Toronto Raptors

nbaplatformservices

Harrison Barnes Brings the Heat to the North | Kings vs. Raptors

harrison-barnes-brings-the-heat-to-the-north-kings-vs-raptors

sacjwise

48 hours after a game in which the Kings saw a 14-point first quarter deficit in Minnesota, Sacramento turned the tables while building a 22-point lead in the first frame in Toronto.

"Complete turn around and shows the potential of this team," said DeMarcus Cousins following the game. "We just have to find a way to do this on a consistent basis."

Sactown was able to turn active defense - three steals in the first two minutes - to easy buckets while building a 17-2 lead in the first five minutes.

"Maybe the best quarter we played all year," echoed head coach George Karl.

The team finished the period with a 19-point lead, but Cousins picked up his third foul quickly in the second and played just 11 minutes in the first half. The lead shrank to seven by halftime.

Ironically, No. 15's challenge happened to be a talking point for himself, Rudy Gay and Rajon Rondo in a meeting just the night before.

"We met last night and we talked and one of the main points I made was we have to find a way...to impact the game even though we may not be having a great scoring night or whatever the case may be," revealed the All-Star. "It’s funny that I was the first victim of that. I don’t want to be hypocrite of what I was saying so I had to find other ways to impact the game."

However, led by Rondo (19 points and 13 assists) and Gay (19 points and nine rebounds), and the eventual return of Boogie, Sacramento was able to battle through the rest of the game and secure the win.

"I thought the first quarter was the best we’ve passed it, the best we found each other," continued coach Karl. "I don’t even remember a bad shot...I thought our guys, for the most part, from a focus of game plan were really good tonight."

Raptors guard Kyle Lowry came away impressed with the Kings start as well.

"They played tonight. They came out with intensity and speed that I don’t think we expected," said Lowry after the game. "They’re a pretty good team. Rondo’s playing like the real Rondo, Gay’s playing efficiently, and tonight, Cousins didn’t even play extremely well and they still won."

The Kings get a chance to see if they can come out on fire again as they take on the Wizards Monday night in Washington D.C.

first-quarter-shows-kings-potential

First Quarter Shows Kings Potential

Steven Wilson

For the first two periods of Wednesday night’s game north of the border, the Kings and Raptors played even. Tied at 54-all at the half, Sacramento was seeing solid production from Rudy Gay, DeMarcus Cousins and Darren Collison.

The third quarter proved again to be decisive.

The Raptors exploded for 39 points, extending their lead to double-digits and held on for the 119-102 victory. The loss drops the Kings to 16-28 this year and 6-13 away from Sleep Train Arena.

After going scoreless against Golden State last Friday, Gay found his groove early against Toronto. No. 8 got off to a hot start scoring 17 points in the first half thanks to a barrage of jumpers, layups and threes.

The Kings small forward also found a way to get his teammates involved as he distributed three helpers in the game.

Making his debut just 17 miles from his hometown of Mississauga, Ontario, Nik Stauskas stepped on the court early in the second period against the Raptors and drained a bucket over Greivis Vasquez.

Sacramento continues its road trip with a matchup against the Cavs on Friday night. Cleveland has won eight in a row, including a 99-94 victory over Portland on Wednesday night. Although LeBron James did not play, Cavs guard Kyrie Irving led his team to victory thanks to a NBA season-high 55-point performance.

kings-fall-to-raptors

Kings Fall to Raptors

Kings Rocket Department

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento Kings today acquired forwards Rudy Gay and Quincy Acy along with center Aaron Gray from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for guard Greivis Vasquez and forwards John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

“We’re excited to welcome these additions to our team,” said D’Alessandro. “In Rudy we’ve acquired one of the league’s proven scorers while Aaron and Quincy provide size and depth in our frontcourt. We also appreciate the contributions and efforts that John, Chuck, Greivis and Patrick made to the Kings organization. We all wish them the very best moving forward.”

