http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/129070.html
Kings rev it up in Indianapolis
40-point 3rd quarter sparks win
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:32 am PST Monday, February 26, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS-They came ready with the signs, including one that read "Backstabber" and so many others that were intended for their prodigal son.
But by the time it was over at Conseco Fieldhouse on Sunday night, Ron Artest was nowhere to be found and the Indiana fans had discovered a new target for their own ire: their Pacers.
Meanwhile, the Kings showed plenty of encouraging signs in a 110-93 win that seemed to lift the locker room to a level it's rarely reached this season. Kings center Brad Miller had received his wish, beating his hometown team in what served as bragging rights at least until a rematch in Sacramento next week. Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin bounced back from their benching and combined five points on Friday night at New Jersey to provide a one-two punch to the tune of 63 points.
The Kings avoided falling to 0-3 on this trip that concludes tonight in Philadelphia. But perhaps most of all, Kings coach Eric Musselman relished in the reality that his team won a game with the exact style he has always envisioned.
The combination of a full-court press and the scorching play of Bibby and Martin in the third quarter resulted in 40 Kings points and an 87-74 lead Sacramento didn't relinquish.
The Kings finished with 12 steals, including a team-high three from Martin.
"Deflections and steals got us easy scoring opportunities in the third quarter, and this was probably our best defensive game of the year," Musselman said. "It was a big win against a team that's going to make the Eastern Conference playoffs and against a team that's a solid team at home, a team that's over .500. We're in the middle of a long East Coast trip. It was very important."
Artest missed the game for family reasons, and was excused by the team. He made the trip to Indianapolis on Friday night, but returned to New York City on Sunday morning and is expected to play tonight in Philadelphia.
Artest said by e-mail that he enjoyed watching the game far more than his old fans.
"(The) guys played outstanding," he wrote. "(I'm) looking forward to tomorrow."
It was, by all means, a collective effort. Off the bench, swingman Francisco García not only agitated on both ends but had 10 points while point guard Ronnie Price again asserted himself with strong defense and Shareef Abdur-Rahim neared a double double (10 points, eight rebounds).
But Martin and Bibby were the ones making the Pacers pay on the offensive end. From late in the second half until late in the third quarter, they scored 35 consecutive points for the Kings. Martin, who has often been frustrated this season when slow starts lead to less minutes, started 0 of 7 from the field and found other ways to score while avoiding the bench. He scored 21 of his 35 points in the third quarter, with 18 points coming from 23 free-throw attempts as he repeatedly drove to the basket.
"I got a chance to work through it (Sunday night), and I didn't shoot the ball well, but I just stayed with it," Martin said.
Miller said it was key for Martin to persevere through his struggles, as he was just 8 of 23 from the field.
Interestingly, Martin's top-three scoring games of the season have come when Artest was out.
"He's learning you have to stick with it and keep going," Miller said. "You're not going to make a lot of your shots. Mr. 50 percent this year thinks he's the top dog, but he's going to have nights where he doesn't shoot that well."
Bibby kept the Kings going early, scoring 11 of his 28 points in the first quarter as the Kings trailed 27-24. He finished 10 for 17 from the field while the Kings had 25 assists.
"Our ballclub moved the ball (Sunday night)," Musselman said. "There were a lot of possessions where we were shooting the ball under six seconds because we were so unselfish. We were proud of the way the basketball moved (Sunday night)."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
Kings rev it up in Indianapolis
40-point 3rd quarter sparks win
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:32 am PST Monday, February 26, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS-They came ready with the signs, including one that read "Backstabber" and so many others that were intended for their prodigal son.
But by the time it was over at Conseco Fieldhouse on Sunday night, Ron Artest was nowhere to be found and the Indiana fans had discovered a new target for their own ire: their Pacers.
Meanwhile, the Kings showed plenty of encouraging signs in a 110-93 win that seemed to lift the locker room to a level it's rarely reached this season. Kings center Brad Miller had received his wish, beating his hometown team in what served as bragging rights at least until a rematch in Sacramento next week. Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin bounced back from their benching and combined five points on Friday night at New Jersey to provide a one-two punch to the tune of 63 points.
The Kings avoided falling to 0-3 on this trip that concludes tonight in Philadelphia. But perhaps most of all, Kings coach Eric Musselman relished in the reality that his team won a game with the exact style he has always envisioned.
The combination of a full-court press and the scorching play of Bibby and Martin in the third quarter resulted in 40 Kings points and an 87-74 lead Sacramento didn't relinquish.
The Kings finished with 12 steals, including a team-high three from Martin.
"Deflections and steals got us easy scoring opportunities in the third quarter, and this was probably our best defensive game of the year," Musselman said. "It was a big win against a team that's going to make the Eastern Conference playoffs and against a team that's a solid team at home, a team that's over .500. We're in the middle of a long East Coast trip. It was very important."
Artest missed the game for family reasons, and was excused by the team. He made the trip to Indianapolis on Friday night, but returned to New York City on Sunday morning and is expected to play tonight in Philadelphia.
Artest said by e-mail that he enjoyed watching the game far more than his old fans.
"(The) guys played outstanding," he wrote. "(I'm) looking forward to tomorrow."
It was, by all means, a collective effort. Off the bench, swingman Francisco García not only agitated on both ends but had 10 points while point guard Ronnie Price again asserted himself with strong defense and Shareef Abdur-Rahim neared a double double (10 points, eight rebounds).
But Martin and Bibby were the ones making the Pacers pay on the offensive end. From late in the second half until late in the third quarter, they scored 35 consecutive points for the Kings. Martin, who has often been frustrated this season when slow starts lead to less minutes, started 0 of 7 from the field and found other ways to score while avoiding the bench. He scored 21 of his 35 points in the third quarter, with 18 points coming from 23 free-throw attempts as he repeatedly drove to the basket.
"I got a chance to work through it (Sunday night), and I didn't shoot the ball well, but I just stayed with it," Martin said.
Miller said it was key for Martin to persevere through his struggles, as he was just 8 of 23 from the field.
Interestingly, Martin's top-three scoring games of the season have come when Artest was out.
"He's learning you have to stick with it and keep going," Miller said. "You're not going to make a lot of your shots. Mr. 50 percent this year thinks he's the top dog, but he's going to have nights where he doesn't shoot that well."
Bibby kept the Kings going early, scoring 11 of his 28 points in the first quarter as the Kings trailed 27-24. He finished 10 for 17 from the field while the Kings had 25 assists.
"Our ballclub moved the ball (Sunday night)," Musselman said. "There were a lot of possessions where we were shooting the ball under six seconds because we were so unselfish. We were proud of the way the basketball moved (Sunday night)."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
