Jazz-Kings Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Nov 24 2012 2:29AM

An impressive fourth-quarter run against the Sacramento Kings helped the Utah Jazz remain undefeated at home.

Now, the Jazz will try to extend their season-high three-game winning streak with a home-and-home sweep Saturday night.

Down by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter on Friday, Utah (7-6) rallied for a 104-102 victory as Gordon Hayward's 22-foot jumper with 4.5 seconds left was the difference. He finished with a team-high 23 points.

"We turned the ball over (13 times), unfinished plays, everything we had done to get in that position on the road, in this building against a good team where you don't win that often," Kings coach Keith Smart told the league's official website after his team fell to 0-5 on the road. "Too much one-on-one and it cost us the game."

The Jazz, meanwhile, improved to 5-0 at home and moved above the break-even point for the first time since an opening night win over Dallas.

"I thought we won with a lot of grit, gut, staying together," coach Tyrone Corbin said.

The Jazz may need that type of effort again considering close finishes between these teams have become common. They split four contests last season, with the games decided by a total of 12 points.

In their last visit to Sacramento on March 22, the Jazz won 103-102 as Al Jefferson delivered the game-winner with 0.9 seconds left.

Utah goes for its first back-to-back road wins since that contest. A victory would also give the Jazz their first 4-0 run since finishing 2011-12 on a five-game surge.

Losers of six of seven, the Kings (3-9) will try to prevent that from happening as they open a stretch of five of six at home.

They'll try to win two straight at home after ending a four-game skid there with Wednesday's 113-97 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sacramento made a season-best 10 3-pointers on Friday as Aaron Brooks, Marcus Thornton and Jimmer Fredette each hit three, but it needs to improve on the glass after pulling down a season-low 31 boards to Utah's 43.

DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes combined for 32 points and 18 rebounds in the loss, while Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Marvin Williams and Derrick Favors totaled 65 points and 27 boards.

If Jazz point guard Mo Williams can't go after spraining his ankle Friday, Jamaal Tinsley will likely step in. The veteran grabbed six rebounds, handed out 12 assists and stole the ball from Brooks with 14.9 seconds left to help set up Hayward's final shot.

Utah backup Earl Watson could also see more action after totaling two assists and two rebounds in nine minutes Friday. It was his first appearance of 2012-13 after undergoing season-ending knee surgery in April.

Evans, Kings bounce back to beat Jazz

By JEFFREY WEIDEL
Posted Nov 25 2012 2:04AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Uncertain of his offensive role earlier this season, Tyreke Evans has reverted to what he does best: attacking the basket.

Evans supplied offense in critical times for the Kings on Saturday, scoring 21 of his 27 points in the second half, helping slumping Sacramento beat the Utah Jazz 108-97.

Resembling the attacking guard who won Rookie of the Year honors in the 2009-10 season, Evans has averaged 21 points in the last four games. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the Kings have scored 100 points or more and shot over 50 percent in three straight games, two of them victories.

"We've been aggressive, just trying to attack," Evans said. "If I miss one shot, I'm (still) trusting my shot. I've been coming here after the games and before games just to get extra shots up and it's working for me."

Evans got to the basket and even made a few outside shots. He made 9 of 17 shots and converted all nine free throws. He also added five rebounds, five assists and two steals for the Kings, who shot 54 percent.

"He (Evans) is a tough cover and a big body that can put the ball on the floor and handle it," Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said. "He got the best of us tonight."

The Jazz got the best of the Kings in a Friday night game in Utah. Sacramento squandered a 13-point, fourth-quarter lead in a two-point loss, but this time held on to win for only the second time in eight games.

"It left a bad taste knowing how we lost last night," said Aaron Brooks, who made three 3-pointers and scored 13 points in the rematch. "We were in the same position tonight with the lead in the fourth quarter. We attacked the basket and played good defense. It was good to play again tonight after what happened Friday. I would hate to be waiting two days to play again."

Jason Thompson had 16 points and nine rebounds for Sacramento, which outscored the Jazz 56-41 in the second half. Sacramento committed 12 first-half turnovers, but had just two after intermission.

The Kings won the game despite losing center DeMarcus Cousins, the team's leading scorer and rebounder. The demonstrative Cousins was ejected with 1:35 left in the third quarter after arguing over a foul he committed against Enes Kanter. Cousins and Carmelo Anthony both have a league-leading five technical fouls this season. Cousins had 14 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes against the Jazz.

"We are communicating with him, doing everything we can," Kings coach Keith Smart said. "Some guys just have it like that and sometimes it takes a while, the person grows out of the situation. We can't kick the guy to the curb because he doesn't have any hope. There may be some other people that give up hope, but not me."

Utah center Al Jefferson, who battled inside against Cousins the past two games, didn't think the Kings would be weakened after their center was ejected and promptly sprinted toward the Kings locker room.

