Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 19

Sacramento Bee

"Ime Udoka knows a little bit about adjusting to a new team. He started his college career at Eastern Utah before transferring to USF. His final stop was Portland State in 2000. Then came the International Basketball League, United States Basketball League, Spanish League, French League and NBA Development League before Udoka finally washed ashore in the NBA. He played four games with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2003-04 and eight with New York in 2005-06 before starting 75 games for Portland in 2006-07. Now in Sacramento, Udoka has a worldly perspective on how to handle adverse situations that can be passed on to his younger Kings teammates. With two Kings veterans – Kevin Martin and ..."

Youthful mistakes doom Kings in loss to Bulls

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November 18

Sacramento Bee

"There will be nights the young Kings will play like young Kings. They will look unsure of what to do on the floor and make mistakes. Tuesday night at Arco Arena was one of those nights. Learning when to force the issue and when to back off is something that comes with experience, and the Kings saw what happens when a team hasn't mastered that in a 101-87 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Kings had 21 turnovers that led to 28 points for the Bulls. "I think we just have to be a little more alert, a little more fundamentally sound," said Kings coach Paul Westphal. "A little more sometimes aggressive, sometimes patient." Westphal said he isn't sure the Kings would have won even if they had cut ..."

Team explores deal for 76ers' Dalembert

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November 18

Sacramento Bee

"An ESPN report Tuesday morning said the Kings are involved in talks for a three-team deal with Philadelphia and Boston that would include sending Kenny Thomas to the 76ers and bringing center Samuel Dalembert to Sacramento. And while a league source confirmed the Kings and Philadelphia have discussed a deal involving Thomas and Dalembert, the deal appears to be dead for the foreseeable future largely because of the Kings' lukewarm interest in the eighth-year veteran, who has two years and a combined $24.9 million left on his contract. Yet if it's up to Marc Cornstein, the talks won't stay quiet for long. Dalembert's agent, who is clearly on the lookout for a better situation for his ..."

Time to look for some help?

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November 18

Boston Globe

"With the Celtics having lost three of their past five games, and their lineup struggling with outside shooting, rumors are beginning to surface about potential trades. While the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to rid themselves of the underachieving Samuel Dalembert and the Sacramento Kings are seeking to deal the disgruntled Kenny Thomas, the Celtics have been rumored to be part a three-way deal that would send Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, and J.R. Giddens out of Boston and net them the Kings' Andres Nocioni. An ESPN report said there have been discussions to send Allen, Scalabrine, and Thomas to Philadelphia and Giddens to Sacramento along with Dalembert while the Celtics would get the ..."

Bulls get show on road

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November 18

Chicago Sun-Times

"Bigger challenges await them down the road, but the Bulls began their five-game Western trip with an impressive and mostly comfortable -- save for a few minutes in the fourth quarter -- 101-87 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday at ARCO Arena. ''That fourth quarter wasn't real pretty, but fortunately we got some stops when we needed to and came out with the victory,'' Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''A good start to a long trip.'' This was the first meeting of the teams since that big trade last February, so it was only fitting that guard John Salmons, the key to the deal from the Bulls' perspective, busted out of his recent shooting funk to led the team with 23 points on ..."

Chicago Bulls start trip with 101-87 victory

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November 18

Chicago Tribune

"Everyone from general manager Gar Forman to coach Vinny Del Negro to teammates have called Brad Miller and John Salmons stabilizing forces since leaving this NBA outpost via trade last February 18. To which Salmons responds with his typical shrug and Miller responds with his typical humor. "Look at Joakim (Noah)," Miller said. "That guy's out there. Obviously, you have to stabilize him, and just being halfway sane is going to do that." There's nothing funny about this critical six-game trip, and the Bulls got off to a stable start with a 101-87 victory over the Kings Tuesday night at Arco Arena. Salmons lugged a .317 shooting percentage into the game but, after receiving a nice ovation ..."

