Trail Blazers-Kings Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Dec 23 2012 2:46AM

The Sacramento Kings have been through this song and dance before with DeMarcus Cousins, whose behavioral problems and apologies for them are wearing thin the patience of coach Keith Smart.

Cousins' latest transgression has landed him an indefinite suspension, which he'll begin serving Sunday night when host Sacramento looks to end the Portland Trail Blazers' five-game winning streak.

This marks the third suspension this season for Cousins, who served two games for a hostile exchange with San Antonio broadcaster Sean Elliott on Nov. 9 and another game for hitting Dallas' O.J. Mayo in the groin Dec. 10.

He and Smart had a heated confrontation during halftime of Friday's 97-85 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Smart told Cousins to stay in the locker and not join the team for the second half.

Cousins is averaging team bests of 16.6 points and 9.5 rebounds, though Smart is willing to sacrifice Cousins' potential contributions in order to keep his 22-year-old big man in line.

"We're trying to set a standard here, and when guys move below that standard, things are going to take place," Smart said. "We'll just move on to the next game and I'll make some decisions from there."

Cousins acknowledged his mistake, but it's unclear when he'll be allowed to play.

"I was wrong," Cousins said. "Something was said, and I just should have stayed quiet. Is it a humbling thing? Yeah, I will say that. I mean, I messed up and I apologize to my teammates for responding the way I did and I'll move on from it."

Jimmer Fredette scored 16 points off the bench for the Kings (8-18), who have lost six of seven and have played the last three without Tyreke Evans as he nurses a sore left knee.

It's uncertain when Evans, who has been the subject of trade rumors, will be able to return.

Sacramento, though, has won three of the last four meetings with Portland, including a 99-80 victory Dec. 3 as Cousins finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

The Blazers, who won the first meeting 103-86 behind 22 points from rookie Damian Lillard, will look to avenge that defeat while winning their sixth straight game after beating Phoenix 96-93 on Saturday.

Lillard scored a game-high 25 points and LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed Thursday's win over Denver with a sprained left ankle, added 17 and nine rebounds.

J.J. Hickson, averaging 16.7 points and 14.1 rebounds during his seven-game double-double streak, finished with 19 points and 15 boards. Hickson has a double-double in his last three games versus the Kings.

Portland (13-12), which is holding opponents to an average of 88.8 points and 41.9 percent shooting during its winning streak, moved above .500 for the first time since the opening week of the season.

"It lets us know we're going in the right direction," Lillard said. "For us to be able to come from four games below .500 and be able to get on a winning streak and get it done, I think it says a lot about where we're headed.

"I think we're capable of being a playoff team as long as we keep doing what we're doing."

The Blazers are only 4-8 on the road while seven of the Kings' eight victories have come at home.

Thornton helps Kings snap Blazers' win streak at 5

By JEFF WEIDEL
Posted Dec 24 2012 12:36AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) It appears the Sacramento Kings can play well without their controversial leading scorer and rebounder, DeMarcus Cousins.

With Cousins not in the arena due for disciplinary reasons, the Kings were an effective, unselfish team.

Now the question is whether they can keep it up.

Marcus Thornton scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half to help the slumping Kings snap Portland's five-game winning streak with a 108-96 victory over the Trail Blazers on Sunday night.

Cousins, who is the starting center, was suspended indefinitely Saturday for unprofessional behavior and conduct detrimental to the team. The third-year player and Kings head coach Keith Smart had a confrontation during halftime of Friday's 97-85 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Smart told Cousins to stay in the locker room and not join the team for the second half.

Sacramento had six players in double figures and recorded a season-high 31 assists against Portland. The Kings pulled away in the second half, shooting nearly 71 percent after the break. Using its eighth different starting lineup this season, Sacramento had a season-best 45 field goals.

"We were missing DeMarcus, so we had a different lineup out there and it worked out tonight," said James Johnson, who made a rare start at power forward while Jason Thompson moved to center. "We were a small team tonight so we ran fast and played very unselfish."

Both Thornton and Salmons helped spark the second-half surge after both were relative non-factors in the opening half. The pair combined for 31 second-half points, helping the Kings pull away.

Thornton made 8 of 11 shots in the second half and finished with four rebounds and four assists. Salmons had 13 of his 15 points in the second half and also added seven rebounds and seven assists.

"John is a very unselfish player and can get his own shots," Thornton said. "He got going in the second half. Me and the first half didn't do so well. But I came on at the right time and got hot in the second half."

Already ahead by nine points, the Kings opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run, including a 3-pointer by Thornton, to build their lead to 87-71. The Blazers trailed by at least 12 the rest of the way.

"I just think it was one of those games where the other team played better than us," Portland rookie guard Damian Lillard said. "There probably were some defensive mistakes we made that we shouldn't have and they took advantage of it."

