Carl Landry

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NEW YORK, April 6, 2015 – Sacramento Kings forward Carl Landry has been suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench area during an altercation, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 6:10 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Utah Jazz’s 101-95 win over the Kings on April 5 at Sleep Train Arena.

Landry will serve his suspension on April 7, when the Kings host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Sacramento's Carl Landry Suspended

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Steven Wilson

Chesapeake Energy Arena hasn’t been kind to the Sacramento Kings over the six years since the Thunder became its main tenants. OKC holds an 11-0 advantage dating back to the team’s first matchup in Oklahoma in February of 2009.  However, the one key constant in those games was reining NBA MVP Kevin Durant and explosive lead guard Russell Westbrook. KD has missed the entire season due to a right foot Jones fracture sustained over the summer and his running mate Westbrook suffered a second metacarpal fracture less than a week into the season.

The Kings now come into the matchup as the presumptive favorite boasting a 5-1 record to the Thunder’s 1-5 mark and Sacramento will look to earn its first win in Oklahoma City since the team arrived in 2008.

Broadcasts: TV – CSNCA
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Dish Hopper – 412-34
DirecTV - 698-1
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Rudy Gay, who was struggling with sickness much of the day, drained a baseline jumper over the Suns defense with 1:07 remaining in double-overtime to put his team up for good as Sacramento’s defense earned three consecutive defensive stops to close the game and walk away from Phoenix with their fifth consecutive victory.

"It was tough. Super tough," said Gay, who scored 11 points on 5-of-22 shooting from the floor. "You have to keep fighting. The coach kept calling my number and no matter what he had faith in me and I kept fighting."

DeMarcus Cousins finished with 25 points and a season-high 18 rebounds. Darren Collison scored 16 and Ben McLemore, who made a deep triple with just 1:49 to go to put his team up 112-11 and set the stage for Gay’s clutch jumper, added 15 points of his own thanks to 5-of-9 shooting.

“Phoenix came out on us early, hit us in the mouth and it was an uphill battle from the beginning of the game,” said Cousins after the game. “We stuck with it, stayed poised and played through adversity and came out with a very, very tough win.

The Suns jumped out to a 36-25 lead after the first period and led by as much as 12 in the game. But the Kings maintained composure and came up with keep defense stops down the stretch.

“In the first quarter, we weren’t ready to play,” admitted Head Coach Michael Malone. “We gave up 36 points and they shoot over 60% from the field. But the amazing stat was by the end of the game we get it down to 42%, but in the fourth quarter and both overtimes, we held that team to 26%. That’s 22 minutes of basketball and we held them to 26%... We held our composure, we were poised and guys kept on battling. Everybody made big plays. We got key stops down the stretch where we needed.”

Sacramento’s strong defensive 2nd half and timely buckets helped the Kings outlast Phoenix in double-overtime, beginning the season 5-1 for the first time since 1999-00 − a club that opened the season 9-1.

The victory also marked the first time the Kings have won five straight contests since the 2006-07 season and three straight road games for the time since the 1995-96 campaign.

While Darren Collison, DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay all joined the team at different times and in different ways, their play on the hardwood has been in unison. One was added this past offseason, one was drafted in 2010 and one was added in December of 2013, but each has been in sync and have carried the offensive load at points this year.

Big Cuz leads with way with 24.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, showing why he has a legitimate shot at making the All-Star team come February. Meanwhile, No. 8 is right on his heels with 22.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per outing. DC7 is currently third in scoring with 15.2 ppg, but has distributed a team-high 6.2 assists per game.

The potency of this three-headed attack has helped the Kings average the fourth-highest points per game this year (105.5).

“It just shows you how our team is coming together,” stated Cousins after the team’s win over Phoenix on Friday night. “Even through the tough times and adversity, even when things aren’t going our way, we found a way. Tonight, I feel like we showed a will to win and our team is continuing to grow every day − we get better every day. At the end of the night, as a team we still aren’t satisfied. We know we still have another level to go to and still have lots of improvement.”

Seventh-year pro Carl Landry was impressive against the Suns hitting 6-of-8 attempts from the floor for 12 points, while adding a season-high 8 rebounds.