May accepts inactivity during winning streak

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November 17

Sacramento Bee

"It's been 10 days since Sean May appeared in a Kings game, but he understands because the team hasn't lost during that span. May started the first four games of the season but has not played since Sacramento's win at Utah on Nov. 7. That victory was the first of four in a row for the Kings. "(Tonight) if my number's called, I will be ready," May said Monday after practice. "If not, this team's rolling. The one thing is you can't expect change when the team is rolling and playing well. So when my number's called, I'll just be ready." Coming off four injury-plagued seasons with Charlotte, May came to Sacramento hoping the Kings would give him an opportunity to play a lot. May signed a ..."

Kings' early success creates fan buzz

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November 17

Sacramento Bee

"Paul Westphal has spent much of his life in the Los Angeles area, so the first-year Kings coach would know how to live the incognito celebrity existence if he had to. He'd wear sunglasses in public, and maybe a wig and oversized hat. But while his team has won four consecutive games and holds a winning record for the first time in nearly three years, the local attention hasn't reached that point just yet. "I think people appreciate the progress they've seen, and mostly they say, 'Nice job, keep it up,' " Westphal said. "(But) it's not to the level of Kings mania yet, if that's what you mean. I think most people can go out in public." While the team's scrappy style of play and unexpected ..."

Westphal encourages Hawes to shoot

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November 16

Sacramento Bee

"No one can say Spencer Hawes looks at his performance through rose-colored lenses. When asked to assess his progress nine games into his third season, the Kings center was blunt. "Not terribly excited," Hawes said. "But I think that has mostly to do with offensive stuff, shooting the ball. But the other things I'm feeling pretty good about." While the other things – rebounding, defense and setting screens – have drawn praise from the coaching staff, Hawes has been inconsistent on offense. Hawes has made just 41.8 percent of his field-goal attempts. One of Hawes' strengths is his outside shooting, but the 7-foot-1 center is 0 for 12 on three-point shots. Hawes, however, is second on the ..."

Thomas mentioned in a deal for Okafor

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November 15

Sacramento Bee

"Kenny Thomas is familiar with being used as a cost-cutting measure, so this isn't entirely different. The Kings veteran forward didn't travel with the team for the second half of last season, a move that never would have been made if he had any significant role to speak of.And now the once-forgotten man is the player with the $8.7 million expiring contract, a deal the Kings are looking to trade to any team looking to cut salary next summer. For a worthy price, of course. A source with knowledge of the situation said the Kings have had discussions with New Orleans about a trade involving Thomas and Hornets center Emeka Okafor. Acquiring the 6-foot-10, 255-pound big man, who is in his sixth ..."

With Westphal, it's good to be King

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November 15

Sacramento Bee

columnist Ailene Voisin

"Paul Westphal has gone and done it. In a matter of weeks, he has put some kick back in the Kings. Or as someone said to me after Friday's victory over the Houston Rockets, "All that diving on the floor. What's that about?" One season. Two seasons. Three seasons. Part of four seasons. You start to forget how the game is supposed to be fun, how spontaneous fans are supposed to sound, how an arena is supposed to feel. And yet sooner than expected, Arco Arena has experienced a dramatic mood swing. Inside, there is a pulse. Outside, it's safe to wear purple in public again. "I think the fans of Sacramento are dying for a team they can love," Westphal said recently. "We want to give them hustle, ..."

Kings notes: Casspi finds culinary delight

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November 14

Sacramento Bee

"Kings rookie Omri Casspi's much-chronicled search for quality hummus is finally over. Casspi and his brother, Eitan, sampled the Middle Eastern delicacy at Opa! Opa!Restaurant on J Street on Wednesday and decided that it met their high standards. "I tried the hummus and the falafel, and it was like having good food from home," said Casspi before Friday's game. "The hummus was so good … we're thinking about going back over there (tonight)." While Casspi was talking about his food interests, Spencer Hawes was listening nearby. "What's hummus?" he asked. "You have to try it," Casspi insisted. When it's prepared correctly, it is, as they say, indescribably delicious. Forgotten man found - ..."