"Actually, when Chuck Hayes is in the game he'll make them a lot better on defense," Jefferson said. "We kind of knew Chuck was going to come in and make a difference. To me that motivated them when Cousins got kicked out of the game."

Randy Foye scored 17 points and Jefferson had 14 for Utah, which had won its previous three games. Jamaal Tinsley also had 14 points and seven assists, while Paul Millsap added 13 points.

Gordon Hayward, who had 23 points and made the game-winner with 4.5 seconds left Friday against the Kings, shot 1 of 8 and had eight points. The Jazz shot 40 percent overall. They have won all five home games this season, but are 2-7 on the road.

Evans scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and helped seal the victory by making six straight free throws in the final 52 seconds.

Rookie forward Thomas Robinson scored inside and followed with a fast-break layup, putting Sacramento ahead 92-84 with 6:22 remaining.

Evans scored 11 points and Salmons had eight in the third quarter, when the Kings outscored Utah 32-19 to assume an 83-75 lead entering the fourth.

"In the third quarter they came out a little more aggressive," Corbin said. "We missed some shots and they got a little run going and we never recovered. It was still only a four-point game in the fourth quarter. They just kind of took it over and they got another run on us there. They made a lot of shots."

Foye scored 15 points in the first half as the Jazz led 56-51. Thompson had 11 points for the Kings and Cousins contributed 10 points and seven assists.

Notes: Foye connected on four 3-pointers and scored 13 points, helping Utah to a 29-23 first-quarter lead. ... Tinsley started in place of Utah point guard Mo Williams, who sprained his ankle in Friday's game and didn't play in the rematch. ... Robinson had three turnovers during a brief second-quarter appearance off the bench. ... Fouled on a 3-point attempt midway through the fourth quarter, Foye missed all three free throws.

Notebook: KIngs 108, Jazz 97

James Ham, For NBA.com
Posted Sun Nov 25, 2012 1:30 AM - Updated Sun Nov 25, 2012 9:34 AM

THE FACTS: After a disappointing two-point loss Friday night in Utah, the Sacramento Kings got their revenge, besting the Jazz 108-97 in front of a noisy Sleep Train Arena crowd Saturday night.

The game changed dramatically in the third quarter when DeMarcus Cousins drew a pair of technical fouls in the span of less than a minute and was ejected from the game. Tyreke Evans picked up the slack for the KIngs (4-9), scoring a team-high 27 points, while Jason Thompson added 16 points and nine rebounds from the power forward position.

Randy Foye led the Jazz (7-7) with 17 points, but the visiting team never found their shooting range, finishing with just 40.5-percent shooting from the field.

QUOTABLE: "We're going to still love him and coach him. That's all we can do."

-- Kings coach Keith Smart on Cousins

THE STAT: For the third consecutive game, the Sacramento Kings shot 50-percent from the field or better after failing to do so in any of the teams first 10 games of the season. The Kings have a lot of offensive weapons and it appears they are starting to figure out how to play together.

TURNING POINT: With the Kings leading 77-72 in the final two minutes of the third quarter, Cousins lost his cool and go a technical foul. While the Jazz player was headed to the line, Cousins continued to chat with the officials, picked up a second technical and an instant ejection from the game. In his absence, the Kings rallied and buried the visiting Jazz.

HOT: Foye lit the Kings up in the first quarter, dropping 13 points on 4-for-5 shooting from 3-point land.

NOT: After his hot start, Foye did almost nothing the rest of the way. The veteran guard finished with 17 points and bricked three straight free throw attempts in a crucial moment in the fourth quarter.

GOOD MOVE: Smart has continued to pare down his rotation and rely heavily on his starters over the last three games. The result has been wins in two of the last three games, with the one loss during the stretch coming on Friday night against the Jazz by just two points.

BAD MOVE: Cousins' "discussion" with the officials. Tonight, his ejection might have cost his teammates a much-needed win at home when he picked up back-to-back technical fouls in the span of 30 seconds in the third, had it not been for his teammates picking up the action in his absence.

NOTABLE: There is no love lost between Cousins and Derrick Favors. The Jazz big man was taken with the second overall pick in the 2010 Draft, a spot Cousins believes was rightfully his. Tonight, in Sacramento, Cousins took him to the woodshed before his ejection, including a couple of monster dunks in Favors' face. Favors finished with just two points and five fouls in 16 minutes of action.

UP NEXT: For the Jazz, Monday vs. Denver, Wednesday @ New Orleans, Friday @ Oklahoma City. For the Kings, Tuesday vs. Timber Wolves, Friday vs. Pacers, Saturday @ Clippers.

• Jazz: Bell, Murphy
• Kings: Honeycutt

• Jazz: --
• Kings: Cousins, Cousins, Thompson

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA
• Officials: #49 Tom Washington, #73 Tre Maddox, #59 Gary Zielinski
• Attendance: 12239
• Duration: 2:15