
Webber, with yet another productive night to his pedigree, couldn't resist taking a shot at the Rise Guys morning program on KHTK 1140 about the odds the hosts wagered on how many games he would play this season.
He told a former 1140 producer: "Tell the people at your station that I passed the under. I wish I could have bet on myself."
Band-Aid totals
Mike Bibby looked like a battered boxer with four fresh stitches above his right eye, courtesy of a Zydrunas Ilgauskas elbow to his right eyebrow in the first quarter that left the Kings guard dripping blood all over Arco.
He now joins teammate Maurice Evans on the Band-Aid front. Evans still sports a cover to the 12-stitch gash on his head from last week's tumble against the Utah Jazz. Bibby still managed to collect a triple double, with the last rebound the one thing he wasn't sure he'd find.
"The elbow, that's why I almost didn't get another rebound," Bibby cracked.
LeBron reflections
James recalled his first NBA game as if it were many years ago - and as something of a suffocating experience.
It was at Arco to start last season, with a horde of national media in tow.
"I remember that it was by far the most media at one place ever for me," James said.
- Joe Davidson
King for the day
MIKE BIBBY Never mind the gash over his eyebrow. The Kings' floor leader posted his second career triple double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, much to the glee of his teammates, who knew he was closing in on the achievement.
Question posed
IS BRAD MILLER HOME?
The Kings center has had some offensive games in which he hardly shot the ball, including two points against Atlanta and four against the Clippers. He also has had some low rebounding games, never a good thing for a 7-footer on a team starving for boards. He had three against the Clippers on Saturday and four against the Cavaliers on Thursday. Miller isn't the swiftest guy inside with his feet, and he's the first to remind that he needs to rachet up the aggression, especially on defense. He'll need to against San Antonio on Sunday.
-Joe Davidson
Big number
Consecutive field-goal misses the rest of the way after a 3-for-3 start for Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas against the Kings, who had been hit hard by opposing centers
Sound bite
"I was talking to Mo earlier about getting stitches. He said it's harmless."
Arco game report: Peja bounces back with big game
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, January 21, 2005
Peja Stojakovic had his bounce-back game.
Two days after his 134-game streak of consecutive games with double figures - the longest active streak in the NBA this season - ended against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Kings All-Star forward went on the attack early against Cleveland and LeBron James.
Stojakovic scored nine quick points, moved without the ball and played active defense on as tough an assignment as there is in the league in James. Stojakovic finished with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals and a nifty highlight move, a crossover that left James spinning out on the Arco Arena floor.
"Peja's probably the hardest guy he's going to have to check this year," Kings forward Chris Webber said.
Stojakovic didn't allow James any easy routes to the basket via dunks - he had none - or layups. James attempted only one free throw and scored 18 points on 9-of-19 shooting.
Webber's over-under
Webber, with yet another productive night to his pedigree, couldn't resist taking a shot at the Rise Guys morning program on KHTK 1140 about the odds the hosts wagered on how many games he would play this season.
He told a former 1140 producer: "Tell the people at your station that I passed the under. I wish I could have bet on myself."
Band-Aid totals
Mike Bibby looked like a battered boxer with four fresh stitches above his right eye, courtesy of a Zydrunas Ilgauskas elbow to his right eyebrow in the first quarter that left the Kings guard dripping blood all over Arco.
He now joins teammate Maurice Evans on the Band-Aid front. Evans still sports a cover to the 12-stitch gash on his head from last week's tumble against the Utah Jazz. Bibby still managed to collect a triple double, with the last rebound the one thing he wasn't sure he'd find.
"The elbow, that's why I almost didn't get another rebound," Bibby cracked.
LeBron reflections
James recalled his first NBA game as if it were many years ago - and as something of a suffocating experience.
It was at Arco to start last season, with a horde of national media in tow.
"I remember that it was by far the most media at one place ever for me," James said.
- Joe Davidson
King for the day
MIKE BIBBY Never mind the gash over his eyebrow. The Kings' floor leader posted his second career triple double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, much to the glee of his teammates, who knew he was closing in on the achievement.
Question posed
IS BRAD MILLER HOME?
The Kings center has had some offensive games in which he hardly shot the ball, including two points against Atlanta and four against the Clippers. He also has had some low rebounding games, never a good thing for a 7-footer on a team starving for boards. He had three against the Clippers on Saturday and four against the Cavaliers on Thursday. Miller isn't the swiftest guy inside with his feet, and he's the first to remind that he needs to rachet up the aggression, especially on defense. He'll need to against San Antonio on Sunday.
-Joe Davidson
Big number
Consecutive field-goal misses the rest of the way after a 3-for-3 start for Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas against the Kings, who had been hit hard by opposing centers
Sound bite
"I was talking to Mo earlier about getting stitches. He said it's harmless."
-- Mike Bibby, Kings guard, on teammate Maurice Evans - he of the multiple Band-Aids - after receiving his own to cover four stitches from a gash over his right eye
