Kingzrool
Starter
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/94081.html
Kings Notes: Martin suffers ankle sprain
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:31 am PST Sunday, December 17, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C9
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Kevin Martin was the best thing going.
He hit his first four shots and scored 14 points in the first quarter, and the Kings looked fully capable of pulling yet another upset Saturday night at Arco Arena.
But when he came down on the foot of Phoenix's Boris Diaw late in the third quarter, Martin hobbled to the bench, and the Kings hobbled to the finish in their 105-98 loss. Martin suffered a right ankle sprain and did not return, although X-rays were negative. It was the first time he has sprained an ankle since his sophomore season at Western Carolina, where Martin said he missed two weeks with the injury. He is questionable for Monday's game against Dallas.
"We'll see how I feel in the morning," said Martin, who had a team-high 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
Fast start -- When the Kings led 29-19 after one quarter, it was just the second time since Nov. 25 they led after the opening period. It was the sort of fast start the Suns are known for, as the Kings hit six of their first eight shots and led 15-5 a little more than four minutes into play.
Martin's three-pointer at the 3:52 mark put the Kings up 24-14. And the Suns, who entered as the league leaders in scoring (110.9 points per game) and field-goal percentage (49.1 percent), hit just 7 of 17 shots in the period.
"We were stuck in the mud for the beginning of the game," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We just couldn't make shots, and we weren't playing well."
Clown and out -- Pat Burke didn't have a chance to repeat his clown act of the first meeting with the Kings, when the little-used Suns big man made a humbling blowout of the Kings even worse when he hit three three-pointers in the final three minutes.
They were his first threes of the season, and Burke responded by goofing with the US Airways Center crowd. Kings coach Eric Musselman wasn't amused at the insult-to-injury act, which he didn't have to see again because Burke was inactive on Saturday.
Hitting the floor -- When John Salmons dove for a loose ball in the second quarter, the Kings swingman pummeled the head of Suns guard Raja Bell and was whistled for the foul. Musselman didn't agree with the call, but was all in favor of the effort.
"We don't have enough guys diving on the floor in this league for loose balls," he hollered as the official walked away.
[/FONT]
Kings Notes: Martin suffers ankle sprain
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:31 am PST Sunday, December 17, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C9
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Kevin Martin was the best thing going.
He hit his first four shots and scored 14 points in the first quarter, and the Kings looked fully capable of pulling yet another upset Saturday night at Arco Arena.
But when he came down on the foot of Phoenix's Boris Diaw late in the third quarter, Martin hobbled to the bench, and the Kings hobbled to the finish in their 105-98 loss. Martin suffered a right ankle sprain and did not return, although X-rays were negative. It was the first time he has sprained an ankle since his sophomore season at Western Carolina, where Martin said he missed two weeks with the injury. He is questionable for Monday's game against Dallas.
"We'll see how I feel in the morning," said Martin, who had a team-high 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
Fast start -- When the Kings led 29-19 after one quarter, it was just the second time since Nov. 25 they led after the opening period. It was the sort of fast start the Suns are known for, as the Kings hit six of their first eight shots and led 15-5 a little more than four minutes into play.
Martin's three-pointer at the 3:52 mark put the Kings up 24-14. And the Suns, who entered as the league leaders in scoring (110.9 points per game) and field-goal percentage (49.1 percent), hit just 7 of 17 shots in the period.
"We were stuck in the mud for the beginning of the game," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We just couldn't make shots, and we weren't playing well."
Clown and out -- Pat Burke didn't have a chance to repeat his clown act of the first meeting with the Kings, when the little-used Suns big man made a humbling blowout of the Kings even worse when he hit three three-pointers in the final three minutes.
They were his first threes of the season, and Burke responded by goofing with the US Airways Center crowd. Kings coach Eric Musselman wasn't amused at the insult-to-injury act, which he didn't have to see again because Burke was inactive on Saturday.
Hitting the floor -- When John Salmons dove for a loose ball in the second quarter, the Kings swingman pummeled the head of Suns guard Raja Bell and was whistled for the foul. Musselman didn't agree with the call, but was all in favor of the effort.
"We don't have enough guys diving on the floor in this league for loose balls," he hollered as the official walked away.
[/FONT]
