Kings-Trailblazers PBP for Dec. 16

[VF21]

Greetings, fellow Kings fans!

And day two of the Kenny Natt era is here. What can we expect tonight? Hopefully, we'll see heart and hustle and (yep, I know you can say it with me) energy and effort. I want to see Hawes be the best he can be and I want to continue to Francisco putting it all out there. His energy is, as others have noted, contagious and it's the one thing I'd like the whole rest of the team to catch.

I don't usually make personal requests here, but I have a favor to ask of everyone who reads this. Take a moment and do something special for someone else. Commit a random act of kindness. Do something to bring a smile to someone's face or to make their daily burden just a tiny bit lighter. Just do it in the name of the season. Thanks.

Now, back to the topic at hand... Kings basketball. Tonight's PBP, and everything else here at Kingsfans.com, is possible because of the dedication and generosity of our board owner. We're all very proud of the Internet community we've created here as the place to come if you want to talk Kings basketball. If you would like to help defray the costs of keeping Kingsfans.com up and running, please consider becoming a Contributing Member. There is no obligation, of course, but every contribution helps keep us around.

It's a beautiful afternoon here in the forest. Fresh snow and brilliant blue skies. Temperatures in the balmy mid-20s. I've got fresh coffee brewed and a nice fire in the woodstove.

Now, let's get ready for some Kings basketball!!!

 

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I just want to comment that I absolutely LOVE the basic black warmups the Kings have this year. Truly classic look.

 

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Starting lineups:

Kings - Udrih, Garcia, Salmons, Hawes and Miller

PTB - Blake, Roy, Batum, Aldridge and Oden

 

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Tip to PTB.

Udrih with the steal, Kings ball.

SALMONS FOR THREE!!!

3-0 KINGS

Roy miss, Adridge putback blocked by Hawes. Kings ball again.

Salmons with two more.

5-0 KINGS

11;00 left

Lots of hustle on the court by the Kings...

Aldridge for long two.

5-2 KINGS

 

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Hawes jumper in and out; PTB rebound.

10;24 left

Non-shooting foul on Garcia. PTB inbounds.

Batum miss, Miller boxes out Odom and Hawes gets the board.

Oh look - John Salmons with two more points.



7-2 KINGS

Odom shot blocked by Miller, Kings rebound. Hawes with the ball inside, it's stolen by Blake. PTB ball.

Aldridge fallaway for two.

7-4 KINGS

 

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Kings ball. Nice ball movement and Miller goes inside past Roy for two off the glass.

9-4 KINGS

LA with two more.

9-6 KINGS

Salmons able to get past two defenders for the one-handed dunk!

11-6 KINGS

8;13 left

PTB calls time out ... and they go to commercial break.

John Salmons with 9 points.

 

[VF21]

PTB inbound.

LA miss after lots of pressure from Hawes, Kings rebound.

Oh look - for a change they decide to get the ball to John Salmons.

SALMONS FOR THREE!!!!

14-6 KINGS

Batum from the corner for three.

14-9 KINGS

PTB still not doubling Salmons, Udrih runs inside and PTB forces a turnover. PTB on the run, but Hawes gets there and is able to block the shot. Kings ball.

Pass to Hawes inside, he's called for traveling. PTB ball.

6;38 left

 

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Greg Oden starts to move inside for the dunk but Brad Miller fouls him and sends him to the stripe, where he's only shooting 62%...

Oden makes first; and second.

14-11 KINGS

Udrih inside in traffic, tries to pass out to Salmons but pass is intercepted. PTB ball. LA shot blocked by Hawes, PTB gets it back and Hawes blocks ANOTHER shot. That's three so far...

Miller called for foul on Oden away from the ball. 2PF on Miller. Mikki comes in for Brad. Blake miss; but Batum knocks it in.

14-13 KINGS

ANOTHER bad pass by Beno inside and PTB has the ball back again. Bobby Brown coming in for Beno.

5;32 left

Meanwhile, Roy is at the line on foul by ??? (maybe Hawes)...

Makes first; Kenny Natt is talking to Beno on the sidelines. Makes second.

15-14 PTB

 

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Brown to Hawes at the top of the key. He spins inside and gets past Blake for two.

16-15 KINGS

Hawes breaks up another PTB play and Kings have it back. Salmons with the turnover this time...and he's also called for the foul. 5 team fouls on the Kings.

Roy at the line. Makes first; and second.

17-16 PTB

4;55 left

Salmons pullup jumper is good.

18-17 KINGS

 

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Aldridge to the line on foul by Mikki.

Makes first; Pryzbilla in for PTB. Misses second and Hawes has another rebound.

Kings ball.

18-18

Salmons spins but Roy is able to slap it away. PTB ball.

Bobby Brown called for the foul on Brandon Roy. Roy to the line.

