http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13784949p-14626687c.html
By Sam Amick
There was no shotgun start, no official announcement or memo passed around the wild stands at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center.
The arrival of the regular season was more of a feeling, from the 14,759 fans who actually seemed to care who won the preseason game between the Kings and Los Angeles Lakers to the players who turned off cruise control and turned on hyperdrive.
Even after a 105-103 loss, a back and forth affair full of Kobe Bryant highlights and 13 lead changes, the Kings' spirits were buoyed by the feeling that they might not be so bad after all.
Seven Kings scored in double figures, led by the best game yet from point guard Mike Bibby (20 points, 7-of-12 shooting).
"I thought it was a good game for us to go through," said Kings coach Rick Adelman, whose team finishes the preseason 3-5. "We still have a long ways to go as a team. If guys play at a high level like they did tonight, you get a much a much better idea. This team is going to be a work in progress."
Maybe it was the national viewing audience offering inspiration, or maybe the reality that the regular season is approaching, but the Kings' energy was ratcheted up a notch early on against the Lakers.
In the first quarter, center Brad Miller and Bibby dove for balls out of bounds and woundup barreling over cameramen.
Capping off the passion play, Adelman was given a technical foul soon after for arguing with officials.
The feel felt real.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim got the start at the power-forward spot, though Adelman still wouldn't say whether that job was Abdur-Rahim's come Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Abdur-Rahim joined Bibby, shooting guard Bonzi Wells, small forward Peja Stojakovic and Miller in an impressive start, as the Kings led 25-22 after one quarter.
The second unit brought all progress to a halt in the second quarter, when Lakers guard Devean George scored 13 points and the Lakers led at the half 48-41. In the fourth quarter, the reserves rebounded. Kevin Martin sparked the fourth quarter rally, sinking a hanging layup, three-pointer, and hard-earned free throws from an alley-oop turned Lakers tackle. Rookie Francisco García hit a three-pointer late that gave the Kings a 96-89 lead, but a late Lakers' surge turned the game around one last time.
The return of the health was a nice addition, too. Martin, who had missed one game with a strained right calf, scored 15 points. Backup point guard Jason Hart (hip pointer) played for the first time in four games. "Me and Jason were talking, and we felt like we got in there in the second quarter and were a little sluggish," Martin said. "We wanted to come out in the second half and just pick it up. It took us a little time to get in the flow."
By Sam Amick
There was no shotgun start, no official announcement or memo passed around the wild stands at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center.
The arrival of the regular season was more of a feeling, from the 14,759 fans who actually seemed to care who won the preseason game between the Kings and Los Angeles Lakers to the players who turned off cruise control and turned on hyperdrive.
Even after a 105-103 loss, a back and forth affair full of Kobe Bryant highlights and 13 lead changes, the Kings' spirits were buoyed by the feeling that they might not be so bad after all.
Seven Kings scored in double figures, led by the best game yet from point guard Mike Bibby (20 points, 7-of-12 shooting).
"I thought it was a good game for us to go through," said Kings coach Rick Adelman, whose team finishes the preseason 3-5. "We still have a long ways to go as a team. If guys play at a high level like they did tonight, you get a much a much better idea. This team is going to be a work in progress."
Maybe it was the national viewing audience offering inspiration, or maybe the reality that the regular season is approaching, but the Kings' energy was ratcheted up a notch early on against the Lakers.
In the first quarter, center Brad Miller and Bibby dove for balls out of bounds and woundup barreling over cameramen.
Capping off the passion play, Adelman was given a technical foul soon after for arguing with officials.
The feel felt real.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim got the start at the power-forward spot, though Adelman still wouldn't say whether that job was Abdur-Rahim's come Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Abdur-Rahim joined Bibby, shooting guard Bonzi Wells, small forward Peja Stojakovic and Miller in an impressive start, as the Kings led 25-22 after one quarter.
The second unit brought all progress to a halt in the second quarter, when Lakers guard Devean George scored 13 points and the Lakers led at the half 48-41. In the fourth quarter, the reserves rebounded. Kevin Martin sparked the fourth quarter rally, sinking a hanging layup, three-pointer, and hard-earned free throws from an alley-oop turned Lakers tackle. Rookie Francisco García hit a three-pointer late that gave the Kings a 96-89 lead, but a late Lakers' surge turned the game around one last time.
The return of the health was a nice addition, too. Martin, who had missed one game with a strained right calf, scored 15 points. Backup point guard Jason Hart (hip pointer) played for the first time in four games. "Me and Jason were talking, and we felt like we got in there in the second quarter and were a little sluggish," Martin said. "We wanted to come out in the second half and just pick it up. It took us a little time to get in the flow."