Originally selected eighth overall by Houston in the 2006 NBA Draft, Gay has accrued averages of 18.0 points (.447 FG%, .344 3pt%, .777 FT%), 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.41 steals and 36.1 minutes per game in 530 career contests spanning eight professional campaigns with Memphis (2006-07 – 2012-13) and Toronto (2012-13 – 2013-14). Through 18 contests with the Raptors this season, he registered 19.4 points (.388 FG%, .373 3pt%, .773 FT%), 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.56 steals, 1.28 blocks and 35.5 minutes per game, leading the team in blocks and ranking second in scoring, rebounding and steals.

Gray, a 7-foot center, has posted averages of 3.5 points (.515 FG%, .562 FT%), 3.8 rebounds and 12.3 minutes per game in 285 career appearances with Chicago (2007-08 – 2009-10), New Orleans (2009-10), and Toronto (2011-12 – 2013-14). Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the second round (49th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, he has played for three teams in a six-year NBA career (Chicago 2007-08 – 2009-10, New Orleans 2009-10, Toronto 2011-12 – 2013-14). Gray saw action in just four games this season.

In Acy, Sacramento receives the 37th overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft, who has averaged 3.8 points (.539 FG%, .429 3pt%, .783 FT%), 2.6 rebounds and 11.2 minutes per game over 36 career games in two seasons with the Raptors. This season, he has seen action in seven contests as a reserve, posting 2.7 points (.429 FG%, .400 3pt%, .625 FT%), 2.1 rebounds and 8.8 minutes per game.

An 11-year veteran who was in his second stint with the Kings, Salmons is averaging  9.8 points (.434 FG%, .365 3pt%, .801 FT%), 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 27.2 minutes per game in 814 career games with Philadelphia (2002-03 – 2005-06), Sacramento (2006-07 – 2008-09 and 2011-12 – 2013-14), Chicago (2008-09 – 2009-10), and Milwaukee (2009-10 – 2010-11). Through 18 games (started eight) this season, he has posted  5.8 points (.350 FG%, .381 3pt%, 7-7 FT), 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 24.7 minutes per contest.

Vasquez, who was acquired during the offseason in a three-team trade by Sacramento from New Orleans in exchange for guard Tyreke Evans, averaged 9.8 points (.433 FG%, .320 3pt%, .938 FT%), 1.9 rebounds, a team-high 5.3 assists and 25.8 minutes per game in starting all 18 games for the Kings this season.  In his four NBA campaigns with Memphis (2010-11), New Orleans (2011-12 – 2012-13) and Sacramento, Vasquez is averaging 9.0 points (.429 FG%, .325 3pt%, .818 FT%), 2.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 24.6 minutes per game in 232 career contests. Born in Venezuela, he was drafted by the Grizzlies out of Maryland with the 28th overall selection of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Signed by the Kings as a free agent on December 23, 2011, Hayes is averaging averaging 4.0 points (.502 FG%, .612 FT%), 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 19.3 minutes per game in 568 career contests with Houston (2005-06 – 2010-11) and Sacramento (2011-12 – 2013-14). Through 16 games this season, he has registered 2.1 points (.438 FG%, .714 FT%), 2.9 rebounds and 11.2 minutes per game, including one start.

Patterson, acquired by the Kings last season in a multi-player trade with Houston, has accrued averages of 6.9 points (.410 FG%, .231 3pt%, .563 FT%), a career-high 5.8 rebounds and 24.4 minutes per game in 17 games (started six) this season. Drafted by the Rockets in the first round (14th overall) in the 2010 NBA Draft, he has amassed career averages of 8.2 points (.488 FG%, .341 3pt%, .713 FT%), 4.5 rebounds and 22.3 minutes per game in 204 contests in four seasons with Houston (2010-11 – 2012-13) and Sacramento (2012-13 – 2013-14).

Toronto Raptors

Harrison Barnes Brings the Heat to the North | Kings vs. Raptors

First Quarter Shows Kings Potential

Kings Fall to Raptors

Kings Acquire Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray from Toronto