Evans says it's 'time for a change' after the game

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November 14

Sacramento Bee

"Rick Adelman is no demon. Not by a long shot. But he is the former Kings coach, the man so long associated with the organization's only era of success and all that was once good about this product. And if the spirits are ever going to rise up again in the once-vibrant building known as Arco Arena, that means he eventually must be exorcised. This winning workout was a good start. The coach in his third season with Houston sat frustrated on the losing bench Friday night, his Rockets having fallen 109-100 to an upstart Kings bunch that won its fourth consecutive game and - no typo here - can actually boast a winning record for the first time since December 2006. And for the first time since ..."

Rockets outworked by Kings in defeat

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November 14

Houston Chronicle

"The Rockets had enjoyed their little overachieving, early-season run, proudly coming up big while short-handed. But they had not patented the formula. The Kings, already without Francisco Garcia, lost Kevin Martin and then remade themselves as the Rockets had without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. The Kings took their revival to a fourth consecutive win by smacking the Rockets 109-100 with an intensity-filled, house-rocking triumph Friday night in which they beat the Rockets with what had been the Rockets' way. "They beat us to every loose ball," center Chuck Hayes said. "They wanted it more. They cut harder. They committed themselves on the defensive end. I mean, every aspect."

Kings' Nocioni means serious business

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November 12

Sacramento Bee

"Kings coach Paul Westphal likes to give a little comic relief when praising his players. So after watching Kings forward Andres Nocioni do his best to harass Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant in Tuesday night's victory over the Thunder, Westphal complimented his player in a way that led to a few chuckles. "I told (Nocioni) after the game, 'That's the best job I've ever seen somebody do on somebody and hold him to 37 (points),' " Westphal said. While the team has become accustomed to Westphal's humor, the feeling-out process between Westphal and Nocioni has evolved since training camp began in late September. Westphal initially planned to use Nocioni as a reserve at small and power forward. ..."

Kings' Nocioni means serious business

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November 12

Sacramento Bee

"Kings coach Paul Westphal likes to give a little comic relief when praising his players. So after watching Kings forward Andres Nocioni do his best to harass Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant in Tuesday night's victory over the Thunder, Westphal complimented his player in a way that led to a few chuckles. "I told (Nocioni) after the game, 'That's the best job I've ever seen somebody do on somebody and hold him to 37 (points),' " Westphal said. While the team has become accustomed to Westphal's humor, the feeling-out process between Westphal and Nocioni has evolved since training camp began in late September. Westphal initially planned to use Nocioni as a reserve at small and power forward. ..."

Thunder loses to Sacramento 101-98

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November 11

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant had a chance to match James Harden's end-of-the-half 3-pointer. It wasn't to be. Playing catch-up most of the game, the Thunder dropped a 101-98 decision to the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night at Arco Arena. Durant scored a season-high 37 points but his potential game-tying 28-foot shot clanged off the front of the rim at the buzzer. "When it left my hand it looked good," said Durant. "It was just a little short. Hopefully next time I hit it." It's remarkable the Thunder forced the announced crowd of 10,523 to stay to the last second considering the Kings shot 57.9 percent the first half, had five players score in double figures and out-rebounded OKC 51-36. "They've been ..."

Nocioni makes Durant work for points

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November 11

Sacramento Bee

"Kevin Durant had shown he could hit this particular shot just seconds before, when he buried a three-pointer from the left wing to cut the Kings' lead to one. But a near-identical three was far left at the buzzer Tuesday night at Arco Arena, where the Kings defeated Oklahoma City 101-98 to win their third consecutive game. It ended a tiring night for Durant, the Thunder star who was hounded by Kings small forward Andres Nocioni from beginning to end. Durant had 37 points, but he hit just 9 of 23 shots. He had it easy at the free-throw line, though, hitting all 18. "No, he didn't bother me," Durant said of Nocioni, who scored 16 points for the Kings in 35 minutes. "He tried to be physical ..."

Youngsters deliver in the clutch

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November 11

Sacramento Bee

"When one rookie faltered, another was there to pick up the slack. Omri Casspi missed two free throws with 17.1 seconds left in the game that would have given the Kings a six-point lead. His head was down, and things didn't look good after Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant made a three-pointer to trim the lead to 99-98 with 4.5 seconds to go. When another rookie had a chance to ice the game, he came through. Tyreke Evans made two free throws with 3.5 seconds left as the Kings survived 27 second-half points from Durant to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 Tuesday night at Arco Arena. Durant, who finished with 37 points, missed a three-pointer at the buzzer. The win was Sacramento's third in ..."