Former Blazer Travis Outlaw had a season-high 15 points and Isaiah Thomas added 11 for the Kings, who had lost six of their previous seven games. Both Thompson and Johnson chipped in 10 points.

"It's definitely fun playing against some former teammates," Outlaw said. "I wish I could go out and do it against other teams that well. Everybody got great looks at the rim tonight. We played very unselfish."

LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who have lost two of three meetings with the Kings this season. Lillard had 15 points and seven assists, Nicolas Batum scored 17, and JJ Hickson had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Kings haven't said when Cousins will be allowed to rejoin the team again. He was told not to attend the game. Cousins is averaging team bests of 16.6 points and 9.5 rebounds.

"There are a few things we need to sit down and talk about," Smart said. "We have a couple of days before our next game and our executive staff will discuss things and go from there."

Sacramento also played without starting guard Tyreke Evans, who missed his fourth straight game with a sore left knee. Evans, the Kings second-leading scorer, has missed 8 of the past 12 games.

"I thought they played very well without their key players," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "In this league when players are missing for whatever reasons the other players take that as an opportunity to play well."

The scoring of Thornton kept the Kings on top in the third quarter. The streak-shooting Thornton had 11 points and Brooks hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, helping Sacramento carry an 80-71 lead into the fourth.

Outlaw keyed a second-quarter effort by Sacramento's reserves. He had 13 points and Thomas had eight points and five assists, helping the Kings outscore Portland 28-15 and take a 49-42 lead into halftime.

Trailing by 10 early in the second quarter, the Kings responded with a 15-0 run to take a 36-31 lead.

Notes: Portland made just 7 of 24 from 3-point range. ... Blazers starting guard Wesley Matthews has a left hip injury and didn't travel with the team. Seldom-used Victor Claver started in the Blazers backcourt. ... Outlaw's 13 points in the second quarter was two more than his season high entering the game. He scored 11 points against the Blazers in a Kings victory in Portland on Dec. 8. ... The two teams don't play again until Dec. 26 in Portland.

Notebook: Kings 108, Trail Blazers 96

James Ham, for NBA.com
Posted Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:45 AM - Updated Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:45 AM

THE FACTS: Despite missing starters Tyreke Evans (sore knee) and DeMarcus Cousins (team suspension), the Sacramento Kings gave their fans an early Christmas present, snapping the Portland Trail Blazers' five-game winning streak with a 108-96 win at Sleep Train Arena.

Marcus Thornton led the way for the Kings, scoring a team-high 22 points filling in for Evans at shooting guard. Travis Outlaw supplied the bench support, scoring 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting, while John Salmons added a solid 15-point, seven-rebound, seven-assist performance.

The Blazers were led by LaMarcus Aldridge, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Nicolas Batum added 17 points and eight assists, while former King J.J. Hickson notched his eighth straight double-double in the loss.

QUOTABLE: "The number one thing was 31 assists. That tells the story right there. Obviously making shots, but 31 assists for this group after everything we've been through over the last couple of days, for them to pull together ..."
-- Kings coach Keith Smart on his team's effort

THE STAT: The Kings were in the giving spirit, setting a season-high with 31 assists. Their previous high was 25 assists, which they had accomplished twice.

TURNING POINT: With his team leading 77-71 and time about to expire in the third quarter, Aaron Brooks buried a 27-footer to give the Kings a nine-point lead and all the momentum going into the fourth.

QUOTABLE II: "It felt great. Everyone was into the game, cheering for one another. That's what we need."

-- Thornton on the Kings' big win

HOT: For the second time in the month of December, seldom used forward Travis Outlaw got it going against his former team. In the second quarter, Outlaw scorched the Blazers for 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, helping the Kings take a 49-42 lead to the half.

NOT: The Blazers bench gave coach Terry Stotts very little in the loss. Meyers Leonard led the way with eight points, but the Kings bench outscored Portland's bench 43-26.

GOOD MOVE: Smart went to Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas in the second and fourth quarters and the pairing paid off. Jimmer finished with seven points and four assists, while Thomas added 11 points and five assists.

NOTABLE: Tonight's game was the first of Cousins' team mandated "indefinite suspension". There is no word as to how long the Kings' starting center will be out.

UP NEXT: For the Blazers, Wednesday vs. Sacramento, Friday @ L.A. Lakers, Saturday vs. Philadelphia. For the Kings, Wednesday @ Portland, Friday vs. New York, Sunday vs. Boston.

• Trail Blazers: Smith, Williams
• Kings: Evans

• Trail Blazers: --
• Kings: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA
• Officials: #47 Bennie Adams, #55 Bill Kennedy, #54 Nick Buchert
• Attendance: 13244
• Duration: 2:03