“Giving my team an extra opportunity to have possessions is huge,” said Landry after the team’s practice on Thursday. “That’s exactly what we need. Competing against guys like Eric Moreland, Reggie Evans, Ryan Hollins, DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson every day in practice − our rebound game is crazy − so you have to find a way to get some rebounds.”

His productive night left him with the Kings highest plus-minus ratio at plus-19. In all, No. 24 racked up 37 minutes on the floor − nearly 14 more than any other game this season.

“I’m just trying to take it a day at a time and make sure that I improve every week,” he continued. “As long as you’re taking steps in the right direction, that’s all you can ask for after suffering two major injuries within the last year.”

After dropping a season-high 18 points on Denver earlier this week, Landry earned his praise from his coach who stated, “When Carl gives you a low-post presence like that off the bench − a guy you can play through to get a bucket or get to the free throw line − that’s very comforting as a coach.”

Malone also mentioned his familiarity with the 6-foot-7 forward stating that it’s his third time coaching Carl following stints with him in New Orleans, Golden State and Sacramento.

“He stepped up big for us [in New Orleans] when David West went out with an injury,” said Malone on Thursday. “He was big for us in Golden State when we beat Denver in the first round and gave San Antonio a tremendous second-round matchup. So when we signed him, that was the Carl Landry we envisioned. Unfortunately with injuries last year, we never saw that… The biggest thing now is his confidence. With him having those types of games − scoring, getting to the free throw line and even playing good post defense against the likes of Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge − his confidence is getting back to where it needs to be.”

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Preview: Kings (5-1) at Thunder (1-5)

The purple and black look to extend their four-game win streak Friday night against a potent Phoenix Suns team led by guards Goran Dragić, Eric Bledsoe and former Kings guard Isaiah Thomas. All three players are shooting over 41-percent this year and are averaging a combined 44 points.

Broadcasts: TV – CSNCA
Comcast - 34 / 721
Dish - 452 / 9574
Dish Hopper – 412-40
DirecTV - 698-1
AT&amp;T - 768 / 1768Radio – KHTK Sports 1140 AM

Join Kings Dancers and fellow fans to watch as Sacramento visits Phoenix looking for its fifth-straight win. Firestone will feature the Pacific Division showdown across its 22 flatscreen TVs. Plus, enjoy drink specials and giveaways throughout game. RSVP

It’s not often a team can earn a standing ovation in the first quarter of a game in November, but that was the case Wednesday night in Sacramento.

Fans exalted with appreciation as Sacramento took a 21-point lead into the final minute of the first quarter. With DeMarcus Cousins leading the way, shooting 6-for-7 and tallying 16 points, Sacramento was nearly 70 percent from the field in the opening frame. Big Cuz (30) and Rudy Gay (29) combined for 59 points as Sacramento rode a stellar first quarter to a 22-point victory, 131-109.

“In the first and third quarter, our defense was phenomenal,” said Head Coach Michael Malone. “Then in the second quarter, we allowed 35 points, and then we 37 allowed in the fourth quarter. I’m happy that we won and happy with all of the good things that we did, but I don’t want us to create poor habits. To allow a team to score 37 points in the third quarter, the way that they did—I told our team that is unacceptable. I do feel good about the win and we protected our home court, but we understand that we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We have to defend for 48 minutes.”

Following the lead of DMC, who earned his third double-double of the season with 30 points and 11 rebounds, the Kings had six players finish with at least 10 points. One such player was Carl Landry, who totaled a season-high 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting and a 10-of-10 clip from the charity stripe.

“Any time you can continue a win streak − four games in a row for the first time in 10 or 11 years in Sacramento − is definitely a good feeling,” said No 24 after practice on Thursday. “The fans have been behind us from day one and since the day I walked in to the city of Sacramento.”

As Carl Landry stated in practice on Thursday afternoon, ‘you can’t gauge the season off of one road-trip,’ but this week’s four-game road-trip will be a crucial test for the upstart Kings.

“These are all good teams − they have all proven themselves in the Western Conference, so we’re just going to have to go out there and just keep playing the way we’ve been playing,” said rookie Nik Stauskas.

Even after the team returns from its four-game road-trip, the opponents still feature two playoff teams from a year ago. Upon return to Sacramento, the Kings face San Antonio, New Orleans and Chicago at home. That makes a whopping five of the next seven opponents contenders in the 2014 NBA Playoffs.

