Wallace returns to Sacramento to lead Bobcats to victory

By Jimmy Spencer, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday January 31, 2010 2:07AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (NBA.com exclusive) -- It's been clear for years that Sacramento let one get away when Gerald Wallace slipped to Charlotte in the 2004 expansion draft.

But on Saturday night, it was the Bobcats that almost let one get away.

Charlotte saw a 26-point lead cut to just four in the final moments before holding on to a 103-96 victory.

After sitting on Sacramento's bench for three seasons, Wallace returned to Sacramento on Saturday an All-Star for the first time. The nine-year pro scored a season-high 38 and had key blocks in the final moments.

Wallace downplayed the idea that a win in Sacramento carried any extra weight for him.

"Any kind of feelings or anything that I had coming here are gone," Wallace said. "Nobody is out on the court I played with. And plus it's been six years -- ancient past now."

Wallace is the first All-Star in Bobcats history. It's been six years since the Kings last had a player in the All-Star Game.

The athletic wing was efficient on 12-for-18 shooting while grabbing 11 rebounds.

"[Wallace] has been phenomenal," said Charlotte coach Larry Brown. "He made two blocks at the end when they were rallying that were just incredible plays.

"He has played great all year but the last month he has just taken it to a new level."

Wallace's blocks were indeed helpful as Sacramento inched close to making the ultimate comeback.

The Bobcats led 90-64 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter. But Kevin Martin's two-handed dunk with 35.9 seconds left in the game closed the gap to 100-96, intercepting Raymond Felton's pass out of a mid-court trap.

Felton recovered on the next possession, scoring on a driving layup to push Charlotte back to a comfortable margin and a lead they'd hang onto.

"I'm glad this wasn't a 50-minute game. It would have been a long ride," Brown said.

Entering their current six-game road trip, the Bobcats had won just two road games all season. After dropping it's first game in Denver, the Bobcats have now won three consecutive on the road. Charlotte had wins at Phoenix then Golden State. The team will travel to Portland and end the trip against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

"The thing was to come out and try and get my team a much needed road," Wallace said.

Since the New Year, the two teams have been moving in opposite directions. The Bobcats' runs included a 12-4 record in January while the Kings went 2-13 in the month.

The Kings have now dropped eight of nine since the return of Martin from wrist surgery. But for the second consecutive game, Martin put up his usual high-offensive numbers. After scoring 33 in Utah on Friday, Martin scored 31 against Charlotte.

"That's not any big surprise," Kings coach Paul Westphal said. "I always thought it was a mater of rust and timing with him because he's healthy and he's in the prime of his career and he can score. He'll always score."

But for a Kings team that's failed to break the century mark in nine of its last 10, he'll need offensive help from his teammates.

Rookie guard Tyreke Evans, who is averaging more than 20 points, shot the ball just fives times, finishing with four points. Evans left the game in the third with a bruised right hip and did not return. It was his lowest point total since he scored just three on Nov. 2.

Evans said after the game that the bruised hip happened in Utah and that he woke up limping on Saturday morning. He said he shouldn't have played since he couldn't go at full strength.

"Hopefully I will get treatment tomorrow and try to play in Denver, but I am not going to rush it. If I step onto the floor I want to go at it 100 percent. I am going to ice it and put heat on it that is all you can really do."

Stephen Jackson wasn't in the best of moods last time he visited Sacramento back in November.

Then, as a miserable member of the Golden State Warriors, a reporter asked the veteran guard about his thoughts on Kings rookie Omri Casspi.

Jackson's response: "Don't ask me no questions about him. Ask me questions about somebody who's going to be a factor in this league."

Simply put, Jackson wasn't a fan. But there's little doubt about Casspi's ability to play in the league. The NBA's first Israeli born player was selected to play in All-Star Weekend in the Rookie Challenge and entered Saturday night's game averaging 12.1 points and 4.9 rebounds.

Defending one another for short portions of the contest, Casspi finished with 14 points while Jackson scored 13.

"We both play hard and I have a lot of respect for him because he is a great player," Casspi said graciously. "It's great competition and just fun."

• Bobcats: Ajinca, Chandler
• Kings: Armstrong, Garcia, Thomas

• Bobcats: --
• Kings: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: ARCO Arena, Sacramento, CA
• Officials: #32 Eddie F. Rush, #75 Eric Dalen, #38 Michael Smith
• Attendance: 14186
• Duration: 2:20