Kings@Rockets PBP for Tues, Feb. 13

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

So here we are - starting a road trip that will include two games on the road, then home for the All-Star break and the game against the Celtics, and then back on the road again for four more games.

I didn't see an article in this morning's Bee about tonight's game. My guess is our starting lineup will be:

Bibby, Martin, Artest, KT or SAR, SAR or Williams

I have to say again that I feel sorry for Justin Williams. He's being put into a very tough position with virtually nothing to draw on ...

Game time is at 5:30 p.m. on News10 so there's no HousePartyLive. Just as well. They'd probably want to talk about Bonzi, because lord knows we haven't read enough about how his agent totally messed up.

Ah, well. Coffee is brewing, I have to go split a bit of kindling for the woodstove and do a few chores around the house.

I think the Kings could take this one...

GO KINGS!!!

 

[VF21]

Player update: Kenny Thomas is feeling better. He will start at the 4, meaning SAR will most likely get the nod at the 5.

 

[VF21]

Alston, McGrady, Battier, Howard and Mutumbo for the Rockets...

 

[VF21]

Ready for the tip...

to Hou.

McGrady off double screen for two.

2-0 Hou

It appears Mike has shaved his head. Good ball movement by the Kings, inside to Kenny for two.

2-2

McGrady miss; Howard to Alston, who goes in, covered by Bibby, miss. Kings board.

Artest for two.

4-2 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Battier to Howard at the elbow for two.

4-4

10;17 left

Bibby pull-up miss; Houston ball.

Mutumbo inside for the soft dunk.

6-4 Hou

Artest from the post to Kenny, who puts up a soft shot and it's blocked by Deke. Hou ball.

McGrady for two.

8-4 Hou

ARTEST FOR THREE!!!

8-7 Hou

Battier miss but he's able to sail in and get his own putback.

10-7 Hou

 

[VF21]

Bibby kicks out to SAR, airball. Possibly partially blocked by Howard. Hou ball.

8;27 left

Pass intended for Tracy intercepted by KT... McGrady almost steals from Artest, but good hustle saves it. Bibby at the top of the key, miss. Hou ball.

Hou shot miss; caught by Artest.

Bibby drives inside, dishes out to Artest. Three misses, Bibby with the rebound. Back over to Artest, who takes it inside for two.\

10-9 Hou

Howard miss; SAR board.

7;06 left

Kings ball. Defensive three-second called on Deke. Bibby takes the bonus.

Good on three bounces.

Artest out; Salmons in.

10-10

 

[VF21]

KT inside, kicks out to Kevin in the corner. Miss, Hou ball.

They're speculating what possibly could be wrong for Ron to be out... me too!

Tracy for two.

12-10 Hou

Bibby to Salmons, back to Bibby and back to Salmons. Misses open jumper. Hou ball.

Howard miss; KT board.

6;06 left

KT to SAR to Bibby, back inside bullet pass to KT for two.

12-12

 

[VF21]

McGrady three-pointer misses and ball goes oob.

Time out and commercial.

Kings ball after the break.

5;32 left

 

[VF21]

Grant asked if Artest is okay; he was told yes, that he asked to be taken out...

Martin floater in the lane for two.

14-12 KINGS

Howard loses the ball, SAR finds it. Kicks forward to Salmons, who gets it to Martin running the floor and finishing for two more.

16-12 KINGS

Salmons called for reach-in foul on McGrady. Artest back in. Tracy at the line.

Misses first; and second. SAR with the rebound.

Still 16-12 KINGS

 

[VF21]

SAR inside, challenges Deke and gets the trip to the line.

SAR makes first on the bounce; Deke out, Hayes in. SAR misses second, Hou runs it down.

17-12 Kings

Battier for three.

17-15 Kings

Offensive foul on Artest; Hou ball.

4;05 left

McGrady miss; SAR airborne for the rebound. I'm impressed.

Bibby to the line - confirmed he no longer has any appreciable hair on his head - on foul by Alston.

Makes first; and second.

19-15 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Hou ball. Offensive three-second call on the Rockets.

Kings ball. Corliss in for Salmons.

3;42 left

Good move, IMHO, to put Corliss in against Juwan Howard.

KT with two more.

21-15 KINGS

Alston drives the lane, misses, but Hayes gets the tap in.

21-17 KINGS

Salmons jumper is short; Hou rebound.

2;45 left

 

[VF21]

Time out and commercial.

Kings with seven assists and only one turnover so far...

This looks like the good Kings team, at least so far. I'm very curious to see how Bonzi will do...

 

[VF21]

Hou miss; Corliss rebound.

Kings miss, Hou ball but Salmons steals it. Inside to Corliss for two.

23-17 KINGS

1;40 left

Head for three.

23-20 KINGS

Corliss inside, miss. Hou ball.

Alston underhand flip for two.

23-22 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Artest inisde, goes up, loses ball. Houston finds it.

Alston tries to get fancy, loses the ball. KT finds it.

Bibby fallaway jumper for two.

25-22 KINGS

Houston pass stolen by Salmons.

End of the first quarter.

 

[VF21]

Wells in for the Rockets.

Kings ball.

Martin with the ball, spins, jumps, scores and heads to the line for the bonus on foul by Head.

11;42 left

Bonus looks good but doesn't fall.

27-22 KINGS

Luther Head with another three.

27-25 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Salmons from the baseline for two.

29-25 KINGS

GOOD defense by the Kings, Head called for travelling.

Kings ball.

