http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13888483p-14727486c.html
Kings flame out at the finish
They lose Peja Stojakovic to an injured pinky and can't hold off the SuperSonics.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, November 21, 2005
SEATTLE - Brad Miller had hit nearly every shot in the arsenal - mid-range looks, long-range jumpers, crafty layups off dribble drives.
He kept the Kings afloat when a sizzling Peja Stojakovic was cooled by an untimely second-half injury, and he kept equally unstoppable Seattle at bay Sunday night.
But with 26 seconds left and a chance to tie the score 103-103, the Kings center missed two free throws, leading to a 106-104 SuperSonics win in a rematch of last season's playoff series.
"I didn't expect Brad to miss those," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "The first was just in and out, but the offensive rebounds they got were just as crucial as him missing the two free throws."
At raucous KeyArena, the missed opportunities late were many for the Kings. After contending on the glass for three-plus quarters, they gave up three offensive rebounds just before Miller went to the line, the Sonics' sequence ending with forward Nick Collison hitting two free throws for a 101-101 tie. Collison then sank a 20-footer to give Seattle a two-point edge.
The Kings failed to take advantage when Seattle faded, as the Sonics hit just 6 of 21 fourth-quarter shots.
After Miller buoyed the Kings with nine of his 16 points in the second half, point guard Mike Bibby nearly pulled out the victory. Bibby's three-pointer with 16 seconds left brought the Kings within 105-104, and he had an open three-point look at the buzzer, but his attempt went right.
"I thought it looked good," said Bibby, who tied his season high of 25 points. "When it left my hand, it had a good look."
That the Kings were even there at the end was a surprise, as Stojakovic reinjured his sprained right pinky. After he scored 25 first-half points, the small forward's hot hand was beaten down by the hammering hands of Sonics bruiser Danny Fortson with 10:09 left in the third quarter.
Stojakovic, who sprained his finger against Milwaukee on Friday, received a slap from Fortson that could be heard from 100 feet away.
Stojakovic headed to the bench. Then Seattle shooting guard Ray Allen headed straight for second-year Kings guard Kevin Martin, hitting five of his next six shots, including a three-pointer with 2:17 left that gave the Sonics their first lead, 82-79. Allen finished with 28 points.
Stojakovic, who was 9 for 10 at halftime, including 6 for 7 from three-point range, didn't score in the second half. He said he might not be available for tonight's game against San Antonio. He had X-rays and said he was told it was a slight sprain.
"I couldn't feel my hand," he said. "I wasn't able to feel the ball."
The Kings had the sort of first half that usually comes with a huge lead, scoring 63 points and shooting 67.6 percent (23 for 34), both season highs. But they had 10 turnovers and trouble with forward Vladimir Radmanovic, whose 10 points helped Seattle trail only 63-57 at halftime. He wound up with 17.
Again, the Kings received little help from their bench, which was outscored by Seattle's 39-9.
"It was a hard-fought loss," said Kings power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who had 16 points and a season-high-tying eight assists. "A ball bounce here or there, keep them off the glass here or there, make a shot here or there, the game would've been different."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Kings flame out at the finish
They lose Peja Stojakovic to an injured pinky and can't hold off the SuperSonics.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, November 21, 2005
SEATTLE - Brad Miller had hit nearly every shot in the arsenal - mid-range looks, long-range jumpers, crafty layups off dribble drives.
He kept the Kings afloat when a sizzling Peja Stojakovic was cooled by an untimely second-half injury, and he kept equally unstoppable Seattle at bay Sunday night.
But with 26 seconds left and a chance to tie the score 103-103, the Kings center missed two free throws, leading to a 106-104 SuperSonics win in a rematch of last season's playoff series.
"I didn't expect Brad to miss those," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "The first was just in and out, but the offensive rebounds they got were just as crucial as him missing the two free throws."
At raucous KeyArena, the missed opportunities late were many for the Kings. After contending on the glass for three-plus quarters, they gave up three offensive rebounds just before Miller went to the line, the Sonics' sequence ending with forward Nick Collison hitting two free throws for a 101-101 tie. Collison then sank a 20-footer to give Seattle a two-point edge.
The Kings failed to take advantage when Seattle faded, as the Sonics hit just 6 of 21 fourth-quarter shots.
After Miller buoyed the Kings with nine of his 16 points in the second half, point guard Mike Bibby nearly pulled out the victory. Bibby's three-pointer with 16 seconds left brought the Kings within 105-104, and he had an open three-point look at the buzzer, but his attempt went right.
"I thought it looked good," said Bibby, who tied his season high of 25 points. "When it left my hand, it had a good look."
That the Kings were even there at the end was a surprise, as Stojakovic reinjured his sprained right pinky. After he scored 25 first-half points, the small forward's hot hand was beaten down by the hammering hands of Sonics bruiser Danny Fortson with 10:09 left in the third quarter.
Stojakovic, who sprained his finger against Milwaukee on Friday, received a slap from Fortson that could be heard from 100 feet away.
Stojakovic headed to the bench. Then Seattle shooting guard Ray Allen headed straight for second-year Kings guard Kevin Martin, hitting five of his next six shots, including a three-pointer with 2:17 left that gave the Sonics their first lead, 82-79. Allen finished with 28 points.
Stojakovic, who was 9 for 10 at halftime, including 6 for 7 from three-point range, didn't score in the second half. He said he might not be available for tonight's game against San Antonio. He had X-rays and said he was told it was a slight sprain.
"I couldn't feel my hand," he said. "I wasn't able to feel the ball."
The Kings had the sort of first half that usually comes with a huge lead, scoring 63 points and shooting 67.6 percent (23 for 34), both season highs. But they had 10 turnovers and trouble with forward Vladimir Radmanovic, whose 10 points helped Seattle trail only 63-57 at halftime. He wound up with 17.
Again, the Kings received little help from their bench, which was outscored by Seattle's 39-9.
"It was a hard-fought loss," said Kings power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who had 16 points and a season-high-tying eight assists. "A ball bounce here or there, keep them off the glass here or there, make a shot here or there, the game would've been different."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
