Kings-Nuggets PBP for Sat, Feb. 3

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

Well, we enter into the "Scott Brooks" era - at least for two games.

Here's what Sam Amick had to say in this morning's Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/117920.html

Denver (23-21) at Kings (18-26)
By Sam Amick

KINGS OUTLOOK - Now Eric Musselman gets to be the critic, watching his Kings on television like so many fans who have been disappointed by what they've seen. The coach will miss the next two games per his league-mandated suspension. And with assistant Scott Brooks running the ship, he will try to extend the team's 19-game winning streak against Denver at Arco Arena. The Kings open a three-game homestand, the second-to-last time they'll play that long of a stretch at Arco this season. Otherwise, it goes no longer than two consecutive games, and that happens only three times.

NUGGETS OUTLOOK - The debut was as expected, with Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony putting the dynamic in their duo as Denver routed Memphis 115-98 on Jan. 22. Anthony finally was back from his brawl-related suspension and scored 28 points, and Iverson, the newest Nugget, still got his while scoring 23. But the feeling-out process has been otherwise arduous, with the Nuggets going 2-3 in their first games together before Iverson sprained his right ankle. He missed Wednesday's loss in Portland, Ore. The Kings are preparing as if Iverson will play tonight, but Iverson is questionable after not playing against Portland on Friday night and now suffering from the flu.

KEY MATCHUP - Ron Artest vs. Carmelo Anthony - When Anthony returned from his 15-game suspension, it was safely assumed that his motivation level would be higher than ever in light of his time away. And now this, an All-Star snub of absurd proportions for the player who leads the league in scoring. 'Melo will be anything but his namesake.

Probable starters

Kings - Bibby, Martin, Artest, Thomas, Miller

Nuggets - Blake, Diawara, Anthony, Nene, Camby

Still no rain and drought conditions have made it necessary for CDF to call for a total ban on outside burning. That's serious stuff and I'm seriously hoping we get some rain soon...

Got some things to do around the house but figured I'd start this so no one would think I'd abandoned you all.

GO KINGS!!!

 

[VF21]

Definitely brisk outside this evening. I've got my Gevalia French Vanilla brewing and a nice fire in the woodstove, so I'm ready for Kings basketball.

Remember, everything here at Kingsfans.com is possible because of the generosity and dedication of our board owner. If you would like to help defray the costs of keeping Kingsfans.com up and running as your #1 Sacramento Kings Online Community, please consider becoming a Contributing Member It's not required, of course, but it is greatly appreciated.

 

[VF21]

I like Scott Brooks' sense of humor. When asked about his previous efforts at head coaching, he said he coached four times during George Karl's suspension and "got the silver medal each time."



Nice to see the Kings in something/ANYTHING other than those stupid gold lamé outfits.

 

[VF21]

Getting ready for the tipoff...

Dick Bavetta, David Jones and Tony Brown doing the officiating.

Tip to Den.

Camby miss off the glass, rebound to Bibby. Over to Martin, miss. Den board.

Blake starts to go inside, can't do. Kicks over to Melo for a three.

3-0 Den

11;08 left

 

[VF21]

Nice ball movement, into Artest in the low post and RA gets two.

3-2 Den

Melo miss; Artest board.

Nice pass inside to KT, but he can't finish. Kings' second chance by Bibby doesn't go.

Another missed three by Denver. Another rebound for the Kings.

Non-shooting foul on Black. 1PF. Kings inbound.

Martin fake, goes inside and kicks out to Miller. Brad jumper is good.

4-3 KINGS

9;51 left

Mel off the glass doesn't go, Miller tips the board to KT.

 

[VF21]

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!

7-3 KINGS

Denver responds with quick two.

7-5 KINGS

KT jump hook is ugly and doesn't go. Denver ball.

Anthony to the line on foul by Bibby (I think).

Makes first; and second.

7-7

8;55 left

 

[VF21]

Non-shooting foul on Nene. 1PF. Kings to inbound.

Bibby three short; Camby board.

Melo misses still another three; Martin with the board.

