Kings@Lakers PBP for April 1

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Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

It's April Fool's Day, which could end up being a big joke for us... or the Lakers.

Here's what Sam Amick has to say in this morning's Bee about the game:

http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/147690.html

Kings: Tonight's game
KINGS (30-41) AT L.A. LAKERS (38-34)

KINGS OUTLOOK - Ron Artest was a math major at St. John's, but there is no expertise required to see how nearly impossible this equation is to solve. This team, which has yet to win more than five consecutive games this season, could go 11-0 from here until the end, but the Kings still could end up on the outside looking in, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver in position for the final two playoff spots. That says nothing of the two other teams between the Kings and the postseason (Golden State and New Orleans). Fans who have patiently waited to see the young talent get more action might soon get their wish.

LAKERS OUTLOOK - Forgot one thing here in the case against a Kings resurgence: the Lakers still have plenty to play for. In sixth place in the Western Conference, with the possibility of a slide out of the playoffs still real, the Lakers enter with a two-game losing streak after winning their previous five. Kobe Bryant tried again to put the whole squad on his back, scoring 53 in an overtime loss to Houston on Friday night. Bryant averaged 40.4 points in March, remaining the only player in the last 40 years to average 40-plus points in a month. He has done it five times.

KEY MATCHUP - Ron Artest vs. Kobe Bryant - This faceoff never gets old, with Artest always looking to add to his defensive reputation and Bryant always looking to put the fear of Wilt Chamberlain in his defender.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Kings - Bibby, Martin, Artest, SAR and Miller

Lakers - Parker, Bryant, Walton, Odom and Brown

What else is there to say? It's a Lakers game...

GO KINGS!!!!

 

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Okay, it's just about time for House Party Live! And the special in-studio guests are: members of Kingsfans.com!!!

Yayyyyyyyy!!!

 

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Watching Scott, Franklin and Henry is like watching snow melt... only the melting snow is arguably more interesting.

 

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Quick update: At least the team isn't playing an April Fool's joke on us. They AREN'T wearing the gold lamé.

Grant and Jerry doing the TV duties as Jim Kozimor handles the radio broadcast. Gary Gerould is tied up with racing this weekend.

Update #2: Corliss has a sore heel and will not play tonight.

 

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Finally about ready for the tip-off...

Dick Bavette is NOT officiating tonight.

Tip to the Kings.

 

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Bibby inside to Martin, who is smothered and misses lay-up. LAL board.

Walton for two.

2-0 LAL

Kings ball. Whistle. Odom foul on Artest, sending him to the line.

Ron makes first; and second.

2-2

11;31 left

 

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Parker airballs his three right out of bounds. Kings ball.

Bibby to Martin, who cuts by Bryant, attempts to pass but it's deflected. LAL ball.

Careless pass on the other end gives the ball right back to the Kings.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!

5-2 KINGS

Kobe miss; Bibby board.

10;28 left

Miller jumper from top of the key for two.

7-2 KINGS

LAL ball. Whistle. Debris on the floor...

 

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LAL ball. Odom shot altered by SAR; SAR rebound. Kings ball.

Artest pull-up jumper is off; Kobe rebound.

Odom for two.

7-4 KINGS

9;33 left

Bibby jumper off; Walton board. Kings already falling into the one shot and out trap.

Odom for two more.

7-6 KINGS

Kings ball.

 

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Bibby misses again; LAL board.

Odom with an airball from the Parker spot. Kings ball.

Nice ball movement by the Kings. Martin dishes inside to Artest, who makes a good move for the hoop and the +1.

8;40 left

Bonus good.

10-6 KINGS

Brown inside, fouled by Miller. Kwame to the line.

 

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Makes first; misses second. Bibby with the rebound.

10-7 KINGS

Good ball movement again, Bibby for two.

12-7 KINGS

Parker miss; SAR board.

GOOD play by Martin, who blows right by Walton, gets the bucket and the +1.

Martin to the line for the bonus. Walton out, Mo Evans in.

Bonus good.

15-7 KINGS

7;52 left

 

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Kobe miss; Kwame with the putback.

15-9 KINGS

SAR miss; LAL rebound. LAL forward pass attempt kicked oob by Martin. Still LAL ball.

Kwame Brown inside for two and another +1. Miller with 2PF.

Brown gets his bonus.

15-12 KINGS

7;11 left

And yes, KT will be coming in for Miller at the first opportunity.

Artest miss; LAL board.

Parker miss; ARtest tips the rebound to SAR. Kings ball.

SAR inside, miss. LAL ball and alley-oop by Kobe at the other end.

15-14 KINGS

 

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Martin miss; LAL board.

TV time out called.

Alley-oop was Kobe to Odom, BTW...

Kings starting to look sloppy and hurried. Silly me, I thought at first maybe Musselman had called the time out to settle them down, but I was wrong. He was probably more worried about getting Miller out of there as soon as possible since he had hit the magic 2 personal fouls mark...

 

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LAL ball. Offensive foul called on Odom. Uh-oh. He has 2PF. Odom out, Sasha in.

And yes, KT is in for Brad...

5;46 left

Artest fallaway doesn't get close; LAL board.

Cook miss; KT board.

Bibby quick pull-up three doesn't go; LAL board.

And Musselman screaming something very loudly...

LAL miss; Kings ball. Musselman still yelling commands onto the court...



Mo Evans sends Ron Artest to the line on the 5th team foul.

 

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Artest makes first; and second.