Nocioni makes Durant work for points

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November 11

Sacramento Bee

"Kevin Durant had shown he could hit this particular shot just seconds before, when he buried a three-pointer from the left wing to cut the Kings' lead to one. But a near-identical three was far left at the buzzer Tuesday night at Arco Arena, where the Kings defeated Oklahoma City 101-98 to win their third consecutive game. It ended a tiring night for Durant, the Thunder star who was hounded by Kings small forward Andres Nocioni from beginning to end. Durant had 37 points, but he hit just 9 of 23 shots. He had it easy at the free-throw line, though, hitting all 18. "No, he didn't bother me," Durant said of Nocioni, who scored 16 points for the Kings in 35 minutes. "He tried to be physical ..."

Kings' Thompson' fast-breaks the mold

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November 10

Sacramento Bee

"There are many 6-foot-11 players in the NBA who would love to grab a rebound and lead a fast break to set up an easy basket. But most players that size would find themselves on the bench should they try to do that in a game. Well, consider Jason Thompson one of the lucky big men. The Kings' second-year forward has the OK from coach Paul Westphal to initiate the offense when he can while proving to be an important component to the halfcourt offense. "Last year (defenders) would play off me just because they didn't know my game," Thompson said. "They would try to force me to shoot, thinking I couldn't shoot. So when I start making shots, it opens things up and leaves open lanes for Kev ..."

Evans' defense impresses Westphal

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November 10

Sacramento Bee

"Tyreke Evans' impact on the Kings' offense has been noticeable lately, but he's making just as big an impact on defense. The rookie guard drew high praise from coach Paul Westphal for his defense seven games into his NBA career. Westphal already has no problem asking Evans to defend point guards, shooting guards or small forwards. "Honestly, Tyreke's one of the better defensive players in the league already," Westphal said. "He is very, very solid. He's got great defensive fundamentals, and he can guard ones, twos and threes. He's pretty much our best defender at any of those positions." The coach's compliment was significant to Evans, who said it wasn't long ago that defense was ..."

Kids struggle in another blowout

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November 9

San Francisco Chronicle

"The Warriors did half of what they needed to do to bounce back from Friday's embarrassing loss to the Clippers: The experienced players set the tone, but the youngsters didn't follow their lead. "We can do only so much by trying to lead," Stephen Jackson said. "The young guys are going to have to be a factor for us to win." The Warriors' margin of error is so small that completing half of the game plan resulted in a 120-107 loss to the Kings at Arco Arena on Sunday night. Jackson and Corey Maggette combined for 41 points, but it took eight youngsters to get to 64. Anthony Randolph (20 years old) was the best of the worst with 14 points, Kelenna Azubuike (25) chipped in 13, Anthony Morrow ..."

Checking on first-round point guards

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November 9

San Francisco Chronicle

"The 11 point guards selected in the first round of the 2009 draft will be compared and contrasted for a long time. The Warriors get a look at four of the top five this week. Stephen Curry (No. 7 overall) and Sacramento's Tyreke Evans (No. 4) went at it Sunday. Minnesota's Jonny Flynn (No. 6) will play at Oracle tonight, and the Warriors will visit Milwaukee and Brandon Jennings (No. 10) on Saturday. They'll also see New York's Toney Douglas (No. 29) on Friday. "That class of rookies looks really good right now," coach Don Nelson said. "They're all doing well." Coming into Sunday's game, Curry ranked among the top seven rookies in six categories, including holding the top spot in assists ..."

Warriors' Stephen Jackson calls latest loss 'another beat-down"

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November 9

Contra Costa Times

"For the second consecutive game Sunday, the Warriors lost before the fourth quarter began. A 120-107 loss at Sacramento provided the encore to an embarrassing 28-point home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Most important, it left the Warriors without answers and desperately trying to "stay positive" (the new locker room mantra) despite obvious reasons for panic. "Another beat-down," swingman Stephen Jackson said after totaling 21 points in 34 minutes. "What can I say? It's just all bad right now." The opening part of the schedule was supposed to be favorable for the Warriors (1-4). They faced a short-handed Houston squad playing the second of a back-to-back to start the season. ..."

