Wizards-Kings Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Jan 15 2013 4:42PM

The return of John Wall even in limited minutes has seemed to ignite the Washington Wizards, who are on the verge of a four-game winning streak that would double their previous win total.

Accomplishing that feat requires beating the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night to begin their five-game, eight-day western road trip.

One game after rookie Bradley Beal hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining to beat Oklahoma City 101-99 on Jan. 7, Wall returned in a reserve role and scored 14 points in a 93-83 win over Atlanta on Saturday.

He scored 12 and added six assists off the bench in nearly 20 minutes of Monday's 120-91 rout of Orlando, and Wall's quickness and ability to lead the break are still apparent despite him sitting out the first 33 games with a left knee injury.

The Wizards (7-28) had a season-high 29 fast-break points Monday.

"It just came out of nowhere how fast we're playing now," said Beal, averaging 18.3 points during the winning streak. "With John back, the speed is so much faster."

Coach Randy Wittman has noticed a difference in his team's play with Wall in the lineup, too. Washington set season bests for points, field-goal percentage (56.1) and 3-point percentage (63.6) against Orlando.

"He brings the added dimension that nobody has," Wittman said. "Guys have to run harder."

Though Wall's return undoubtedly has had a positive impact, Washington believes it played much better than its record indicated prior to this run. The Wizards have lost 12 games by six points or fewer, including three in overtime and two in double OT.

"These games have not been flukes, we've just been playing very well," said guard A.J. Price, who has scored 34 points while shooting 11 of 21 over his last two games. "We lost so many close games that I think once we started losing so many in a row, it became a mental thing."

Washington - an NBA-worst 1-15 on the road - has a tough task ahead as it faces Denver, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland and Utah on its trip, which begins against a Kings team that ended a four-game losing streak with a 124-118 win over Cleveland on Monday.

Sacramento (14-24), which concludes a five-game homestand Wednesday, lost by an average of 21.5 points during the skid.

"We definitely took a step forward and that's a good thing," said center DeMarcus Cousins, averaging 22.5 points and 11.7 rebounds over his last six. "It feels good to come in and get a win, especially after that embarrassment (128-99 loss to Miami on Saturday). It feels good."

Tyreke Evans likely will remain in the starting lineup against Washington after scoring 18 points Monday. He made his first start in his fourth game back from missing 11 with a sore left knee.

Marcus Thornton scored 20 off the bench and seemed at full strength in his third game back after missing five with a sprained left ankle.

"I very much wanted Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton to have a good game," coach Keith Smart said. "I have to get those two guys back into a flow with the game. I thought both of those guys did a great job with that."

Evans and Thornton each scored 22 points in starting roles to help overcome 21 and 11 assists from Wall in Sacramento's 115-107 road victory Feb. 22 in the most recent meeting.

Cousins' double-double lifts Kings over Wizards

Posted Jan 17 2013 1:58AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Tyreke Evans says he's feeling more comfortable, which means that opponents are starting to feel very uncomfortable trying to contain the Sacramento Kings talented guard.

Evans had 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and also hit a free throw late in the game, helping the Kings beat the Washington Wizards 95-94 on Wednesday night.

With the score tied, Evans was fouled on a drive to the basket with 11.4 seconds left. He made one of two free throws to give the Kings a 95-94 lead.

"I had him beat, and I don't think he meant to do it, but he (Nene) tripped me," said Evans, who ran down the shot clock before making his move to the basket.

Evans said the second free throw, a miss that was way off the mark, slipped out of his hands and the Wizards secured the rebound and called timeout.

Bradley Beal missed a runner in the closing seconds and John Wall followed with a desperation shot from inside the foul lane that never hit the rim.

"I was open at first because I set my man up, and we set a great screen on (John) Salmons," Bradley said. "He was stuck and I was wide open. At the last minute they switched and I had Chuck Hayes on me. He took a bad angle, but he got into my body and I had to take a tougher shot than I wanted."

Evans had a strong game offensively, but had plenty of help. DeMarcus Cousins had nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and also had 16 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Salmons made a big three in the fourth quarter and also scored 21 points.

Jimmer Fredette scored all 12 of his points for the Kings in the second half when they had to overcome an 11-point deficit. Sacramento outscored the Wizards 23-17 in the fourth quarter in improving its home record to 12-10.

"Having three players have 21 points, that's sharing the ball," said Cousins, who had six of the Kings' 18 turnovers. "It was a good team game for us all around."

A rookie guard, Beal scored 26 points and made six 3-pointers, both career highs. Despite Beal's effort and a solid game overall offensively, the Wizards had their three-game winning streak snapped. The modest streak included impressive wins over Oklahoma City and Atlanta.

The Wizards have the worst overall record (7-29) in the NBA and are also a league worst 1-16 on the road. But Kings coach Keith Smart still thought his team was in for a tough game.

"I knew how well they were playing and the teams they had beaten," Smart said. "I knew they were playing like a good basketball team entering this game."