17-14 KINGS

4;40 left

LAL ball. Pass knocked oob by Thomas. Salmons in for SAR.

Kobe cuts around Ron Artest, runs into KT and Kenny is called for the blocking foul. 4th team foul.

Evans for two on a high pass.

17-16 KINGS

4;11 left

 

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Good ball movement by the Kings, Martin for two.

19-16 KINGS

LAL fumbles, Sasha picks it up and gets the two.

19-18 KINGS

More good handling, third Kings to touch it is Salmons for two.

21-18 KINGS

Brown for two.

21-20 KINGS

2;46 left

 

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Martin miss; LAL board.

Kobe doubled, kicks to Brian Cook for three.

23-21 LAL

Artest over Evans for two.

23-23

1;56 left

 

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Brown for two more.

25-23 LAL

Kings miss but they get the offensive rebound. Martin inside, draws the foul.

Time out and commercial.

Kevin to the line for two after the break.

 

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Martin makes both.

25-25

1;28 left

Bynum in for Brown and he immediates backs KT down and gets two. Great idea, Musselman. KT is a perfect matchup for Andrew Bynum!

27-25 LAL

Bibby for two.

27-27

 

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Parker miss; Bynum rebound.

Martin with the steal, has Kobe running with him and Kevin gets away with fouling Bryant with the off-arm but it costs Martin his bucket. Still Kings ball.

Bibby three misses; Artest long three misses; Sasha with the rebound but the buzzer sounds.

End of the first quarter.

27-27

Keep in mind that Kobe Bryant has not yet scored, while Kwame Brown is in double-digits.

 

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LAL ball to start the second quarter.

Garcia, Salmons, Artest, KT and SAR for the Kings.

Steal by the Kings. Artest inside, kicks out to Garcia who immediately jacks up a three ... and misses.

Parker in transition for two.

29-27 LAL

Martin inside, kicks out to Ron.

ARTEST FOR THREE!!!!!!!

30-29 KINGS

Kings ball. Miss, scramble for the ball. Cook and Cisco mix it up a bit. Garcia called for the loose ball foul. LAL ball.

 

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Bynum inside for two more and the +1.

10;32 left

MIss. Artest rebound.

31-30 LAL

10;24 left

Good ball movement, over to Artest for two more.

32-31 KINGS

 

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Sasha miss; KT tips the rebound out to Garcia. Kings ball.

Martin to the line.

Makes first; and second.

34-31 KINGS

9;47 left

LAL ball.

Artest goes for the steal, misses it and Kobe scores.

34-33 KINGS

KT jump hook for two.

36-33 KINGS

Bynum with two more in the paint.

36-35 KINGS

 

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Salmons makes Parker look like he's nailed to the floor for two.

38-35 KINGS

Parker for two at the other end.

38-37 KINGS

Artest miss; LAL board.

Bad pass by LAL results in KT getting the ball and Kobe being called for a reach-in foul.

Time out and commercial.

 

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Okay, recap...

The Lakers have Andrew Bynum and Kwame Brown alternating at the 5. The Kings have ... ... well, Brad Miller is on the bench having committed the horrible sin of two fouls in the first quarter. Justin Williams is in uniform (I saw him during warm-ups) but I guess Musselman doesn't want to wear him out or something and he'll probalby not see any playing time. So we're left with SAR trying to cover Odom/Cook and Kenny Thomas trying to defend against Brown/Bynum. Yup, sounds like a plan to me...

 

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Kings inbound.

8;11 left

Salmon shot doesn't go; KT up for the tip-in but it's deflected oob. LAL ball.

Walton inside for two because he can...

39-38 LAL

And silly Jerry Reynolds assumes Musselman is going to make some adjustments for the ease with which the Lakers are scoring inside.

Artest inside, draws a foul from Odom and Odom is heading to the bench. Bibby back in for Salmons.

Artest jumper doesn't go; LAL ball.

Sasha for two.

41-38 LAL

 

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Kobe on the bench. Kings for two.

41-40 LAL

LAL miss; KT board. Outlet to Bibby.

Bibby three doesn't fall; LAL board.

Walton half-hook for two.

43-40 LAL

Salmons inside, draws the foul. Time out and commercial.

Hrm... I'm not sure who Bibby came in for. Must have been Kevin, since Salmons, Bibby, Garcia, Artest and KT are on the court...

 

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Kobe back in, having gotten a bit of a rest while Artest stayed on the court the entire time.

Salmons at the line.

Makes first; and second.

43-42 LAL

Parker in the paint for two.

45-42 LAL

Kings ball.

Pass intended for SAR goes oob.

LAL ball.

 

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Oh, Artest did get a brief breather. He's ready to come bakc in.

Kobe for two.

47-42 LAL

Kings ball.

SAR shot blocked by Turiaf and Kings called for 24-second violation.

LAL ball.

 

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Bullet pass inside, intended for Brown, goes oob. Kings called for non-shooting foul. Still LAL ball.

SAR with his third foul... exits and Brad Miller returns.

Walton for two.

49-42 LAL

3;54 left

Bibby drives inside, splattered by Turiaf but no call. LAL miss. Kings ball.

Garcia touch pass to Miller for two.

49-44 LAL

 

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Garcia with the pass interception and the breakaway for two.

49-46 LAL

2;57 left

Kobe for two.

51-46 LAL

Garcia pull-up jumper doesn't go; Miller with the rebound.

Good ball movement by the Kings, Garcia draws the foul going inside.

Time out and commercial.

2;26 left

Garcia to the line after the break.