4;09 left

Makes first; and second.

20-18 PTB

Kings ball. Time out and commercial break.

 

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Kings ball. Garcia looking for a path. Hawes sets a screen, Garica gets around it but no shot. He kicks out to Jackson, who misses. PTB ball.

Easy two in transition for POrtland.

22-18 PTB

Brown blows by Blake but is too strong off the glass and PTB has it back. Blake misses the three and Bobby J has the rebound. Over to Brown, and then inside to Hawes. Shot is blocked but Hawes sticks with it and Spencer heads to the line.

Rudy F. in for PTB.

Hawes makes first; Travis Outlaw also in for PTB. Hawes makes second on the generous bounce.

22-20 PTB

2;53 left

 

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Blake jumper for two.

24-20 PTB

Kings miscue and the ball goes oob. PTB ball. Jason T. in for Hawes.

Bobby, Bobby, Garcia, Thompson and Moore for the Kings

Jason covering Aldridge. Garcia called for over-the-back foul and LA heads to the line.

2;10 left

Makes first; Salmons in for Garcia. Makes second.

26-20 PTB

 

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Brown goes inside, whistle on Blake away from the ball. Kings will inbound.

2;00 left

Moore pass mishandled by Salmons and it goes back to PTB. Pryzbilla for two.

28-20 PTB

Brown for two.

28-22 PTB

1;29 left

PTB fast break canceled out by very quick move up the court by Jason Thompson. Ball oob; PTB inbounds. LA miss over Thompson; Kings rebound.

BROWN FOR THREE!!

28-25 PTB

 

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PTB ball. Rudy F. pullup jumper really short. Kings rebound.

Jackson to Salmons for two.

28-27 PTB

38 seconds left

Blake takes about 9 steps with no call, kick over to Outlaw, who is called for offensive foul when Mikki takes root and takes the charge.

Kings ball.

20 seocnds left.

Brown working on Blake. He cuts around three defenders, wild shot goes off the glass and oob. PTB to inbound.

2.8 seconds left.

Pryzbilla to Outlaw - shot at the buzzer doesn't go.

End of the first quarter.

28-27 PTB

 

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Kings ball to start the second quarter.

Bobby, Bobby, Salmons, Thompson and Moore for the Kings

Jason Thompson called for traveling. He's GOT to learn to plant that pivot foot.

PTB ball.

Non-shooting foul on Salmons. 2PF. PTB inbounds. Sergio miss; Moore rebound.

SALMONS FOR THREE!!!

30-28 PTB

11;07 left

PTB miss but Pryz gets the rebound and PTB gets another change. Rudy F. misses long shot and it comes out to SErgio. Frye miss long and PTB gets another rebound. Finally they miss and Moore is able to grab it.

Jackson miss, Thompson battles for the rebound but Pryz takes it away.

PTB ball.

 

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Frye fadeaway with Moore in his face doesn't go; Kings rebound.

Salmons to the line.

Misses first off front of rim; Roy back in for Outlaw. Salmons makes second.

31-28 KINGS

Rudy F. for two off the glass.

31-30 KINGS

Jackson three won't fall; Kings rebound. Non-shooting foul. Kings will inbound. Donte in ...

Salmons miss; Moore rebound. Putback doesn't go, Thompson rebound. Ball knocked oob off Roy. Kings will inbound.

8;55 left

Time out and commercial.

 

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Kings inbound. Donte three is off track. Pryz with the rebound.

PTB ball.

Rudy F. running one-hander off the glass for two.

32-31 PTB

Kings ball. Jackson almost turns it over but gets it to Brown, who's fouled and heads to the line.

Makes first; misses second.

32-32

7;58 left

 

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Sergio with the long miss; Moore rebound. Thompson shot is blocked but Greene gets the rebound. Brown off-balance shot doesn't go.

Rudy F. on the fast break. Gets two and the +1 on foul by Greene.

34-32 PTB

Bonus good.

35-32 PTB

7;21 left

Beno back in. Kick out to Thompson, who's fouled. Non-shooting. 4 team fouls on PTB.

Kings miss; Pryz rebound. Pass goes oob; Kings turn again.

Beno, Bobby, Greene, Thompson and Moore for the Kings

Dish inside to Thompson, who spins but cannot get hook to fall. PTB rebound.

Roy to the line on foul by Jason. 3 team fouls on the Kings.

Roy makes first; Miller and Hawes back in for the Kings.

36-32 PTB

 

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Roy makes second.

37-32 PTB

Beno to cutting Jackson, who gets the off-balance floater to fall.

37-34 PTB

LA miss; Miller rebound.

Jackson with the ball, fouled by Rudy F.

Time out and commercial.

Jackson will be at the line after the break.

