http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14098612p-14928441c.html
Kings up next
Kings (17-21) at Magic (15-22)
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 21, 2006
Site: TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, Fla. Tipoff: 4 p.m.
Kings update
•Status: The Kings feel as good as they have all season. They swept their three-game homestand and won four of five in creeping back toward .500. They were especially impressive as they took out the Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns with ease Tuesday, then rallied late to force overtime before toppling the Lakers on Thursday. Kenny Thomas took over in overtime with six points to achieve his first career triple double.
•Trend: With inspired team play, youngsters Kevin Martin and Francisco García seizing their playing opportunities and the return of Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Peja Stojakovic, only one man is left on the outside. Bonzi Wells, out indefinitely with a partial groin tear, is the last piece to work back into the mix. Mike Bibby and Brad Miller have upped their game, with Miller nearly reaching a triple double against the Suns and Bibby going for 42 and 40 in the last week.
•Injury report: Bonzi Wells, groin, out.
Magic update
•Status: The Kings downed the short-handed Magic on Sunday at Arco Arena 104-100, with Bibby going for a career-high 42. The Magic was without their leading scorer, Steve Francis, an explosive guard who refused to re-enter a game and was suspended by the team for two games. He will give the Kings fits, as will speedy guard Jameer Nelson, who led the Magic in scoring in four of the previous five games entering Friday night, including 29 against the Kings.
•Trend: The Magic is second to last in NBA home attendance, so the Kings may feel like they're playing in an empty building after Thursday's frenetic setting at Arco. The two cornerstones are Nelson and power forward Dwight Howard, one of the league's rising stars. He had 18 points and 19 rebounds against the Kings, one rebound shy of a career high. The Magic outscored the Kings 44-18 in the paint and allowed the Kings to reach the free-throw line 40 times.
•Injury report: Grant Hill, groin, out; Kelvin Cato, ankle, out.
LINEUPS
Kings
No.Player Pos.
10 Mike Bibby PG
23 Kevin Martin SG
16 Peja Stojakovic SF
9 Kenny Thomas PF
52 Brad Miller C
Magic
14 Jameer Nelson PG
3 Steve Francis SG
9 DeShawn Stevenson SF
12 Dwight Howard PF
4 Tony Battie C
Best matchup: Bibby vs. Nelson -The first meeting was epic, with Bibby offsetting Nelson's range and bursts to the basket with his spot-up shooting display. Bibby can't keep up with Nelson, and Nelson found out Bibby can shoot right over him.
Kings up next
Kings (17-21) at Magic (15-22)
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 21, 2006
Site: TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, Fla. Tipoff: 4 p.m.
Kings update
•Status: The Kings feel as good as they have all season. They swept their three-game homestand and won four of five in creeping back toward .500. They were especially impressive as they took out the Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns with ease Tuesday, then rallied late to force overtime before toppling the Lakers on Thursday. Kenny Thomas took over in overtime with six points to achieve his first career triple double.
•Trend: With inspired team play, youngsters Kevin Martin and Francisco García seizing their playing opportunities and the return of Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Peja Stojakovic, only one man is left on the outside. Bonzi Wells, out indefinitely with a partial groin tear, is the last piece to work back into the mix. Mike Bibby and Brad Miller have upped their game, with Miller nearly reaching a triple double against the Suns and Bibby going for 42 and 40 in the last week.
•Injury report: Bonzi Wells, groin, out.
Magic update
•Status: The Kings downed the short-handed Magic on Sunday at Arco Arena 104-100, with Bibby going for a career-high 42. The Magic was without their leading scorer, Steve Francis, an explosive guard who refused to re-enter a game and was suspended by the team for two games. He will give the Kings fits, as will speedy guard Jameer Nelson, who led the Magic in scoring in four of the previous five games entering Friday night, including 29 against the Kings.
•Trend: The Magic is second to last in NBA home attendance, so the Kings may feel like they're playing in an empty building after Thursday's frenetic setting at Arco. The two cornerstones are Nelson and power forward Dwight Howard, one of the league's rising stars. He had 18 points and 19 rebounds against the Kings, one rebound shy of a career high. The Magic outscored the Kings 44-18 in the paint and allowed the Kings to reach the free-throw line 40 times.
•Injury report: Grant Hill, groin, out; Kelvin Cato, ankle, out.
LINEUPS
Kings
No.Player Pos.
10 Mike Bibby PG
23 Kevin Martin SG
16 Peja Stojakovic SF
9 Kenny Thomas PF
52 Brad Miller C
Magic
14 Jameer Nelson PG
3 Steve Francis SG
9 DeShawn Stevenson SF
12 Dwight Howard PF
4 Tony Battie C
Best matchup: Bibby vs. Nelson -The first meeting was epic, with Bibby offsetting Nelson's range and bursts to the basket with his spot-up shooting display. Bibby can't keep up with Nelson, and Nelson found out Bibby can shoot right over him.