Artest jumper doesn't go; Hou ball.

Head misses; Artest rebound.

Artest drives inside, blocking foul sends him to the line.

Garcia in for Salmons.

 

[VF21]

Artest makes first; and second.

31-25 KINGS

Hou ball.

Bonzi tries to get around Artest, and can't do it. Kicks out to Alston, who is called for traveling.

Kings ball.

9;50 left

Martin fallaway off-balance jumper for two over Luther Head's head.

33-25 KINGS

9;36 left

Time out...

 

[VF21]

Houston inbounds. Hayes for two.

33-27 KINGS

Kings ball. Corliss running hook doesn't go; Rockets board.

Garcia called for holding McGrady. 1PF. Still Rockets ball.

8;52 left

Hayes hook good.

33-29 KINGS

 

[VF21]

Kings ball.

SAR doubled, kicks out to Garcia, who drives inside, hands it back to SAR for the dunk and the +1. 3 team fouls on Houston.

Bonus good.

36-29 KINGS

McGrady gets past Artest but Ron doesn't give up and alters Tracy's shot. Miss, Kings board.

ARTEST FOR THREE!!!!

39-29 KINGS

Battier gets past Artest, runs into SAR and gets the benefit of the doubt. Non-shooting foul called on SAR, still Rockets ball.

McGrady from outside, closely guarded by Garcia, who tries to block the shot and is called for the foul.

McGrady to the line...

 

[VF21]

McGrady misses first; makes second.

39-30 KINGS

7;22 left

Good ball movement by the Kings, Martin miss; McGrady board.

Martin with the steal, the breakaway... Martin, bothered by Battier, puts it up and Artest finishes it.

41-30 KINGS

McGrady able to get past Artest for two.

41-32 KINGS

 

[VF21]

McGrady at the line for the +1. Good.

41-33 KINGS

Martin fallaway baseline jumper is good.

43-33 KINGS

6;06 left

Houston ball. Foul called on Artest. Still Houston ball. Bonzi cross court to Battier, who misses.

Salmons board. Martin drives inside, draws foul from Head.

Martin to the line for two after the time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Martin makes both.

45-33 KINGS

5;41 left

Alston for three.

45-36 KINGS

Artest three blocked by Houston. Ball oob on the deflection. They give it to Houston... ???

Bibby back in, Cisco out.

McGrady fouled by Salmons. Kings in the penalty.

McGrady misses first; makes second.

45-37 KINGS

5;00 left

 

[VF21]

Good ball movement by the Kings, Martin three goes way in and pops out. Bonzi board.

Battier for two.

45-39 KINGS

Kings ball. Houston smothers Artest and turnover. Houston returns the favor. Kings ball. Kings called for traveling.

Time out and commercial.

 

[VF21]

Houston inbounds...

3;50 left

Another three by Houston.

45-42 KINGS

Salmons jumper doesn't go; Rockets rebound.

Battier inside, fouled by Martin.

Curious why, with Deke on the bench, they aren't going inside to SAR...

Cisco back in, Salmons out.

Battier makes first; misses second. Artest rebound.

 

[VF21]

Martin with the ball, headfake completely fools Battier, who flattens him. Martin able to get off the shot - it counts and Martin goes to the line for the +1.

48-43 KINGS

Martin with 15 points.

McGrady inside to Wells for two.

48-45 KINGS

bibby with the ball, stripped by Rockets. Kings return the favor on the other end. Martin on the run, Cisco with him. Martin to Cisco, who is fouled and heading to the line.

Cisco makes first; Mutumbo in for Hayes. Makes second.

50-45 KINGS

2;28 left

 

[VF21]

Alston miss, Battier put-back.

50-47 KINGS

Artest drives by McGrady, is hammered oob by Battier and Deke, but apparently the officials didn't see a thing. No foul called... Still Kings ball.

Garcia drives inside, met by two Rockets. Shot misses, lots of contact but no whistle. Rockets ball.

Rockets miss but they chase down their own rebound. Battier miss, rebound oob off the Kings.

Musselman has been warned five times by the officials for complaining...

Battier for two.

50-49 KINGS

Artest with the ball, fouled by McGrady.

1;06 left

 

[VF21]

Artest at the line.

Misses the first after it bounces around and finally falls off the side of the rim; makes second.

51-49 KINGS

1;00 left

McGrady hook over Salmons good.

51-51

Artest inside, hammered some more but still no kind of call.

Alston with the ball...called for carrying the ball.

Deke to the locker room with open cut on his forehead.

36 seconds left.

Kings ball.

 

[VF21]

Artest with the ball, McGrady takes it away.

McGrady to Battier who kicks out to Alston for three.

54-51 Hou

End of the first half.

Some rather questionable no-calls thus far. Artest has been hammered. No other word for it.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball to start the second half.

Bibby fakes around Alston and gets the jumper for two.

54-53 Hou

11;28 left

Battier shot bounces up and drops in.

56-53 Hou

SAR jumper no good. Hou ball.

 

[VF21]

Howard over to Battier, who gets around Martin for two.

58-53 KINGS

10;24 left

Martin nice pass to KT, who misses off the glass. Ball oob off Deke. Kings get it right back.

Martin jumper doesn't go; Rebound batted back to Bibby, who sees Ron in the corner.

ARTEST FOR THREE!!!

58-56 Hou

Houston ball. McGrady miss; Bibby rebound.

Good ball movement by the Kings, Artest being batted around... gets the whistle and heads to the line.

Artest makes first; and second.

58-58