Live From the Press Box - Sonics vs. Sacramento
Want to enjoy the electricity of at KeyArena even if you're thousands of miles away? SUPERSONICS.COM's Live From the Press Box in-game blog is your best bet. All night and all season long, Kevin Pelton will be bringing you pregame quotes, analysis and observations from the game. E-mail Kevin at sonicsconnection@sonics-storm.com. Make sure to keep coming back or refreshing so you get the latest content.
Martin Wins It
Final: Sacramento 103, Sonics 101
Wow. Not sure what else to say but that. A wild final 10 seconds were capped by Kevin Martin's game-winning jumper at the buzzer. The Sonics inbounded the ball to Damien Wilkins in the left wing and Wilkins was able to do little to free himself but still drilled a three-pointer with a hand in his face with 6.1 seconds left in the game. The Kings had no timeouts, so Martin dribbled the ball upcourt and was trapped in the corner by Earl Watson and Damien Wilkins. They gave him a slight lane along the endline and Martin took full advantage, leaning into a 20-foot jumper that tickled the twine. After a brief review, referees ruled that the shot counted, giving Sacramento the win.
Another loss at the buzzer is tough to take for the Sonics, but they competed hard after halftime and went back and forth with the Kings throughout the final two quarters. Sacramento just ended up making a couple more plays. The Sonics got balanced scoring, with six players scoring double-figures and two more finishing with nine points, and held a 45-36 advantage on the glass. Unfortunately, they'll look back with regret on missing 10 free throws tonight.
The Sonics will get another crack at it on Tuesday, when the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs pay their second and final visit to KeyArena. The Spurs haven't been dominant during the regular season, but you can expect them to be very much in the mix come springtime when the title is on the line. Don't miss this game - 
get your tickets now!
A Three Would Tie
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 101, Sonics 98
The Sonics got both ends of what they needed, with Kevin Durant scoring on a second effort with 12.2 seconds left. He fouled Kevin Martin with 10.1 seconds left, and Martin split the two free throws, leaving the Sonics down three after a 20-second timeout with a chance to tie.
Sacramento Scores
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 100, Sonics 96
Give the Kings credit for doing a great job of executing against tough odds. Reggie Theus drew up a play for Kevin Martin to get a lob at the basket. With Kurt Thomas face guarding and unable to jump to tip the lob, Martin got his hands on it and redirected it into the rim with 17.9 seconds left. Obviously, that hurts the Sonics, but they still have a full timeout and plenty of time if they can score here quickly and the Kings miss a free throw.
One on the Shot Clock
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 98, Sonics 96
Kevin Martin used a pick to free himself of Kevin Durant, but Chris Wilcox's help defense forced Martin into an off-balance look trying to draw a foul. It went out off of Wilcox with one on the shot clock and Reggie Theus takes a 20-second timeout to draw something up. Not sure what plays he's got for one on the shot clock.
Second Life
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 98, Sonics 96
Boy, the Sonics looked dead when, coming out of their last timeout, they saw Kevin Durant called for a charge followed by Mike Bibby hitting a jumper to give the Kings a seven-point advantage. No quit in these Sonics, however. Earl Watson hit a three-pointer from the corner and Kurt Thomas forced Brad Miller into a miss and a turnover, stealing the ball and drawing a foul in the process. Thomas hit both free throws to make it a two-point game with 43.1 seconds left. Get a stop and the Sonics are in business.
Painful Triple
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 96, Sonics 91
That one hurt. Kevin Martin found an open spot against the Sonics zone on the last Sacramento possession and hit a three-pointer fading slightly away from the basket to give the Kings a five-point lead with 1:48 left to play. Still plenty of time, but the Sonics will have to be almost perfect from here on out. Ron Artest earlier gave the Kings the lead with a turnaround jumper in the post.
Chance to Tie at the Line
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 91, Sonics 89
As we take our final mandatory timeout of the game, Kevin Durant is headed to the free-throw line for two attempts that could put the Sonics back in a tie with 2:48 left to play. The Sonics took the lead with a little over four minutes left when Wally Szczerbiak united the game with a three-pointer, but the Kings again had the answer, getting a Brad Miller jumper and a Mike Bibby triple to go ahead 91-89.