“If we struggle a bit on this road-trip, there’s no need to panic,” said Malone. “We’re a team that’s a work in progress. We’re playing well right now, but there’s a lot of area for improvement. And that’s encouraging − to be 4-1 knowing that we still have a lot of work to do.”

With a potent offense and smothering defense, Sacramento is off to its best start since the 2001-02 season. The River City is averaging 103.8 points per outing through five games, while shooting 43.8-percent from the floor. Meanwhile, the defense is also holding teams to the fourth-worst 3-point shooting percentage this season (27-percent).

“The areas of concern for me right now is we’re [ranked] 21st in fast-break points allowed and 21st in free throw attempts allowed,” said Malone. “We’ll have our challenges [tonight]. They’re a tremendous running team − a team that puts a lot of pressure on you, so we can’t be satisfied − we have to address all the areas of concern. It’s better to address those through wins rather than losses.”

The Suns enter tonight’s matchup with a 3-2 record with a pair of wins against the Los Angeles Lakers and another over the San Antonio Spurs. Yet the team has suffered two losses over the last three games, most recently to the Memphis Grizzlies.

“Coming off a loss at home at the hands of Memphis, they’re going to come out in attack mode,” said Sacramento’s Head Coach Michael Malone. “They’re a tremendous running team and they put a lot of pressure on you. They have three guards in [Goran] Dragić, [Eric] Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas who are going to attack for 48 minutes.”

The Suns are 13th in the League (Kings are 6th) averaging 101.4 points per game. In their three wins however, that number rises to 108 ppg, compared to just 91 in both of Phoenix’s losses.

“In their building, they’re going to try to run you out of the gym,” continued Malone. “Memphis beat them up by slowing the game down and held them to 91 points.”

The Kings gameplan features three key principles. First, they will focus on taking care of the basketball − limiting their turnovers and making the most of their possessions. In line with the first goal, the second strategy is to ensure great shot selection, all in a means to make their possessions count. Lastly, Sacramento will try to replicate Memphis’ success by slowing the game down.

“Scoring can be hard in this League,” admitted Carl Landry. “You don’t want to give up easy buckets in transition, especially on the road. That’s what we’re trying to do − continue to play solid defense and limit the team from easy buckets.”

Landry has been a solid offensive presence off the bench for the Kings thus far this season averaging 9.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. That includes the second-most offensive rebounds on the team (10).

“Giving my team an extra opportunity to have possessions is huge,” stated No. 24 when asked if rebounding was his forte. “That’s exactly what we need. Competing against guys like Eric Moreland, Reggie Evans, Ryan Hollins, DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson every day in practice − our rebound game is crazy − so you have to find a way to get some rebounds.”

With seven years of experience under his belt, Landry knows how crucial this road-trip could be for the Kings late in the season.

“Going in to this four-game road-trip isn’t going to be easy,” he admitted. “Any time you can get a win on the road is huge.”

The Kings know it, the Suns know it and the fans know it.

All eyes will be on Isaiah Thomas as he partakes in his first meeting against his former team.

“The Phoenix game is going to be a little emotional,” admitted Rudy Gay. “Hopefully those emotions don’t get the best of us. They’re a good team − they have three guards who can score and create mismatches.”

After averaging career numbers last season in a Kings jersey with over 20-points and 6-assists per game, Thomas signed as a free agent with division-rival Phoenix. Now, Sacramento will face their former No. 60 pick in a Friday night tilt in the Grand Canyon State.

“I’m sure Isaiah has this game marked in his calendar,” said Malone.

“I have nothing but love for him − he’s tremendous. I really enjoyed coaching him and getting to know him and we have a great relationship. He’s playing really well for the Phoenix Suns right now, so we’re happy for him. But tomorrow night, he’s on the opposing bench and we’re trying to get a win.”

A 2011 Draft pick of the Kings, Malone described Thomas as a confident ball-handler who can shoot the three very well, get into the paint and find open teammates.

“We have to make sure that we are very physical with him and try to get into the ball on our pick-n-rolls,” said Malone when asked about how he will defend the 5-foot-9 point guard.