Udrih makes his point in Kings win

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November 9

Sacramento Bee

"It's not about redemption for Beno Udrih. When the Kings point guard finds a seam in the lane for a runner or makes a jumper, he's not pondering the status of his reputation. When he feeds the cutter for an easy basket or spoonfeeds the open man on the perimeter, he's not thinking back to all the times people said he wasn't worthy of being a starter. It's about confidence - in himself, and in his coaches. Udrih was spilling of self-assurance in the Kings' 120-107 win over Golden State at Arco Arena on Sunday night. He continued his recent stretch of effective play while making onlookers wonder if this team could be entertaining and competitive even with the recent loss of Kevin Martin. ..."

Casspi is catching on to rebounding

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November 9

Sacramento Bee

"There's nothing like a little ribbing from the head coach for a rookie. After the Kings outrebounded the Golden State Warriors 52-34, Kings coach Paul Westphal was asked about the contribution from rookie forward Omri Casspi in that area. "He's been hiding that skill from us," Westphal said. "I think he got more rebounds in this game than he's got all season. He's rebounding like (Jon) Brockman, shooting free throws like Brockman." Actually, Casspi came up one rebound short of his season total of 11 entering Sunday's game. Casspi tied power forward Jason Thompson for the team lead with 10 rebounds in the Kings' 120-107 win at Arco Arena. Casspi did miss all four of his free throws. ..."

For Nocioni, win spells relief following rough week

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November 8

Sacramento Bee

"Andres Nocioni may have been wrapped in ice, but he hardly felt numb. The Kings veteran small forward was elated after the 104-99 win over Utah Saturday, relieved and thankful that something had gone right after a week that was so wrong. Nocioni was charged with driving under the influence, having been pulled over and arrested in downtown Sacramento around 2 a.m. Thursday. It was disappointing and surprising news to anyone who knows Nocioni, a 29-year-old family man from Argentina with a wife and two sons, ages 5 and 1, who is known for being the antithesis of the partying professional athlete. Nocioni said the win brought on a welcome change of mood. "This game helped me a lot, to get me ..."

Lowly Kings heat up vs. Jazz

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November 8

Salt Lake Tribune

"If the Utah Jazz didn't hit rock bottom Saturday night, they must certainly see it from here. Playing against the shorthanded Sacramento Kings -- only 48 hours after a rousing win over San Antonio that its players vowed would be a launching pad for future success -- Utah crashed and burned. Sacramento rookie Tyreke Evans scored 32 points and felt "unstoppable" against another meek defensive effort as the Kings rolled to a 104-99 victory over the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. On a night when they squandered a 15-point lead and fell behind by 20, Utah joined the Memphis Grizzlies on the short list of teams lightly regarded Sacramento has beaten. The Jazz did it with a head-shaking collapse ..."

Martin's injury forces shuffle at point guard

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November 7

Sacramento Bee

"The very protective company line holds that very little has changed. No radical shifts, Kings coach Paul Westphal says. Kevin Martin moves toward wrist surgery, Beno Udrih slips into the starting backcourt, but Tyreke Evans remains the point guard. Not so fast. If not exactly a radical shift, there's some subtle shuffling going on. Evans thinks Udrih is the new point guard. Udrih thinks Udrih is the point guard. And a few of the other Kings on Friday diplomatically endorsed Udrih's return as the primary playmaker, beginning tonight against the Utah Jazz. The hitch in all this? The reason the bosses are being coy? What if the Kings function more efficiently with Udrih at lead guard and ..."

