http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14240822p-15060470c.html
Kings sweep Clips clean
Sacramento runs streak to 13 over L.A.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 8, 2006
LOS ANGELES - Across the street from Staples Center, there's a massive hole in the ground, as if a meteor struck, with plans to erect a hotel and restaurants.
It's a major project in the works, sort of like two of the inhabitants within Staples on Friday.
The Kings downed the Clippers 96-93 - and don't they always do that? - with Ron Artest scoring and defending in his own unique way and willing his team an inch closer to a playoff berth. Sacramento maintained its stranglehold on its "other" Los Angeles rivals, taking 13 straight overall in the series including three successive seasons of sweeps.
Kings coach Rick Adelman said he was at a loss for words in trying to explain exactly what it is his team has over the Clippers. But he has Artest pretty well figured out. It goes something like this: The guy can flat play.
The key cog to the Kings' resurgence this season, Artest scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth period. Just when the Clippers looked as if they might seize control with noted Kings killer Sam Cassell hitting jumpers, it was Artest who hit a three-pointer to tie it at 92 with 1:11 to play. Later, he scored on post-up play for a lead the Kings would not lose, 94-92 with 34.3 seconds left. And with Cassell sure to get the ball, it was Artest who hounded the guard through back screens to the top of the arc and distracted him just enough to force Cassell to launch a bad miss with 9.9 left.
When Vladimir Radmanovic missed a three at the buzzer after two Brad Miller missed free throws, the Clippers' celebration was put on hold.
Had Los Angeles won, it would have clinched its first playoff berth in nine seasons. But the Kings came away with a trifecta of sorts: A victory, a sudden tie for seventh place in the Western Conference with the Lakers losing at Phoenix and a tidy little 2-1 road trip that got off to a horrendous start with that beat-down in Dallas.
"I'm sure there was a lot of doom and gloom in Sacramento when we lost to Dallas, but it happens in this league, and it's what you do after something like that that matters," Adelman said. "This was a great win for us. To sweep them, a good team, and to get two road wins in San Antonio and here after Dallas. ... If we keep winning, there's nothing (teams chasing the Kings) can do."
Mike Bibby led all scorers with 30 for the Kings. Brad Miller had 18 points, including two free throws with 16.7 seconds left to account for the final score. No other Kings player reached double figures, but it didn't matter with the way Artest was going down the stretch.
After the game, Kings co-owner Joe Maloof tracked down his star forward in the back corridors of Staples. He might have bear-hugged him if Artest wasn't saturated in sweat. Artest then signed autographs and took pictures with a group of Clippers fans who wished he was on their side, with one saying, "We shoulda had you here!" Instead, he was hounding Cassell instead of working alongside him.
"Cassell's tough, and it's hard to chase him around," Artest said. "I tried to do my best on him and hoped he missed."
The Clippers were minus one of their top players because of injury in Corey Maggette, and Cassell and Cuttino Mobley didn't enter the game until the second period as they were nursing ailments.
Those guards nearly rallied the Clippers, combining for 36 points, but they barked at each other for a near turnover on a possession late that resulted in no points in trying to figure out who was supposed to go where.
"It's a disappointing loss," Cassell said.
The Kings now prepare to play four of their final five regular-season games at Arco Arena. And they'll be led by a stern coach, arms crossed, who insists nothing is secured just yet.
"We haven't done anything yet," Adelman said. "You work hard to get to this point, now what do you do with it? You don't stumble. You can't relax. We need to keep winning."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Kings sweep Clips clean
Sacramento runs streak to 13 over L.A.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 8, 2006
LOS ANGELES - Across the street from Staples Center, there's a massive hole in the ground, as if a meteor struck, with plans to erect a hotel and restaurants.
It's a major project in the works, sort of like two of the inhabitants within Staples on Friday.
The Kings downed the Clippers 96-93 - and don't they always do that? - with Ron Artest scoring and defending in his own unique way and willing his team an inch closer to a playoff berth. Sacramento maintained its stranglehold on its "other" Los Angeles rivals, taking 13 straight overall in the series including three successive seasons of sweeps.
Kings coach Rick Adelman said he was at a loss for words in trying to explain exactly what it is his team has over the Clippers. But he has Artest pretty well figured out. It goes something like this: The guy can flat play.
The key cog to the Kings' resurgence this season, Artest scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth period. Just when the Clippers looked as if they might seize control with noted Kings killer Sam Cassell hitting jumpers, it was Artest who hit a three-pointer to tie it at 92 with 1:11 to play. Later, he scored on post-up play for a lead the Kings would not lose, 94-92 with 34.3 seconds left. And with Cassell sure to get the ball, it was Artest who hounded the guard through back screens to the top of the arc and distracted him just enough to force Cassell to launch a bad miss with 9.9 left.
When Vladimir Radmanovic missed a three at the buzzer after two Brad Miller missed free throws, the Clippers' celebration was put on hold.
Had Los Angeles won, it would have clinched its first playoff berth in nine seasons. But the Kings came away with a trifecta of sorts: A victory, a sudden tie for seventh place in the Western Conference with the Lakers losing at Phoenix and a tidy little 2-1 road trip that got off to a horrendous start with that beat-down in Dallas.
"I'm sure there was a lot of doom and gloom in Sacramento when we lost to Dallas, but it happens in this league, and it's what you do after something like that that matters," Adelman said. "This was a great win for us. To sweep them, a good team, and to get two road wins in San Antonio and here after Dallas. ... If we keep winning, there's nothing (teams chasing the Kings) can do."
Mike Bibby led all scorers with 30 for the Kings. Brad Miller had 18 points, including two free throws with 16.7 seconds left to account for the final score. No other Kings player reached double figures, but it didn't matter with the way Artest was going down the stretch.
After the game, Kings co-owner Joe Maloof tracked down his star forward in the back corridors of Staples. He might have bear-hugged him if Artest wasn't saturated in sweat. Artest then signed autographs and took pictures with a group of Clippers fans who wished he was on their side, with one saying, "We shoulda had you here!" Instead, he was hounding Cassell instead of working alongside him.
"Cassell's tough, and it's hard to chase him around," Artest said. "I tried to do my best on him and hoped he missed."
The Clippers were minus one of their top players because of injury in Corey Maggette, and Cassell and Cuttino Mobley didn't enter the game until the second period as they were nursing ailments.
Those guards nearly rallied the Clippers, combining for 36 points, but they barked at each other for a near turnover on a possession late that resulted in no points in trying to figure out who was supposed to go where.
"It's a disappointing loss," Cassell said.
The Kings now prepare to play four of their final five regular-season games at Arco Arena. And they'll be led by a stern coach, arms crossed, who insists nothing is secured just yet.
"We haven't done anything yet," Adelman said. "You work hard to get to this point, now what do you do with it? You don't stumble. You can't relax. We need to keep winning."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
