http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/89665.html
A close (no) call
Kings force overtime, but comeback falls short
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:23 am PST Friday, December 8, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Mike Bibby was looking for a television, or at least a friend up in the replay booth who could control the Jumbotron and prove his case for him.
The Kings point guard's face said everything from furious to frantic, and there was likely a mark on his arm that said a call had been missed.
After the Kings scratched their way back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, Bibby went coast to coast in the last few seconds of the extra period and had the driving floater in his sights that could stop the Kings' losing streak at four games. But as he floated from left to right, his right arm drew contact from Miami's Dwyane Wade. The shot went awry, and everything else followed suit in what was a surreal and extended ending to the Heat's 93-91 win Thursday night at Arco Arena.
Beyond Bibby, Kings center Brad Miller -- whose two free throws with four seconds left in regulation had forced overtime -- was incensed at the no-call. And after Miami forward Udonis Haslem secured the rebound on Bibby's shot, Miller swiped viciously at the ball and caught Haslem in the face. The foul came with 0.6 seconds remaining, resulting in minutes of discussion among the three-man crew of Bob Delaney, Luis Grillo and Ed Malloy and two free throws from Miami's Michael Doleac that came with the sellout crowd howling foul with the Kings themselves, all in purple angry at a fifth consecutive loss that was the most chaotic of them all.
"I thought for sure I was going to get (a call)," Bibby said. "But that's just the way the league is. ... I was trying to get the shot up, but when your arm gets pulled down, you've got to look for the foul, right?"
Miller, perhaps knowing that his foul on Haslem could be reviewed by the league, didn't comment afterward.
"I've got nothing to say that won't cost me more money," he said.
In all, this was another for the moral victory column. The Kings changed their look from down and defeated early in the fourth quarter to resilient at the end.
They nearly won despite shooting 36.1 percent (30 of 83) from the field, and despite a 3-for-15 shooting night from shooting guard Kevin Martin and a combined 1-of-12 effort from three-point range between Martin and swingman John Salmons. But there was no answer for Wade, who scored seven of his 32 points in overtime and came within one assist of his fourth career triple double with 11 rebounds, nine assists, and three steals.
The Kings' resurgence began with small forward Ron Artest, who played 33 minutes off the bench after missing the last three games with lower back pain.
Down 83-76, Artest hit a three-pointer that sparked the Kings' rally. They held the Heat to a shot-clock violation on the next possession, then drew an offensive foul from Haslem the next time down the floor and a sequence of referee-dominated back-and-forth had begun.
But a call went the Kings' way with 58 seconds left, when Wade fouled Bibby, and his free throws cut the margin to two. Martin hit his third field goal with 29 seconds left, that cut the lead to 85-83. With four seconds left, Miller drew an offensive foul call on Miami center Alonzo Mourning, who fouled out. The Kings finished regulation play on a 14-2 run.
There was a missed opportunity early, when the Kings held Miami to just four points in the first 7:33 of play but eventually trailed 22-17 after the first quarter. The Heat made just three of their first 11 shots, but the Kings missed 15 of their first 18 and squandered a 10-4 lead.
They trailed 42-38 at halftime, but sparked rare boo-birds from the home crowd when a Jason Williams layup put Miami up 50-40 midway through the third.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
A close (no) call
Kings force overtime, but comeback falls short
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:23 am PST Friday, December 8, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Mike Bibby was looking for a television, or at least a friend up in the replay booth who could control the Jumbotron and prove his case for him.
The Kings point guard's face said everything from furious to frantic, and there was likely a mark on his arm that said a call had been missed.
After the Kings scratched their way back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, Bibby went coast to coast in the last few seconds of the extra period and had the driving floater in his sights that could stop the Kings' losing streak at four games. But as he floated from left to right, his right arm drew contact from Miami's Dwyane Wade. The shot went awry, and everything else followed suit in what was a surreal and extended ending to the Heat's 93-91 win Thursday night at Arco Arena.
Beyond Bibby, Kings center Brad Miller -- whose two free throws with four seconds left in regulation had forced overtime -- was incensed at the no-call. And after Miami forward Udonis Haslem secured the rebound on Bibby's shot, Miller swiped viciously at the ball and caught Haslem in the face. The foul came with 0.6 seconds remaining, resulting in minutes of discussion among the three-man crew of Bob Delaney, Luis Grillo and Ed Malloy and two free throws from Miami's Michael Doleac that came with the sellout crowd howling foul with the Kings themselves, all in purple angry at a fifth consecutive loss that was the most chaotic of them all.
"I thought for sure I was going to get (a call)," Bibby said. "But that's just the way the league is. ... I was trying to get the shot up, but when your arm gets pulled down, you've got to look for the foul, right?"
Miller, perhaps knowing that his foul on Haslem could be reviewed by the league, didn't comment afterward.
"I've got nothing to say that won't cost me more money," he said.
In all, this was another for the moral victory column. The Kings changed their look from down and defeated early in the fourth quarter to resilient at the end.
They nearly won despite shooting 36.1 percent (30 of 83) from the field, and despite a 3-for-15 shooting night from shooting guard Kevin Martin and a combined 1-of-12 effort from three-point range between Martin and swingman John Salmons. But there was no answer for Wade, who scored seven of his 32 points in overtime and came within one assist of his fourth career triple double with 11 rebounds, nine assists, and three steals.
The Kings' resurgence began with small forward Ron Artest, who played 33 minutes off the bench after missing the last three games with lower back pain.
Down 83-76, Artest hit a three-pointer that sparked the Kings' rally. They held the Heat to a shot-clock violation on the next possession, then drew an offensive foul from Haslem the next time down the floor and a sequence of referee-dominated back-and-forth had begun.
But a call went the Kings' way with 58 seconds left, when Wade fouled Bibby, and his free throws cut the margin to two. Martin hit his third field goal with 29 seconds left, that cut the lead to 85-83. With four seconds left, Miller drew an offensive foul call on Miami center Alonzo Mourning, who fouled out. The Kings finished regulation play on a 14-2 run.
There was a missed opportunity early, when the Kings held Miami to just four points in the first 7:33 of play but eventually trailed 22-17 after the first quarter. The Heat made just three of their first 11 shots, but the Kings missed 15 of their first 18 and squandered a 10-4 lead.
They trailed 42-38 at halftime, but sparked rare boo-birds from the home crowd when a Jason Williams layup put Miami up 50-40 midway through the third.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