Injury forces shuffle at point guard

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November 7

Sacramento Bee

"The very protective company line holds that very little has changed. No radical shifts, Kings coach Paul Westphal says. Kevin Martin moves toward wrist surgery, Beno Udrih slips into the starting backcourt, but Tyreke Evans remains the point guard. Not so fast. If not exactly a radical shift, there's some subtle shuffling going on. Evans thinks Udrih is the new point guard. Udrih thinks Udrih is the point guard. And a few of the other Kings on Friday diplomatically endorsed Udrih's return as the primary playmaker, beginning tonight against the Utah Jazz. The hitch in all this? The reason the bosses are being coy? What if the Kings function more efficiently with Udrih at lead guard and ..."

Nocioni's DUI arrest extends Sacramento Kings' streak of bad news

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November 6

Sacramento Bee

"The arrest of Sacramento Kings forward Andres Nocioni early Thursday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence is just the latest chapter in a three-year span of bad news and bad luck that have cast a shadow on the franchise. Nocioni, 29, was arrested by Sacramento police and booked into Sacramento County jail at 3:30 a.m., a posting on the jail's Web site shows. He was released Thursday morning on $1,482 bail and practiced with the team in the afternoon. "I want to apologize to Sacramento Kings owners, coaches, general manager, players, fans and especially my family," Nocioni said. "I have two kids so this is not a good example for my kids. I'm really sorry for what has ..."

Martin may be out 6-8 weeks

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November 6

Sacramento Bee

"Kevin Martin leaned against the wall in the Kings' practice facility Thursday afternoon, still very much in shock, his damaged left wrist dangling at his side. Hours earlier, an MRI revealed that the league's third-leading scorer – and the Kings' best player – sustained a hairline fracture Monday night in a collision with the Memphis Grizzlies' Allen Iverson. Martin was presented with three options, all of them terrible: He can wear a soft cast and attempt to play, risking further injury and possibly a complete break. He can undergo surgery and have a screw inserted to stabilize the bone, with recovery projected at six to eight weeks. Or he can have the arm casted and hope that the wrist ..."

Kings forward Nocioni arrested on DUI

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November 5

Sacramento Bee

"Sacramento Kings forward Andres Nocioni has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Nocioni, 29, was arrested by Sacramento Police and booked into Sacramento County Jail at 3:30 this morning, according to a Sacramento County Jail Web site. A Sacramento police spokesman said that at about 2 a.m. an officer noticed a motorist southbound on 15th Street near L Street whose vehicle was weaving within its lane. The officer stopped the car near Ninth and L streets."

Kings wilt in fourth quarter, fall to Atlanta

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November 5

Sacramento Bee

"The Southern California sensibilities were not to be found. Kings coach and Torrance native Paul Westphal wasn't laid-back, easygoing or anywhere close to a SoCal state of mind as he stood at the postgame podium. He gave short answers, stood rigid and allowed long pauses before addressing a number of questions about his team's 113-105 loss to Atlanta at Arco Arena on Wednesday. No one else may expect much from his team, but he expected more. "I told them (in the locker room), 'If I didn't think they were any good, I wouldn't be upset,' " Westphal said. But he does. And he was. Facing a team considered by most to be the best of the rest in the Eastern Conference, the Kings faded late in a ..."

Kings sign guard-forward Udoka; Mason in trouble?

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November 5

Sacramento Bee

"The Kings have signed guard-forward Ime Udoka to an undisclosed contract, team basketball president Geoff Petrie announced Wednesday afternoon. Udoka, 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, has played for four NBA teams in five seasons. He averaged 6.0 points and 1.0 assists in 227 career games with the Lakers (2003-04), Knicks (2005-06), Trail Blazers (2006-07 and Spurs (2007 to 2009)."

Hawks win on road again, knock off Kings 113-105

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November 5

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"This could become a familiar formula for the Hawks this season, this multi-faceted offensive attack that keeps other teams guessing where the daggers are coming from next. One minute it's captain and All-Star Joe Johnson, the next it's sixth-man Jamal Crawford or Mike Bibby or Josh Smith and on and on. Were they to sprinkle a little defense in there somewhere, Hawks coach Mike Woodson would have to get as worked up as he did Wednesday night at Arco Arena, when the Hawks toyed with the Sacramento Kings before putting them away late for a 113-105 win. It was the second straight impressive road win for the Hawks (4-1), a team that struggled with games like these a year ago. Improved mental ..."

