http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14098611p-14928442c.html
Kings notes: Historic triplet at Arco
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 21, 2006
There was a bit of history made Thursday night at Arco Arena with slightly different results.
The Kings-Lakers contest marked just the second time in NBA history that a player scored 50 or more points, a second had at least 40 and a third achieved a triple double. In this case, Kobe Bryant had 51, Mike Bibby 40 and Kings teammate Kenny Thomas (16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) had the triple double in Sacramento's 118-109 overtime victory.
On Dec. 8, 1961, Wilt Chamberlain had 78 points for the Philadelphia Warriors, who lost to the Lakers 151-147 in triple overtime behind Elgin Baylor's 63 and Jerry West's triple double. All three wound up in the Hall of Fame. Of Thursday's participants, Bryant is a perennial All-Star often compared to Michael Jordan; Bibby is waiting for his first All-Star bid; and Thomas is just hoping to hold onto the starting power forward spot.
All told, Thomas enjoys the Lakers. He scored his career-high 32 against the Kings' rival last season.
"It feels good," Thomas said of his first triple double. "It's another notch on my belt that I've accomplished."
And Bryant on the game in general, "A lot of crazy things can happen in the NBA and (Thursday) was one of those nights."
'Reef back in fold - Shareef Abdur-Rahim played his first game since Dec. 26 when he had his jaw busted by Zach Randolph's inadvertent elbow. With his jaw wired shut, Abdur-Rahim showed some rust but still managed 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench. Peja Stojakovic also made his return after missing time with a bad back. He started and had 13 points and 10 rebounds in 42 minutes. Abdur-Rahim was the pleasant surprise, however, with breathing and contact a concern.
"They were both good," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "Shareef hasn't done anything for weeks. He practiced twice, briefly. I didn't expect him playing that many minutes but when you get in a game like this, on TNT, the timeouts are forever, so I could extend his minutes."
Et cetera - In downing the Lakers, the Kings moved to 2-19 when trailing after three periods. They improved to 15-3 when scoring 100 or more points and 5-1 against the Pacific Division.
* Bryant's scoring outburst is the second most by an opponent at Arco. Tony Delk scored 53 for the Phoenix Suns in a 121-117 overtime victory on Jan. 2, 2001.
* Bibby on his career-high 42 points against Orlando and his Lakers effort, when he scored 18 in the fourth: "I feel like I can make every shot so that's why I shoot (big shots)."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Historic triplet at Arco
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 21, 2006
There was a bit of history made Thursday night at Arco Arena with slightly different results.
The Kings-Lakers contest marked just the second time in NBA history that a player scored 50 or more points, a second had at least 40 and a third achieved a triple double. In this case, Kobe Bryant had 51, Mike Bibby 40 and Kings teammate Kenny Thomas (16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) had the triple double in Sacramento's 118-109 overtime victory.
On Dec. 8, 1961, Wilt Chamberlain had 78 points for the Philadelphia Warriors, who lost to the Lakers 151-147 in triple overtime behind Elgin Baylor's 63 and Jerry West's triple double. All three wound up in the Hall of Fame. Of Thursday's participants, Bryant is a perennial All-Star often compared to Michael Jordan; Bibby is waiting for his first All-Star bid; and Thomas is just hoping to hold onto the starting power forward spot.
All told, Thomas enjoys the Lakers. He scored his career-high 32 against the Kings' rival last season.
"It feels good," Thomas said of his first triple double. "It's another notch on my belt that I've accomplished."
And Bryant on the game in general, "A lot of crazy things can happen in the NBA and (Thursday) was one of those nights."
'Reef back in fold - Shareef Abdur-Rahim played his first game since Dec. 26 when he had his jaw busted by Zach Randolph's inadvertent elbow. With his jaw wired shut, Abdur-Rahim showed some rust but still managed 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench. Peja Stojakovic also made his return after missing time with a bad back. He started and had 13 points and 10 rebounds in 42 minutes. Abdur-Rahim was the pleasant surprise, however, with breathing and contact a concern.
"They were both good," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "Shareef hasn't done anything for weeks. He practiced twice, briefly. I didn't expect him playing that many minutes but when you get in a game like this, on TNT, the timeouts are forever, so I could extend his minutes."
Et cetera - In downing the Lakers, the Kings moved to 2-19 when trailing after three periods. They improved to 15-3 when scoring 100 or more points and 5-1 against the Pacific Division.
* Bryant's scoring outburst is the second most by an opponent at Arco. Tony Delk scored 53 for the Phoenix Suns in a 121-117 overtime victory on Jan. 2, 2001.
* Bibby on his career-high 42 points against Orlando and his Lakers effort, when he scored 18 in the fourth: "I feel like I can make every shot so that's why I shoot (big shots)."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.