Artest pass almost intercepted but ARtest gets it back. Jumper misses; Nene board.

Anthony pass intended for Nene is mishandled. Artest grabs it, hands off to Miller for two.

9-7 KINGS

Another mistake by Denver and Kings get the ball right back.

Miller pass, intended for KT, is knocked oob by Camby. Still Kings ball.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!

12-7 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Denver ball. Lawlor miss; ball oob. Kings ball.

6;57 left

Bibby nice look behind Miller screen but shot won't fall. Oob. Denver ball.

Denver ball, knocked oob. Still Denver ball.

Blake inside, nice pass to Camby for the dunk.

Blake inadvertently hit oob as Artest was airborne trying to swat the ball. Blake smacked right in the face.

Time out.

12-9 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Kings ball. Artest miss.

Denver miss. Ball oob. Kings ball.

Martin for two more!

14-9 KINGS

Blake to the locker-room.

Johnson for two.

14-11 KINGS

ARTEST FOR THREE!!!!

17-11 KINGS

Nene hook for two.

17-13 KINGS

 

[VF21]

KT blows by Camby but shot off the glass is WAY too hard. Grant says Camby blocked it...

Nene for two.

4:42 left

17-15 KINGS

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Corliss in for KT. Kings ball.

Martin miss; Corliss goes for the rebound. Ball oob off Den. Still Kings ball.

Pass deflected, Denver ball.

Camby to Melo for two.

17-17

Martin draws foul on the perimeter from Camby.

Martin to the line to shoot three.

SAR in for Miller.

Martin makes first; misses second; makes third.

19-17 KINGS

3;51 left

 

[VF21]

Johnson from the corner for three.

20-19 Den

Kings miss after awkward possession all the way around. Denver ball.

Salmons in for Martin.

Melo miss; second chance blocked by SAR. Kings ball. Ball oob.

2;52 left.

Mandatory time out... and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Najera and J.R. Smith coming into the game. They show graphic that shows Kevin Martin as the most improved scorer this year...

Denver ball.

Najera off the glass for two.

22-19 Den

2;22 left

SALMONS FOR THREE!!!!

22-22

Bibby, Artest, Salmons, Corliss and SAR on the court.

Melo misses another three; long board back to Denver.

Melo inside for two.

24-22 Den

 

[VF21]

Kings miss; Denver ball.

Artest steal from Smith. Bibby three doesn't go. Artest goes for the board, gets fouled and heads to the line. Douby in for Bibby.

Artest makes first; and second.

24-24

1;07 left

 

[VF21]

Denver ball. Non-shooting foul away from the ball. Still Denver ball. Reggie Evans into the game for Camby.

59.6 seconds left.

Najera miss; Artest board.

Corliss pass intended for Douby is stolen. Johnson drives the court and is fouled from behind by Douby. Johnson to the line.

Misses first; makes second.

25-24 Denver

Kings ball.

30 seconds left.

 

[VF21]

SAR jumper in and out; Denver rebound.

Melo miss; Evans putback.

27-24 Denver

Douby shot at the buzzer is blocked...

End of the first quarter.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the second quarter.

Douby, SAR, Artest, Salmons and Corliss on the court.

Douby miss; Evans board.

Heheheheh. 8-second backcourt violation called on Denver, because Quincy Douby was in his grill.

Kings ball.

SAR hook over Najera for two.

27-26 Denver

Melo spin and jump for two.

29-26 Denver

 

[VF21]

Douby three airballs. Denver board.

Denver miss; Artest board.

10;31 left

Foul called on Denver away from the ball; still Kings ball.

SAR doubled, drives inside, off the glass too high. Denver ball.

Turnover. Salmons pass to driving Corliss, who gets the bucket and the +1.

Bonus no good.

29-28 Denver

Denver miss; Corliss board. Miss; Denver board.

Denver long three misses; they get the long rebound. Another miss; Corliss rebound. Nobody gets in his way so he goes in for two.

30-29 KINGS

Douby, SAR, Salmons, Garcia and Corliss on the court.

Time out...