Kevin Seraphin had 16 points and Nene contributed 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Wall had 14 points, 10 assists and three steals in a season-high 26 minutes.

Wall had a chance to give the Wizards a lead with 30 seconds left. He was fouled after stealing the ball from Cousins. But Wall missed both free throws and the Kings secured the rebound and called timeout with 30 seconds left to set up Evans' drive.

It was Wall's third game after missing the season's first 33 with an injured his left knee. He demonstrated his trademark quickness in the opening half, getting to the basket numerous times when he scored 10 points in only nine minutes.

Washington shot 45 percent, hit 8 of 17 threes, and tied a season-high with 32 assists. Yet they faded in the fourth quarter, shooting 6 of 17 and committing five turnovers.

"I felt good tonight, except that I missed two free throws," Wall said. "I'm not taking any credit from them. I just felt like we gave the game away. We were up big twice, but Jimmer came off the bench and gave them a big spark."

The Kings were down five points in the fourth before Cousins took over. He made a reverse layup and then on the Kings' next possession muscled inside for a basket and was fouled. Cousins made the free throw, and the three-point played tied the game at 91 with 1:46 left.

The Wizards led 56-48 at the half and were able to maintain a five-point edge heading into the fourth despite shooting 8-for-21 in the third quarter.

After not playing in the first half, Fredette got the Kings stagnant offense going in the third quarter, making his first shot and adding a pair of 3s.

"I thought that we needed a shooter, we got that (from Fredette," Smart said. "Jimmer had a couple of plays and made some big 3-pointers for us."

Sacramento players contend they have not let the rumors of the team being bought and moved next year to Seattle bother them. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star, is leading the effort to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

Notes: Wall converted on a a lob pass early in the second quarter and was fouled on the play. He made the free throw for his second three-point play of the period. ... Seraphin, the Wizards' backup center, scored eight points in four first-quarter minutes. . Ankle problems sidelined Washington's Jordan Crawford and Trevor Booker. ... The Kings had a season-best 62 points in the paint.

Notebook: Kings 95, Wizards 94

James Ham, For NBA.com
Posted Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:30 AM - Updated Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:30 AM

THE FACTS: The Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards gave the fans their money worth on Wednesday night at Sleep Train Arena, as the Kings held off two late shot attempts by the Wizards for a 95-94 victory.

DeMarcus Cousins had another double-double, finishing with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Tyreke Evans finished with 21 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in a near triple-double performance, while veteran John Salmons was the third Kings player to score 21 points in the win.

Bradley Beal set a new career-high, scoring 26 points on an impressive 9-for-14 from the field. Nene was a beast in the post, finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. John Wall scored 14 points and handed out 10 assists off the Wizards bench.

QUOTABLE: "I just think it was really hard to keep the team from going to Anaheim and we did that. I think it was really hard to come up with a financing plan for a new arena in a down economy in California and we did that. We've had our back against the wall before. I think we have what it takes. I just hope all the pieces fall into place and we get an opportunity to present and submit a fair and competitive offer."

-- Mayor, and former Suns All-Star, Kevin Johnson from his courtside seat on Sacramento's chances of keeping the Kings

THE STAT: While the Wizards shot 8-for-11 from the foul line, it was the two misses in the closing seconds that changed the outcome of this game.

TURNING POINT: This game was back and forth all the way down the stretch, but with 30.2 seconds remaining and the game tied at 94-94, Wall bricked a pair of free throws. Evans hit one of his two attempts at the other end and the Kings held on for one point win.

HOT: Beal was on fire in the first half, scoring 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting, but so was Evans. The Kings shooting guard matched Beal's total of 15 points, but shot a stellar 6-for-7 from the field before the break.

NOT: Trevor Ariza struggled mightily from the field, missing all six of his field-goal attempts and finishing with a goose-egg in 21 minutes of action.

GOOD MOVE: After not playing Fredette in the first half, Kings coach Keith Smart turned to his second-year guard late and he responded with 12 big points off the bench.

BAD MOVE: Not using Fredette in the first half after he scored 16 points in 13 minutes in the Kings win on Monday night.

QUOTABLE II: "People forget this is only Jimmer [Fredette's] second year, so he's still learning how to play. He's still trying to find himself. He's having a hard time because he is a good scorer for us, but at the same time, he has to come out there and run the point guard position. He has to balance that out and he's still trying to find his way."

-- Cousins on Jimmer Fredette

NOTABLE: Beal set a new career-high with 26 points, including 6-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. The Wizards had 32 total assists, but had their three-game win streak snapped.

UP NEXT: For the Wizards, Friday @ Denver, Saturday @ Clippers, Monday @ Portland. For the Kings, Friday @ Memphis, Saturday @ Charlotte, Monday @ New Orleans.

• Wizards: Martin
• Kings: Honeycutt

• Wizards: --
• Kings: --

• Lead Changes: 17
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #27 Dick Bavetta, #75 Eric Dalen
• Attendance: 11611
• Duration: 2:04