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Close shave ends Kings' skid
Clutch baskets allow Sacramento to stop its losing streak at seven.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:02 am PST Saturday, January 20, 2007
The mood was light even before the victory, as the Kings were flying from Toronto to Beantown after their seventh consecutive loss.
Video coordinator Bubba Burrage had the masses in stitches, his best Bill Walton impression taking their minds off the fact that the team had been playing "horrribblle" of late.
Then came a rare day off Thursday, when coach Eric Musselman instructed his players to clear their heads. Kevin Martin lay in bed, literally, all day. Mike Bibby shaved a Mohawk into Ron Artest's head. More serious matters, at least for a day, were put on hold.
But Friday night at TD Banknorth Garden, the losing streak that began Jan. 4 and had been nothing but a Kings mood killer finally ended. And after fourth-quarter collapses had contributed so mightily to the stretch, late composure and execution led to a 96-91 victory over the Boston Celtics.
"I think we were searching and searching offensively, and we ran strictly our open offense, which is passing game and the corner series the whole fourth quarter," Musselman said. "And the ball started to move ... . We had some guys hit some big shots."
The Kings maintained a late lead thanks to the sort of easy baskets that had been rare of late.
Brad Miller threaded a pass from the high post to a cutting Martin for an uncontested reverse layup and an 85-84 lead with 2:32 to play. After Ryan Gomes' jumper for the Celtics, Miller ran the pick and pop with Bibby, with Miller hitting a 17-footer for an 89-86 lead with 1:40 to play. Miller, who had 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, hit two free throws after an aggressive drive on Al Jefferson drew the foul, opening a 91-86 lead with 1:12 left.
Then after Miller fouled Gomes on a layup on the break and gifted a three-point play, he threw a court-long pass to a streaking Martin. It was an identical counter, with Martin breaking free from Gerald Green, catching the pass, receiving the continuation call for his layup when he was fouled and converting the three-point play.
"We just knew they thought I was just going to come up and get the ball and go hit a couple free throws," said Martin, who scored 14 of his team-high 27 points in the fourth quarter. "Brad's a smart passer, and I knew he wasn't going to make a mistake, so he just saw what I had."
What they had, for once, was a victory. Swingman John Salmons deemed it a must win, never mind that it's mid-January. The Celtics, who have lost 13 of 15, had a medical chart almost as long as their six-game losing streak. Starters Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak were out, along with Theo Ratliff, Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen.
"They were on a losing streak, and we were on a losing streak," Salmons said. "We just didn't want to be the ones to fall. We zoned in and concentrated and did what we had to do."
In his return from a back injury, point guard Delonte West had the Kings wishing he'd missed one more game. West was 10 for 16 from the floor for 25 points, hitting all three of his three-point attempts and attacking Miller in the paint for some of his looks. It was the same method for Jefferson, who had 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting. But the duo combined for just six points in the final quarter.
"It's another game we had a chance to win, and we can't afford to make mistakes like that against a team like that," Jefferson said. "A great team, a smart team that's been playing together for a long time, so we made mistakes, and they took advantage of that."
No word on whether Jefferson had watched any recent film of the Kings, but this was clearly an improvement. It also was the best game in some time for Artest, who had 19 points, 11 rebounds and two steals.
"We pulled this one out like we're supposed to," said Artest, who said the Mohawk will stay for today's return to Detroit. "But they didn't have (a lot of players). ... It probably would've been a different game if those guys were in there."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Close shave ends Kings' skid
Clutch baskets allow Sacramento to stop its losing streak at seven.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:02 am PST Saturday, January 20, 2007
The mood was light even before the victory, as the Kings were flying from Toronto to Beantown after their seventh consecutive loss.
Video coordinator Bubba Burrage had the masses in stitches, his best Bill Walton impression taking their minds off the fact that the team had been playing "horrribblle" of late.
Then came a rare day off Thursday, when coach Eric Musselman instructed his players to clear their heads. Kevin Martin lay in bed, literally, all day. Mike Bibby shaved a Mohawk into Ron Artest's head. More serious matters, at least for a day, were put on hold.
But Friday night at TD Banknorth Garden, the losing streak that began Jan. 4 and had been nothing but a Kings mood killer finally ended. And after fourth-quarter collapses had contributed so mightily to the stretch, late composure and execution led to a 96-91 victory over the Boston Celtics.
"I think we were searching and searching offensively, and we ran strictly our open offense, which is passing game and the corner series the whole fourth quarter," Musselman said. "And the ball started to move ... . We had some guys hit some big shots."
The Kings maintained a late lead thanks to the sort of easy baskets that had been rare of late.
Brad Miller threaded a pass from the high post to a cutting Martin for an uncontested reverse layup and an 85-84 lead with 2:32 to play. After Ryan Gomes' jumper for the Celtics, Miller ran the pick and pop with Bibby, with Miller hitting a 17-footer for an 89-86 lead with 1:40 to play. Miller, who had 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, hit two free throws after an aggressive drive on Al Jefferson drew the foul, opening a 91-86 lead with 1:12 left.
Then after Miller fouled Gomes on a layup on the break and gifted a three-point play, he threw a court-long pass to a streaking Martin. It was an identical counter, with Martin breaking free from Gerald Green, catching the pass, receiving the continuation call for his layup when he was fouled and converting the three-point play.
"We just knew they thought I was just going to come up and get the ball and go hit a couple free throws," said Martin, who scored 14 of his team-high 27 points in the fourth quarter. "Brad's a smart passer, and I knew he wasn't going to make a mistake, so he just saw what I had."
What they had, for once, was a victory. Swingman John Salmons deemed it a must win, never mind that it's mid-January. The Celtics, who have lost 13 of 15, had a medical chart almost as long as their six-game losing streak. Starters Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak were out, along with Theo Ratliff, Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen.
"They were on a losing streak, and we were on a losing streak," Salmons said. "We just didn't want to be the ones to fall. We zoned in and concentrated and did what we had to do."
In his return from a back injury, point guard Delonte West had the Kings wishing he'd missed one more game. West was 10 for 16 from the floor for 25 points, hitting all three of his three-point attempts and attacking Miller in the paint for some of his looks. It was the same method for Jefferson, who had 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting. But the duo combined for just six points in the final quarter.
"It's another game we had a chance to win, and we can't afford to make mistakes like that against a team like that," Jefferson said. "A great team, a smart team that's been playing together for a long time, so we made mistakes, and they took advantage of that."
No word on whether Jefferson had watched any recent film of the Kings, but this was clearly an improvement. It also was the best game in some time for Artest, who had 19 points, 11 rebounds and two steals.
"We pulled this one out like we're supposed to," said Artest, who said the Mohawk will stay for today's return to Detroit. "But they didn't have (a lot of players). ... It probably would've been a different game if those guys were in there."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.