Power forward Jason Thompson added, “It’s not [one guy] versus him. It’s the Suns versus the Kings. We just need to keep the same mindset that we’ve had through the first week of the season and positive things are going to happen.”

Whatever happens, Malone knows one thing is certain.

“He’s a [great] player and we’ll have our work cut out for us,” the second-year Kings coach concluded.

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Preview: Kings (4-1) at Suns (3-2)

Flashback to the final week of September during the Sacramento Kings official Training Camp − Coach Michael Malone is on the sideline in front of the team’s branded backdrop surrounded by media members. When asked about the importance this week will have on the season, he ponders the question before responding.

“[Training Camp] isn’t just about offense, defense and X’s and O’s,” said the Kings leader at the time. “The more important thing is relationships and building a bond and a trust with each other.”

Six weeks later, the team looks impeccable with a 4-1 record following back-to-back wins over the Denver Nuggets, the second in convincing fashion. After a 28-win season in 2013-14, the Kings have looked like a new team so far this year and the turnaround has been impressive.

It has taken time for Sacramento’s front office to piece together this now tight-knit group − a squad with fight, heart and a never-say-never attitude.

“We’re definitely a team that’s trying to change the culture of this organization,” said forward Carl Landry, “to get it back on track, where this team once was. We just have to take it step-by-step and day-by-day.”

Some teams may relish in the fact their team is 4-1, but these Kings are different. They recognize the continued need for improvement. While still enjoying a hard-earned win, each player is responsible for bringing a tireless work ethic to practice every single day.

“We’re hungry,” admitted Landry. “Every practice, we’re trying to get better. Every game, we want to continue to win. We know it’s not a sprint − it’s a marathon. We have to continue to take it game-by-game.”

Wednesday’s comfortable win over the Denver Nuggets not only gave Sacramento its first 4-1 start since the 2001-02 season, but it gave the Kings a little breathing room heading into a tough four-game road-trip.

“Thank goodness we’ve been able to start the way we have and build a 4-1 cushion,” said Head Coach Michael Malone after practice on Thursday. “We talked about that on Media Day in our team meeting. We wanted to have a great month of October so we could try to steal some games early, knowing that our schedule is very demanding.”

Over the next week, the purple and black will face Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Memphis, teams with a combined record of 12-7 and 11-3 if you remove the Thunder’s 1-4 mark.

“I think it’s going to be a great test,” Malone continued. “Any time you go up against the likes of Phoenix, Memphis, OKC, Dallas, you’re going to have a great understanding of where you’re at [as a team] when you come back.”

Boasting one of the best center-small forward combos in the game, the Kings will be counting on DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay all year long. The dynamic duo has been stellar through five games averaging a combined 48.4 points and 16.8 rebounds per game.

Rudy and DMC are also leading the charge off the court and in the locker room showing leadership and poise even through adverse times. Their guidance has created a close bond between everyone on the team.

“The guys have come together − we have a tremendous group,” said Coach Malone. “I’ve noticed a significant change with DeMarcus and Rudy and how vocal they’re being and how positive they’re being even if maybe we’re going through a rough time during a game − there’s a lot of positive feedback.”

After the home opener − a loss to Golden State − the Kings remained calm. Instead of panicking, the team responded with four-straight wins, including victories over Portland and Los Angeles. A large part of that is due to the veteran leadership on the team.

“You can see it on our bench during the game,” said Malone. “Our bench is up, our bench is in to the game and like we always say, it’s amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit − we all just want to win and I think guys are checking their egos at the doors.”

In all, Sacramento has nine players with at least five years of experience in the NBA. Although they haven’t played a full season together, the core of the Kings is a close-knit group of young and talented young men.

“We have a good mix right now [of veterans and young guys],” said Malone. “When you see guys up and supporting their teammates throughout the game, I think that bodes well for your team’s camaraderie and chemistry.”

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Kings Notes: Changing the Culture

Sacramento’s 110-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night was a complete-team effort.

Point guard Darren Collison handled the early scoring duties as he tallied 11 of his game-high 21 points in the first 24 minutes. DeMarcus Cousins was sound once again on the offensive end as he chipped in 19 points and 5 rebounds. Rudy Gay was clutch in the second half totaling 12 of his 14 points after halftime.