Martin questionable for tonight

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November 4

Sacramento Bee

"After having the best game of his career in the Kings' home-opening win Monday, shooting guard Kevin Martin is questionable for tonight's game against Atlanta. Martin missed shoot-a-round with a swollen left (non-shooting) hand and will be a gametime decision. He injured the hand during Monday's game when he landed on it after a fall, and sat out much of the Tuesday practice session icing it. X-Rays were taken but were negative."

Thompson tries to limit fouls

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November 4

Sacramento Bee

"Jason Thompson fouled out nine times as a rookie, and he's still learning to avoid fouls in bunches in his second season. Thompson fouled out late in regulation in Monday night's 127-116 overtime win against the Memphis Grizzlies and had five fouls Saturday night at San Antonio. Keeping Thompson on the floor is a must if the Kings are to improve their rebounding from last season, when they ranked second-to-last at 39.1 per game. For his part, the 6-foot-11 Thompson is still learning how to play physically without drawing whistles. "With my mentality, I don't like giving up easy (baskets)," Thompson said. "But I've learned if you get one (foul), and it's early in the game, you don't want ..."

Extra effort wins home opener

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November 3

Sacramento Bee

"Kevin Martin hit the three-pointer on the left wing, then returned up the Arco Arena floor once again. It was the right kind of groundhog day for the Kings' shooting guard, yet another possession in which the basket looked as big as the ocean and his sharpshooting ways buoyed his team. The late overtime shot put the Kings ahead by four points Monday night in what became a 127-116 win over Memphis before an announced sellout crowd of 17,317 in their home opener. And Martin, who played all but 34 seconds and finished with 48 points in 52 minutes, barely made it until the end. "I just had to do everything I needed to do for us to win," Martin said. "Coach (Paul Westphal) said at the ..."

Kings entertain, provide flashes of hope at Arco

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November 3

Sacramento Bee

"It began 25 years ago, these Kings in Sacramento. Gregg Lukenbill in his red sneakers. David Stern arriving in his limousine. Jerry Reynolds in the old, old, old Arco Arena, holding the assistant's clipboard and leading the cheers. It was loud. It was sold out. Just like Monday night. Those Kings of Reggie Theus, Mike Woodson and Larry Drew went on to secure a playoff berth, which Paul Westphal's squad will do this season only if the rest of the Western Conference slides into the ocean. That doesn't mean debacle, though. That doesn't mean awful. This year's home opener - the thriller of a 2009-10 Arco tipoff that ended with the Kings outlasting the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime - was ..."

Evans, Mayo bring versatile games, Westphal says

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November 3

Sacramento Bee

"Some of the questions surrounding Kings rookie guard Tyreke Evans before last June's NBA draft had to do with whether he was a point guard or shooting guard and if he had a consistent jump shot. Some of the same things were said about Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo before the 2008 draft. Things worked out fine for Mayo, who averaged 18.5 points and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Mayo and Evans made headlines nationally as high school underclassmen. But Kings coach Paul Westphal hadn't considered any similarities between Mayo and Evans before Monday's home opener against the Grizzlies. Westphal sees more similarities not related to their play. "The fact that they're both ..."

Grizzlies fade in overtime, lose to Kings, 127-116

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November 3

Memphis Commercial Appeal

"Allen Iverson finally made his Grizzlies debut after a month-long recovery from a partially torn hamstring. He joined a team Monday night that is badly in need of a few repairs on defense as the Griz were unable to dethrone the Sacramento Kings in their home opener. Kevin Martin scored 48 points and Sacramento buried 14 3-pointers to beat the Grizzliess, 127-116, in overtime at Arco Arena. The Kings bench also outscored the Grizzlies reserves 67-14. Iverson had 11 points off the bench for the Griz but he logged just 18 minutes. Zach Randolph led the Griz with 30 points and 16 rebounds. O.J. Mayo added 22 and Rudy Gay chipped in 21 as Memphis had six players score in double figures. But for ..."

