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Kings rearrange Spurs plans with one point victory NBA Playoffs Spurs lead series 2-1 by Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin April 28, 2006 |
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SACRAMENTO--The Sacramento Kings got a break that they almost had in Game 2 of this series. The Kings with the last second fading on the game clock down 93-92 to the San Antonio Spurs scored the winning bucket when Kevin Martin, who had ten points tonight, had a miraculous fast break over the Spurs’ Tim Duncan for a 94-93 victory for the Kings. The Spurs have a 2-1 lead over the Kings. The Spurs just couldn't get the offensive help that they expected from the usual suspects Manu Ginobili scored 8 points, Tony Parker was held to 12 and Michael Finley was held to 17. The Spurs top scorer was Tim Duncan with 29 points. The Spurs couldn't shut down the Kings top scorers Mike Bibby with 25 and Ron Artest had 22 points. The Kings had religion when they were encouraged when they tied San Antonio 109-109 after regulation in game two. The Kings who were down 2-0 coming into Arco Arena, Friday Night, applied the same hard effort they put into Game Two. The Kings took a page out of that book but with better results, as they avoided overtime, with Martin’s winning bucket, or it would have been a defeat for Sacramento. Duncan who played his heart out with six blocked shots couldn't do it alone as the Kings put a full court press on the Spurs to pick up their first win of the series. The Kings were all over the likely suspects and Duncan was the only one who had his usual game with 29 points and six blocked shots couldn't hold the Kings down alone. The Kings key to this victory also was holding Manu Ginobili to only eight points and Tony Parker to only 12 points those two guys get unchained they'll hurt you and the Kings handcuffed each of them from further damage. The Kings also had help from Bonzi Wells with 19 points, Brad Miller 12 points, and. This was the kind of game where anything short of anyone's effort from the Kings would mean into Game Four down 3-0. That wont be the case as the Spurs are up 2-1 and the Kings at home Sunday, will be looking to try to tie up the series at 2-2 and that will help them going to San Antonio if they can do it. Last seconds of the game breakdown: Artest did a lay up with 57 second to go in the fourth quarter that put the Kings up 92-90. With 49 seconds left Artest blocked Ginobili's seven foot running hook shot. The Spurs rebounded the ball Finley hit a three point twenty five foot jump shot at 41 seconds. Artest with 27 seconds turned the ball over to San Antonio. San Antonio took a time out at that time the Kings decided to defend them rather than commit a foul when they brought the ball back in. With 4.9 seconds Mike Bibby stole the ball and proceeded to throw the ball to Kevin Martin who scored a lay up as time ran out to win the game 94-93. "Nice win the win says a lot about our team it provided a huge lift for this group which is a different group from last year and this team has a chance to grow,” said Sacramento Head Coach Rick Adleman. “At the end of the game we never quit we needed to stop and we got it. Bonzi and Artest played really well.” Kings’ Bibby was asked if this makes up for the loss in game two, "No it doesn't." "It was a great game what goes around come around. A great game for the fans. We feel as we kind of wasted Duncan tonight he had 29 points and 12 rebounds,” said San Antonio Head Coach Greg Popovich. “But we didn’t win. The bench played quite well”. Wells and Artest reached record highs for rebounds with 12 for their playoff records. In the playoffs Kings were usually on the short end of these usually highly contested games but this is one the Kings won. As far as wins in Kings history this has to rank right up there on the top. JC and Kenny G's Game Three footnotes: From the Kings Brent Barry's three pointer that tied up game in regulation in game 2 to this point the Kings truly had more confidence than they did in game one where they were defeated by 34 points. The Kings host the Spurs on Sunday at Arco for Game Four, down 2-1. The Spurs now are aware what the Kings can do and Head Coach Popovich will try to shut off the Kings offense much like he did in game one. The Kings know that game four Sunday night is critical if the Kings can shut down Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili they can have a shot at winning game four to tie up the series 2-2. Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin co-host Sportstalk on 1690 KFGS Sacramento. |
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