 

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Jackson misses first off front of rim; makes second.

37-35 PTB

5;56 left

LA miss; Hawes tips the ball to Beno for the rebound.

Udrih running lay-up just will not fall; PTB rebound.

Oden for two.

39-35 PTB

Jackson miss; Miller with the tip in on a nice hustle play.

39-37 PTB

Defensive three second call on the Kings.

 

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Technical called on Bobby Jackson, who was fouled hard on the last play with no call. Hrm. Apparently Bobby has been tossed out of the game...

PTB gets two points from the stripe.

41-37 PTB

Douby in for Jackson.

PTB miss; long rebound snagged by Aldridge.

4;14 left

Oh boy. This is going from bad to worse real quick.

Roy gets the bucket and the +1 on desperation foul by Greene.

43-37 PTB

Salmons back in for Greene.

Roy at the line, makes the bonus.

44-37 PTB

 

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Douby to the line.

3;59 left

Makes first; and second.

44-39 PTB

Roy inside for two.

46-39 PTB

Douby pullup jumper is short; PTB rebound.

Batum miss, and he runs over Miller after the shot. Offensive foul called and Kings have the ball back.

3;19 left

 

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Salmons to the line on foul by Batum (which is apparently pronounced Baaaaatooooom)...

Salmons misses first; makes second on a lucky bounce and roll.

46-40 PTB

Roy to the line on foul by Hawes. He's really frustrated about something and Miller says something to him.

Roy at the line - makes first; and second.

48-40 PTB

2;57 left

Udrih inside, tries to dish off to Hawes and it's slapped away. Roy fast break for two more.

50-40 PTB

 

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Salmons miss, Hawes misses the putback, Oden rebound.

2;17 left

Batum miss; Salmons rebound.

Douby miss; PTB rebound. Blake for long two.

52-40 PTB

...sigh...

1;37 left

Kings call time out and they go to commercial.

It appears the wheels may be wobbling quite badly... and in danger of falling off.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball. Garcia back in, along with Hawes, Miller, Udrih and Salmons.

Hawes miss from outside; PTB rebound.

Roy miss, Miller and Hawes go for the rebound and cancel each other out, leaving Batum with the ball.

Oden tries to move on Miller, but Brad pulls the chair out from under him and Greg sprawls to the court, ball rolls loose and Kings pick it up.

Hawes to the line. Makes first; and second.

52-42 PTB

28.3 seconds left.

PTB calls time out... Grant and Jerry talking about how point guards and centers seem to take the longest to develop in the NBA...

 

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PTB inbounds.

Blake for two with Udrih all over him.

54-42 PTB

Kings shot at the buzzer doesn't go.

End of the first half...

 

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Lots of goodies on sale at the Kings store website. If you put in the code KOZ25, you get a 25% discount on anything you buy tonight or tomorrow.

Longer than usual half-time as Terry Porter's number is being retired and raised into the rafters. Wayne Cooper, Geoff Petrie and John Wetzel in attendance, among others...

Kings shooting 37% for the first half. Of course, that translates to John Salmons shooting 80%, and the rest of the team shooting 21% for an aggregate of 37%. Just shows how deceiving a single stat can be.

 

[VF21]

Kings ball, miss. Aldridge rebound.

Roy plows through the defense for two.

56-42 PTB

Hawes inside, surrounded by PTB. No help in sight. Jump ball called. Hawes gets the tip but it goes to PTB.

10;59 left

Brandon Roy able to get around Cisco, who isn't guarding as much as trying to steal. Roy with two more...and Kenny Natt calls a 20-second time out.

58-42 PTB

Udrih, Garcia, Salmons, Hawes and Miller for the Kings

Grant says the game is on the verge of getting ugly. Exactly what it would take to actually reach ugly is apparently more than a 16-point deficit.

 

[VF21]

Kings miss; Oden rebound.

Blake bounce-pass to Greg Oden for the flying dunk.

60-42 PTB

Nice pass by Udrih to Garcia for the back door cut and two points. Garcia slips and falls but gets up quickly and back up court.

60-44 PTB

9;37 left

GOOD defense by the Kings, Garcia slaps the ball away at the 24th second. Kings on the run, Garcia fouled hard in the open court. Officials meet and it's called a clear-path foul, which it was.

Garcia misses first; makes second. Kings will inbound.

60-45 PTB

 

[VF21]

Udrih long two rattles and falls.

60-47 PTB

Aldridge fadeaway smothered by Hawes; Kings rebound.

Garcia drives inside right against Oden, who is charged with the foul. Garcia at the line.

Makes first; and second.

60-49 PTB

8;57 left

DE-FENSE!!!

Oden shot blocked by Hawes, Oden gets it back and goes up for the authority dunk.

62-49 PTB

Udrih miss; PTB rebound.