Kings' Nocioni is all business, not buddy-buddy

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November 2

Sacramento Bee

"Kings small forward Andres Nocioni and San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili stood on the AT"

Westphal brings unconventional style to Kings bench

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November 2

Sacramento Bee

columnist Ailene Voisin

"Almost a decade removed from his last NBA head coaching job, Paul Westphal had dropped out of the conversation; he no longer was pursued or perceived as one of the league's coveted candidates. So he did the wooing. He sent the flowers. He made the phone calls. He spoke with the owners and was passed along to Geoff Petrie. When front-runner Kurt Rambis vacillated during contract discussions, Westphal pounced. Here I am, he persisted. Grab me. "I just wanted to make my case to somebody who was in a position to hire me," said Westphal, who makes his regular-season Arco Arena coaching debut tonight. "It was time for me to get back into coaching. I have a passion for the game, for the ..."

Another very scary night

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November 1

Sacramento Bee

"The night forever will be remembered for Manu Ginobili's heroic and hilarious bat slap. On Halloween, of all nights, the flying rodent that had already twice interrupted play and spooked players, coaches and officials at the AT&T Center learned the hard way that the Argentine exterminator takes no guano. Late in the first quarter of what would eventually become a 113-94 rout over the Kings, the San Antonio guard tracked the bat with his eyes and let loose an open-palmed left hook that netted the creature and slammed it to the floor. Unfortunately for the Kings, the Spurs did the same to them. Lost amid the comedy of horrors was the way in which the Kings lost their way again, allowing a ..."

Mistakes show through Hawes' big numbers

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November 1

Sacramento Bee

"Even Spencer Hawes knew the numbers were deceiving. The Kings' third-year center had 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 113-94 loss to San Antonio on Saturday, but much of it came after the game was out of hand. Still, Hawes could use any kind of momentum at the moment. And this served as momentum. "Given the outcome, it's hard to look at my performance and be too excited about it," Hawes said. "I guess individually it's a step in the right direction. But we've still got a lot of things to work on." His spirit, for one. Hawes expected to be a starter this season, so the adjustment to coming off the bench continues to be a major one. Kings coach Paul Westphal has decided to use Sean May at ..."

No Place Like Home

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October 31

New Orleans Times-Picayune

"The goal for the Hornets in Friday night's regular-season home opener against the Sacramento Kings was simple: improvement. Specifically, Coach Byron Scott wanted to see better play from his team on the defensive end, where in Wednesday night's opening loss to the San Antonio Spurs, they seemed to become demoralized after numerous misadventures on the offensive side that, in turn, created stagnancy on defense resulting in a 113-96 loss. If the last 1:26 of the game was any indication, consider it mission accomplished. The Hornets shut down the pesky Kings over that stretch, forcing a 24-second violation and getting two huge blocked shots from center Emeka Okafor as New Orleans took a ..."

Nocioni encouraged despite Kings' loss

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October 31

Sacramento Bee

"Andres Nocioni was happy. And that, given the current context, was quite a revelation. The Kings small forward has become the unofficial pulse of his team's competitive heart, though not necessarily in the healthiest way. He fumes in practice if a play doesn't meet his standards, sometimes lamenting his presence on the team because he has no interest in being part of a group that doesn't reflect his relentless personality. The Kings lost 97-92 to New Orleans on Friday night. And Nocioni was happy. "If we still play like this, we're going to win games for sure because I think we played really, really hard today, but we just didn't close the game," Nocioni said. "It's a huge difference. I ..."

Ex-King Diogu fits as a Hornet

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October 31

Sacramento Bee

"Ike Diogu wasn't playing for the Kings or New Orleans on Friday night, so the in-person comparison with Sean May must wait. Yet, while the former Kings power forward - now a Hornet - was sidelined by a left knee injury, that hardly has stopped him from impressing his new team. "Guys are coming off the (practice) court talking about how he's a beast, (saying) 'He's kicking our (butt) with one leg,' and he has been," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "So I would love to see him with two good knees because I think he could be a big-time asset for us." Contrary to the Kings, of course. Diogu signed a one-year deal worth the league minimum of $884,881 after the Kings showed no interest in ..."

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