http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/149319.html
Kings cannot hang on
Without ailing Nowitzki, Mavericks recover in fourth quarter
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:05 am PDT Wednesday, April 4, 2007
They had a late lead on the best team in the league, so excuse the Kings for taking time to pause and reflect.
Ron Artest and John Salmons sauntered up the floor late in the third quarter Tuesday night at Arco Arena, having a virtual conversation with coach Eric Musselman as to where to go from there. But after Musselman called the play and instructed Artest to give the ball to Salmons, an official informed them that the plan was for naught because of an eight-second halfcourt violation.
The Kings slowed up just enough for dominating Dallas to escape with a 97-93 victory, as the Mavericks started the fourth quarter on an 11-2 run and won without Dirk Nowitzki.
The MVP candidate and epicenter of the Mavericks' effectiveness suffered food poisoning Monday night. He didn't attend the team's shootaround Tuesday morning and stayed back at the hotel for the game, no doubt enjoying it on television as his supporting cast made up for his absence.
Starters Josh Howard and Jason Terry and reserve Jerry Stackhouse combined for 79 points with nearly identical outings from the field. The three hit 29 of 61 shots and helped the Mavericks withstand a late Kings surge.
Artest's three-pointer cut Dallas' lead to 90-87 with 2:19 to play. But Mavericks center Erick Dampier blocked two Artest shots down the stretch, and Stackhouse made an Artest-contested fadeaway 19-footer to put Dallas ahead 93-88 with 20 seconds left.
The Kings played as if they finally were sick of losing. But they have dropped 11 of their last 13 games, and their chances of landing the top pick in the June draft are officially higher than their odds of making the playoffs, as they fell a season-low 13 games (30-43) below .500.
As it stands, they have the NBA's ninth-worst record, which -- if the draft lottery balls were bounced today -- would leave them with a 1.7 percent chance of picking first. But even Greg Oden or Kevin Durant would be hard pressed to change what has long been a spiraling season.
The Kings couldn't overcome an off-night shooting (39 percent, 30 for 77) or a bench that provided just 17 points. Musselman again was left to praise his team for everything but a victory.
"I thought our team played hard tonight, especially when you look at the fact that we're playing a team -- even though they're without Dirk -- that has won 62 basketball games," Musselman said. "If you would've told us before the game we were going to shoot below 40 percent, I wouldn't have thought it'd be a four-point game that would come down to the last three and a half minutes."
This was the closest the Kings could come to what was once a plausible first-round playoff matchup. In early March, they were within four games of breaking even with their record and breaking into the playoff picture.
The talk was of the no-fear factor, with numerous players saying they welcomed a chance to take on Dallas despite playing David to the Mavericks' Goliath. Going even further back, there was the Dec. 1 loss at Dallas, the 19-point margin of defeat enough to infuriate Artest not only regarding his role in the offense but his belief that the Kings could, in fact, compete with the Mavericks.
The latest locker room scene was entirely different. Fittingly, the lights went out for a few seconds while reporters and a select few players stuck around to analyze the obvious. Kevin Martin and Shareef Abdur-Rahim were the lone starters to address the media, who have hardly seen a suddenly quiet Artest since he announced and denounced his retirement 10 days ago.
"You've just got to keep going," Abdur-Rahim said. "We're not mathematically out of it yet, so you have to keep fighting. After that, you just have to be professional and finish the season."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Kings cannot hang on
Without ailing Nowitzki, Mavericks recover in fourth quarter
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:05 am PDT Wednesday, April 4, 2007
They had a late lead on the best team in the league, so excuse the Kings for taking time to pause and reflect.
Ron Artest and John Salmons sauntered up the floor late in the third quarter Tuesday night at Arco Arena, having a virtual conversation with coach Eric Musselman as to where to go from there. But after Musselman called the play and instructed Artest to give the ball to Salmons, an official informed them that the plan was for naught because of an eight-second halfcourt violation.
The Kings slowed up just enough for dominating Dallas to escape with a 97-93 victory, as the Mavericks started the fourth quarter on an 11-2 run and won without Dirk Nowitzki.
The MVP candidate and epicenter of the Mavericks' effectiveness suffered food poisoning Monday night. He didn't attend the team's shootaround Tuesday morning and stayed back at the hotel for the game, no doubt enjoying it on television as his supporting cast made up for his absence.
Starters Josh Howard and Jason Terry and reserve Jerry Stackhouse combined for 79 points with nearly identical outings from the field. The three hit 29 of 61 shots and helped the Mavericks withstand a late Kings surge.
Artest's three-pointer cut Dallas' lead to 90-87 with 2:19 to play. But Mavericks center Erick Dampier blocked two Artest shots down the stretch, and Stackhouse made an Artest-contested fadeaway 19-footer to put Dallas ahead 93-88 with 20 seconds left.
The Kings played as if they finally were sick of losing. But they have dropped 11 of their last 13 games, and their chances of landing the top pick in the June draft are officially higher than their odds of making the playoffs, as they fell a season-low 13 games (30-43) below .500.
As it stands, they have the NBA's ninth-worst record, which -- if the draft lottery balls were bounced today -- would leave them with a 1.7 percent chance of picking first. But even Greg Oden or Kevin Durant would be hard pressed to change what has long been a spiraling season.
The Kings couldn't overcome an off-night shooting (39 percent, 30 for 77) or a bench that provided just 17 points. Musselman again was left to praise his team for everything but a victory.
"I thought our team played hard tonight, especially when you look at the fact that we're playing a team -- even though they're without Dirk -- that has won 62 basketball games," Musselman said. "If you would've told us before the game we were going to shoot below 40 percent, I wouldn't have thought it'd be a four-point game that would come down to the last three and a half minutes."
This was the closest the Kings could come to what was once a plausible first-round playoff matchup. In early March, they were within four games of breaking even with their record and breaking into the playoff picture.
The talk was of the no-fear factor, with numerous players saying they welcomed a chance to take on Dallas despite playing David to the Mavericks' Goliath. Going even further back, there was the Dec. 1 loss at Dallas, the 19-point margin of defeat enough to infuriate Artest not only regarding his role in the offense but his belief that the Kings could, in fact, compete with the Mavericks.
The latest locker room scene was entirely different. Fittingly, the lights went out for a few seconds while reporters and a select few players stuck around to analyze the obvious. Kevin Martin and Shareef Abdur-Rahim were the lone starters to address the media, who have hardly seen a suddenly quiet Artest since he announced and denounced his retirement 10 days ago.
"You've just got to keep going," Abdur-Rahim said. "We're not mathematically out of it yet, so you have to keep fighting. After that, you just have to be professional and finish the season."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