Meanwhile, Carl Landry (14pts), Ramon Sessions (13pts), Reggie Evans (14rebs), and Ray McCallum (4pts) all provided a spark off Sacramento’s bench to help the team win its third consecutive game and second in a row on the road.

Following the offense’s lead, the defense put on a clinic holding Denver to 39-percent shooting on 93 total attempts, including 21-percent from beyond the arc while forcing 15 turnovers.

The Kings entered Monday night’s game as one of the top defenses in the League and as one of the best free throw shooting teams, ranking 4th in total free throw attempts this season.

The team continued that streak inside the Pepsi Center earning a total of 47 trips to the charity stripe. Sacramento made 40 freebies (85-percent), including an 11-for-13 clip from Collison and a perfect 10-for-10 clip from Sessions.

Each team was slow out of the gates as both shot under 35-percent from the field in the first half. DMC was the first player to put the Kings on the scoreboard as he displayed his strength and soft hands snagging a pass in traffic and finishing the layup despite being fouled. The 6-foot-11 center drained the free throw to tie the game early, 3-3.

Sacramento started 2-for-9 from the floor, but the Kings defense held the Nuggets to 1-of-11 in the first five minutes of action.

With less than three minutes left in the first qurter, Jason Thompson followed a missed shot and hammered home a two-handed dunk with aggression. However, the Nuggets would retake the lead shortly after.

Trailing 22-19 at the first quarter break, head coach Michael Malone inserted Landry who provided a quick four points in the first minute of the frame. Sessions added a pair of free throws and the Kings regained their lead, 25-23.

The teams went back and forth over the next minute as Nate Robinson tallied a pair of buckets - the second from long range - to push his team out in front by two before Derrick Williams snagged an offensive board and enthusiastically slammed it back through the net.

No. 13 was productive in the limited time he saw in the first half adding four rebounds and five points.

Collison and Cousins were the only two Kings in double-figures in the first half as they combined for 23 points. Meanwhile, the reserves tallied 22 as Sacramento held a 51-46 lead after the first half of play.

Shooting under 40-percent in the first stanza, both teams started to find their rhythm in the second half as the Kings connected on 5 of their first 9 shots of the third period and the Nuggets hit 50-percent of their attempts (7-for-14).

Collison found his sweet spot on the floor as he drained a trio of buckets to surpass the 15-point plateau midway through the third. He also found Ben McLemore on an alley-oop jam in transition.

The home team kept the game close with strong shooting. After hitting just 15 of 44 tries in the first half (34-percent), the Nuggets hit 40-percent of their 49 attempts after halftime. But thanks to the strong play of the Kings backcourt, Sacramento maintained its lead.

Sessions tallied 7 points in the second half and drained a crucial three in the fourth period. Meanwhile, Ray McCallum scored four points in the final frame - including a picturesque fast break layup - and provided solid defense.

Down the stretch, the Kings looked to their star small forward, who added a pair of buckets late in the game to keep the Kings out in front - the second of which was part of three-point play. Gay finished with 14 points - his fourth consecutive double-digit scoring outing.

Collison drained three of four free throw attempts in the final minute giving the purple and black their third-consecutive victory.

Exhibiting his multi-dimensional offensive abilities, Darren Collison scored at will against the Nuggets defense as well as found open teammates. No. 7 finished the game with 21 points, six assists, four rebounds, and had just two turnovers in nearly 30 minutes of action.

DC also started 7-for-7 from the free throw line, where the Kings have done a fair amount of damage this season. Collison has scored in double-figures in each of his four games as a member of the Kings averaging 16.2 points per contest and 6.5 assists per game.

The Kings big man finished Monday night with the second-most points (19) of any player in the game trailing only Collison. Cousins connected on 46-percent of his shots against the Nuggets and 77-percent of his free throw attempts. No. 15 will look for another strong performance against Denver this Wednesday as the teams meet again, this time in Sacramento.

Although he struggled to find his rhythm in the first period, Rudy Gay made his impact felt in other ways. He tallied three assists and snagged three boards for his team in 12 minutes of action in the opening stanza.

His offensive struggles faded quickly in the second half.

