http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14046839p-14878225c.html
Sinking 'em again in home waters
The Kings beat the Clippers for the 15th time in a row at Arco
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 7, 2006
Everything was funny.
The noise Mike Bibby sometimes makes when he does interviews had teammate Corliss Williamson cackling in his corner of the Kings' locker room. The paltry number of rebounds hauled in by 7-footer Brad Miller (three) was rich comedy to Peja Stojakovic and Bibby, who both outrebounded their bigger brethren in the Kings' 118-114 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
That the drama ended with a Stojakovic rebound couldn't have been more perfectly humorous to the Kings. With 6.9 seconds left and the Kings holding onto a two-point lead, Clippers guard Sam Cassell won the scramble for a loose ball off the inbounds pass. As he collected himself at the three-point line, Kings backup point guard Jason Hart came rushing his way as Cassell let the ball go. But the shot fell short, and Stojakovic snared the rebound to give him a season-high 13th.
Make that lucky No. 13.
"When Sam has the ball in his hands late in the game, something good's going to happen (for his team)," said Stojakovic, who finished with 19 points and hit two free throws for the game's final points. "But (Hart) had good (defense), and the ball didn't go in, so we were lucky." Just like the rebounds, which came four shy of Stojakovic's career high.
"What, when I get 13 rebounds, that's lucky," said Stojakovic, laughing. "I'm a basketball player, too. I'm on a court for 40 minutes. Sometimes the ball hits you 40 times, sometimes not. Tonight I was lucky."
The mood postgame was indicative of the importance of the game itself as the Kings won their third game in four tries against a team that - using conventional wisdom - should have been thirsty for revenge.
Before their first meeting this season, it seemed this was the season in which history would finally be turned on its head. The Kings were the rebuilding squad, the Clippers on the rise.
But the Kings' dominance was extended to 11 straight wins over the Clippers and 15 straight at Arco Arena. And just like the last meeting on Dec. 27, Bibby had everything to do with it.
Bibby, who scored 38 points in the first meeting, had 32 this time, along with eight assists. On his final dish, Bibby drove the lane and drew Clippers players Quinton Ross, Chris Kaman, and Elton Brand his way. He found Brad Miller alone at the left elbow, where his 20-footer gave the Kings a 116-112 lead with 44 seconds left. Bibby's three-pointer with 2:31 had put the Kings up 112-105 to stave off the Clippers until the final minute. With the Clippers unquestionably sick of Bibby's act, the point guard has been doing it while feeling sick himself in battling a flu that's remained since Christmas Day.
"No excuses, but it's tough sometimes," Bibby said. "But this is my job, it's what I do, so if I can run I'm going to go out and play."
Miller finished with 26 points, the fourth straight game in which he's scored 20-plus points. Shooting guard Kevin Martin had 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting, with five rebounds and five assists. For the time being, the sometimes wide-eyed, inconsistent player has been replaced by a reliable producer, as Martin has flourished in the starting role he was given due to Bonzi Wells' groin injury.
"I told (Martin), 'For the long term when Bonzi comes back, keep that confidence going. Coach needs you to score now,' " Miller said. "If you miss a shot, don't look over at the bench, because you ain't got nobody behind you that's going to come in for you."
The Kings, who led 67-63 at the half, took all they could handle from Kaman, who had a career-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. Cassell, who was 1 of 12 in the last meeting, had 28 points while Brand had 24 for the Clippers.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Sinking 'em again in home waters
The Kings beat the Clippers for the 15th time in a row at Arco
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 7, 2006
Everything was funny.
The noise Mike Bibby sometimes makes when he does interviews had teammate Corliss Williamson cackling in his corner of the Kings' locker room. The paltry number of rebounds hauled in by 7-footer Brad Miller (three) was rich comedy to Peja Stojakovic and Bibby, who both outrebounded their bigger brethren in the Kings' 118-114 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
That the drama ended with a Stojakovic rebound couldn't have been more perfectly humorous to the Kings. With 6.9 seconds left and the Kings holding onto a two-point lead, Clippers guard Sam Cassell won the scramble for a loose ball off the inbounds pass. As he collected himself at the three-point line, Kings backup point guard Jason Hart came rushing his way as Cassell let the ball go. But the shot fell short, and Stojakovic snared the rebound to give him a season-high 13th.
Make that lucky No. 13.
"When Sam has the ball in his hands late in the game, something good's going to happen (for his team)," said Stojakovic, who finished with 19 points and hit two free throws for the game's final points. "But (Hart) had good (defense), and the ball didn't go in, so we were lucky." Just like the rebounds, which came four shy of Stojakovic's career high.
"What, when I get 13 rebounds, that's lucky," said Stojakovic, laughing. "I'm a basketball player, too. I'm on a court for 40 minutes. Sometimes the ball hits you 40 times, sometimes not. Tonight I was lucky."
The mood postgame was indicative of the importance of the game itself as the Kings won their third game in four tries against a team that - using conventional wisdom - should have been thirsty for revenge.
Before their first meeting this season, it seemed this was the season in which history would finally be turned on its head. The Kings were the rebuilding squad, the Clippers on the rise.
But the Kings' dominance was extended to 11 straight wins over the Clippers and 15 straight at Arco Arena. And just like the last meeting on Dec. 27, Bibby had everything to do with it.
Bibby, who scored 38 points in the first meeting, had 32 this time, along with eight assists. On his final dish, Bibby drove the lane and drew Clippers players Quinton Ross, Chris Kaman, and Elton Brand his way. He found Brad Miller alone at the left elbow, where his 20-footer gave the Kings a 116-112 lead with 44 seconds left. Bibby's three-pointer with 2:31 had put the Kings up 112-105 to stave off the Clippers until the final minute. With the Clippers unquestionably sick of Bibby's act, the point guard has been doing it while feeling sick himself in battling a flu that's remained since Christmas Day.
"No excuses, but it's tough sometimes," Bibby said. "But this is my job, it's what I do, so if I can run I'm going to go out and play."
Miller finished with 26 points, the fourth straight game in which he's scored 20-plus points. Shooting guard Kevin Martin had 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting, with five rebounds and five assists. For the time being, the sometimes wide-eyed, inconsistent player has been replaced by a reliable producer, as Martin has flourished in the starting role he was given due to Bonzi Wells' groin injury.
"I told (Martin), 'For the long term when Bonzi comes back, keep that confidence going. Coach needs you to score now,' " Miller said. "If you miss a shot, don't look over at the bench, because you ain't got nobody behind you that's going to come in for you."
The Kings, who led 67-63 at the half, took all they could handle from Kaman, who had a career-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. Cassell, who was 1 of 12 in the last meeting, had 28 points while Brand had 24 for the Clippers.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