 

[VF21]

Kings for two.

32-29 KINGS

Denver for three.

32-32

Salmons to the line. One of two.

33-32 KINGS

7;55 left

Smith misses this time. Johnson rebound. Foul called on Salmons. Johnson to the line.

Makes first; and second.

34-33 Denver

 

[VF21]

SAR uses off arm and is called for offensive foul.

Denver ball.

Smith for three AND a foul called on Corliss sending Evans to the line.

Miss.

37-33 Denver

Martin miss; Denver board.

7;01 left

Denver miss; Kings board.

Martin, Salmons, Corliss, SAR and Bibby on the court.

Corliss inside for two.

37-35 Denver

 

[VF21]

Denver turnover - traveling. Kings ball.

Corliss inside in traffic, called for another offensive foul when Nene took a dive reminiscent of some of Vlade's best antics...

Corliss with 3PF.

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Smith miss; long rebound snagged by Denver.

Martin witht he steal, dish to BIbby. Back to Martin and back to Mike again. Over to Salmons, who drives inside. Foul called on Camby.

5;30 left

Non-shooting foul. Still Kings ball. Kings miss.

Denver turnover.

Kings ball.

Bibby from the corner doesn't go, but Martin makes it look like an alley-oop for two!

37-37

Denver bad pass, Martin saves it. Dishes to Mike for a wide open two.

39-37 KINGS

4;31 left

 

[VF21]

Denver with the ball, steal by SAR and down the court for the one-handed dunk.

41-37 KINGS

Time out...

 

[VF21]

Denver ball.

Steal by Artest! Dish out to Miller for the 16-foot jumper!

43-37 KINGS

Nene tries to get around Miller, and gets fouled for his trouble.

Nene at the line.

Makes first; KT in for SAR. Makes second.

43-39 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Nice ball movement by the Kings, Artest miss; Denver board.

Anthony miss; Nene miss; KT board.

Kings ball. Miller being held...to the line for two.

Makes first on three bounces; makes second.

45-39 KINGS

2;57 left

Kings starters back on the court.

Melo miss; KT board.

Martin to BIbby, back to Martin. In to KT, dish out to Artest, who sees open Bibby.

BIBBY FOR THREE!!!!!

48-39 KINGS

Bibby called for foul on Blake, who apparently is okay.

Time out ... and commercial.

 

[VF21]

2;12 left

Denver to inbound.

Melo inside, miss. Artest outhustles for the rebound.

MARTIN FOR THREE!!!!

51-39 KINGS

Melo for two.

51-41 KINGS

1;30 left

 

[VF21]

Miller jumper doesn't go...

Grant jinxes the team with his THIRD reference about the Kings winning streak in Arco against Denver.

Denver miss.

Kings miss.

Melo for two.

51-43 KINGS

Bibby jumper from top of the key is short. Denver ball.

Nene inside, fouled by Miller.

Nene to the line.

17.6 seconds left.

 

[VF21]

Nene misses first; and second. Ball right back to Nene, shot blocked by Miller. Another shot intercepted by Miller.

Kings ball.

Artest jumper over Melo for two to end the first half!

Message to KINGS: DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID!!!

53-43 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Getting ready for the second half. Melo took 18 shots, only hit 6... Thank you, Ron Artest and John Salmons!!!



Phone call from 6th, who is in one of the MSE booths tonight. She's having a great time, fantastic view of the court (they're in the corner across from the Kings bench), and she said to say "Hey!" to everyone here at Kingsfans! So,

"HEY"!!!

 

[VF21]

Kings starters back on the court for the third quarter.

Artest and Martin walking together, chatting and laughing.

Kings ball.

Bibby to Martin, inside to KT, dish to Miller for the dunk. And yes, he got air again.



55-43 KINGS

Denver miss; Kings board.

Bibby pass inside to KT, he loses it off his knee oob. Denver ball.

11;05 left

Camby ball, stolen by Martin. Bibby jumper doesn't go; Denver board.

Nene slams MIller in the face with his elbow, offensive foul. Kings ball.