Gay found the net within the first 20 seconds of the third frame on a long jumper, ultimately scoring 12 of his 14 points after halftime. No. 8 earned six of those points from the free throw line where he is shooting 86-percent this year.

Providing a spark off the bench, Carl Landry entered the game at the start of the second period and hit three of his first five shots from the floor for six points. No. 24 showed his ability to score at the rim, twice converting tough buckets underneath the hoop. The seventh-year pro finished with 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

The Kings will head home for a rematch with the Nuggets Wednesday night at 6:30 P.M. (PST). Get Tickets

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Kings Win Third In a Row

Despite a strong debut from rookie Nik Stauskas (9 first-half points), a smothering three-point defense that held Golden State to 22-percent from long range, and a double-double from DeMarcus Cousins (21pts, 11rebs), the Sacramento Kings couldn’t manage a win in their 30th-season home opener.

The Warriors used a 48-28 second-half to earn the victory and snap Sacramento’s ten-game winning streak in home openers.

Following an inspirational pregame ceremony and an eye-popping on court display showcasing legends and current superstars, the 2014-15 season began for the purple and black.

On a night that the organization honored the original 1985 team, the current squad came out strong. The Kings jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, but the Warriors stormed back with a 10-3 run. As the starters subbed out, Head Coach Michael Malone called upon his reserves to carry the load.

Playing against his former team, Carl Landry provided a key spark in the first half with six points off the bench and six rebounds, five of which were offensive boards.

Ramon Sessions then helped the Kings retake the lead early in the second quarter as he sped past the defense in transition, drew contact from Warriors center Andrew Bogut and converted a layup. The ensuing free throw gave his team a 29-27 lead with 9:23 to play before halftime.

Although the Kings hit just 26-percent of their attempts in the second frame, they outscored the Warriors 26-22 thanks to strong defense and a stellar free throw percentge. The purple and black made 15-of-17 free throws in the quarter including eight from DMC.

A normally high-powered offense, the Warriors were off from beyond the arc as they hit just 10-percent (1-of-10) of their attempts through the first two periods of play. Klay Thompson ended up as the only player on Golden State to drain a three in the first half. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry kept the visitors in reach scoring 12 of his game-high 24 points by hitting 3-of-5 field goals and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe.

Understanding the threat the Warriors pose in transition, the Kings defense was on point in the first half, which helped the home team earn an 11-7 advantage in fast-break points to take a two-point lead at intermission, 49-47. The Kings also outrebounded the Warriors, 30-21 and 11-3 in offensive rebounding in the first stanza.

Although both offenses were sluggish early on, Golden State’s backcourt came alive in the second half and Sacramento’s faded. Curry added 12 more points to his stat line, while Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green both tallied 8 leading the blue and yellow to a 47-percent clip in the final half.

On the other end, Cousins was productive with eight points of his own, but the rest of the team combined for just 20 points in the final two periods. The Kings were held to 30-percent from the floor and just 9-percent from beyond the arc as the Warriors closed out the win on Sacramento’s home court.

Stepping on the floor for the first time with less than five minutes left in the first quarter, Nik Stauskas earned a standing ovation from his home crowd. As the opening period wound down, the rookie shooting guard connected on a trey from the far corner – his first basket in his NBA career – and the crowd went wild.

Stauskas shined in the first half tallying nine points on 3-of-5 shooting and adding two threes in just under 12 minutes of action.

Midway through the second quarter, fans turned their attention to the World Series.

The anticipation was palpable. As the final pop-up of the World Series hung in the air so too did the reactions from Kings fans. Turning to see the TVs inside the luxury suites inside Sleep Train Arena, fans saw exactly what they wanted – A game-7 win for the San Francisco Giants.

The crowd erupted, fans high-fiving each other and suddenly the sea of purple had a tint of orange to it. Fans –whether Golden State or Sacramento – united as one in unison to cheer for Northern California’s most recent sports accomplishment.

Just before the game, the organization honored a fallen member of the Kings family and all impacted by the recent Sacramento tragedy.

The crowd fell silent and the only light visible inside Sleep Train Arena illuminated Seat 5, Row A in Section 106 in honor of the life, service and commitment of long-time Kings fan &amp; Season Ticket Member Deputy Danny Oliver, and Placer County Detective Michael Davis.

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Recap: Kings Fall to Warriors in Home Opener

Saturday’s win over visiting Maccabi Haifa signified two things for the Sacramento Kings.

 First, with Rudy Gay on the bench nursing a sore left ankle, Head Coach Michael Malone learned Omri Casspi and Derrick Williams could step up when called upon. Second, the purple and black still have things to clean up, both offensively and defensively.

“We’re not going to measure ourselves against Maccabi,” admitted Malone following the 91-59 victory. “We have to hold ourselves to a much higher standard knowing full well that we have two more games to try and get this right going into Opening Night against Golden State and against Portland right after that.”

Although the Kings found their rhythm in the second half – dominating the Greens 52-31 after intermission – the home team committed 25 turnovers, which increased their average to 20.8 through five games.

“We still have two more to go and hopefully we have less mistakes the closer we get to Opening Night,” stated DeMarcus Cousins, who led the team in scoring with 15 points, but also had nine turnovers. “We still have work to do.”

Searching for a win against an NBA team after suffering two losses to start their four-game U.S. road trip, Maccabi Haifa realized they would need to slow down Sacramento’s big man if they wanted to right the ship.

Their effort led to a number of trips to the free-throw line for the Kings center, as Cousins attempted 12 free throws while the Greens were called for 37 personal fouls.

“That was rough,” said Cousins. “They were a very feisty team, but I think we stayed poised through it all. We were still trying to run our plays the right way.”

With two preseason games to go, Sacramento is focused on making its final tune-ups before the regular season tips-off on Oct. 29. 

“Right now, I don’t think it’s about who our opponent is,” he stated. “It’s about us, finding our identity as a team, and playing the right type of basketball that we’re trying to play this season.”

Combining for 19 points and seven rebounds, reserve small forwards Omri Casspi and Derrick Williams filled the void of injured star Rudy Gay admirably.

“It was really fun to be able to compete and play with the starting unit,” admitted No. 18. “Coach told me last night and I was really excited.”

During his tenure with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Casspi had faced the Greens and admitted to getting goose bumps prior to tip-off.

“During the (Israeli) national anthem, I started thinking about games we played against them back in 2008 and 2007,” said No. 18 after the game. “It was fun. It was a good experience, and I think they enjoyed (playing) against an NBA team.

“They competed. You have to tip your hat to them – they played hard, they fouled, they didn’t want to [give in after] their tough loss [Friday] night.”

Although Casspi stepped in for Gay on Saturday, the sixth-year pro is confident the pair can be successful on-court, too.

“Rudy and I can play together,” he admitted when asked about his role with the club. “Whether we are playing small with Rudy at the four or at the two. 

“We can play together or [I can be his] substitute – I will do whatever it takes."

With only two games remaining in exhibition play, Sacramento’s 2009 draftee is already seeing the value of practicing against one of the best in the business. 

“I like to compete against him in practice because he makes me better,” said Casspi of No. 8. “He’s obviously one of the best players on our team, he’s a great role model and a great guy. 

OC’s multi-faceted game includes stints at power forward acting as a stretch-four and drawing the defense away from Cousins in the lane. His versatility will be invaluable when Coach Malone looks for a spark off the bench.

“One thing I want to bring every night is energy,” stated Casspi. “I also want to play tough defense, run the floor like a deer – be the first one down there – and compete for rebounds.”

Continuing rehabilitation from last year’s season-ending injury, Carl Landry posted one of his strongest exhibition outings against Maccabi Haifa. A performance that gave fans a glimpse of the player he is when operating at 100 percent.

“He has flashes in practice where he has shown he can still be the old Carl Landry,” admitted Coach Malone. “But I’m not worried about it – I know he’s going to get [back] there at some point.”

No. 24 finished the game with eight points – his highest output in four appearances this preseason – to go along with four rebounds, a steal and a block.

“He’s healthy,” continued Malone. “I’m not ready to say he’s 100 percent, but physically, he’s fairly healthy. Mentally, I still think there is a little reservation in his mind, which obviously is to be expected at times. He just needs to let loose, trust, go out there and play.”

Carl Landry

Sacramento's Carl Landry Suspended

Sacramento's Carl Landry Suspended

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