Called for a charge on his previous drive to the basket, Durant got the benefit of a close call this time down the court as Mikki Moore tried to contest Durant's shot in transition. The Sonics role with Durant and Earl Watson in the backcourt, Wally Szczerbiak and Chris Wilcox at forward and Kurt Thomas at center. Sacramento has its starting five in the game.
Defensive Struggle
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 85, Sonics 82
When the Kings put up 54 points in the first half, we weren't really figuring this game was going to be in the 80s so late in the night. Both teams have really picked up their defense during the fourth quarter, scoring a combined 20 points though six minutes and change. In game like this, every score is magnified, which made it problematic when the Sonics allowed Kevin Martin to leak out for a dunk after Chris Wilcox missed a free throw that would have tied the game.
If the Sonics are unable to come back tonight, free-throw shooting will be a major culprit. They are 23-of-33 (69.7%) tonight, while the Kings have missed just one of their 22 attempts, shooting 95.5%.
Lead Short-Lived
Fourth Quarter: Sacramento 83, Sonics 78
The Sonics waited more than 37 minutes to take their first lead, but it proved short-lived. Wally Szczerbiak finally put the Sonics on top with a jumper at the 10:34 mark of this final period, but the Kings answered with a 7-0 run to reclaim a more comfortable advantage. The lead is now five with 8:34 left. The Sonics have picked up their defense, cutting Sacramento's shooting to 44.6% from the field. Still, there's not a lot of margin for error right now.
Appropriately on "Kids at the Key" Sunday presented by Aquafina and the New B97.3, it was young Jalen (aka Lil' Boom) who stole the show during the Boom Squad's performance at the timeout, delighting the crowd and unsuspecting visiting mascots who didn't expect Jalen's precocious talent.
Sonics Within One After Three
End Third Quarter: Sacramento 74, Sonics 73
As we head to the quarter break, which features tandem dunks by the various mascots in attendance, the Sonics trail by just one point. I really thought they were going to finally take the lead on the final possession of the third, as Kevin Durant had a good look at a runner in the paint. It was off, a fitting end for a quarter where the Sonics were oh so close but never able to take the lead. Perhaps the missed dunk by Slamson of the Kings followed by Squatch cartwheeling in midair and dunking over eight mascots will serve as an omen for the final period.
Kings Head Coach Reggie Theus has an interesting perspective on Durant's development; he's the only guy who can claim to have coached against Durant each of the last two years. His New Mexico State squad played Durant's Texas team in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament in Spokane before Theus got the Kings job.
"He's had growth," Theus said before the game, citing Durant's improved maturity. Theus hopes not to see too much of that growth this evening.
Sonics Keeping Heat on Kings
Third Quarter: Sacramento 71, Sonics 67
The Sonics have spent much of this third quarter seemingly poised to break through and tie this game or take the lead, but it still hasn't happened. Another stretch saw Earl Watson at the line with the team down three. He split the two attempts before a John Salmons three-point play pushed the lead to five. However, the Sonics have it back down to four right now and have done a much better job defensively in this quarter. They're really active and have turned stops into points at the other end.
Earl Watson is playing some good basketball for the Sonics at the point. He's not shooting it well, but has seven assists and just two turnovers to go with his seven points. ... The Sonics bench has been really into it, standing much of the third quarter.
Sonics Have Had Their Chances
Third Quarter: Sacramento 62, Sonics 57
The Sonics have been within striking distance throughout this third quarter and have been close to really getting the crowd to explode on a couple of occasions. Most notably, they had the ball down three with possession and Kevin Durant leading transition, but Durant saw his shot blocked by John Salmons. Now Sacramento has gone back up five with Kevin Martin headed to the free-throw line.
Stil, the Sonics have been the aggressors during this second half, and that should pay dividends for them.
Congrats Squatch!
Halftime: Sacramento 54, Sonics 48
Halftime saw the mascots in attendance compete to see who could ride a mechanical bull at center court the longest. Your winners, appropriately, was the birthday boy, Squatch. Boomer from the Indiana Pacers topped the other mascots by hanging on for 14.1 seconds. The final competitor, Squatch easily beat that, riding for 20 seconds to the delight of the KeyArena crowd.
Sonics Within Six
Halftime: Sacramento 54, Sonics 48
Well, it wasn't necessarily textbook in nature, but the Sonics did cut their deficit down to six before heading to the locker room. The Kings led by 11 before the Sonics got hot, with a Kevin Durant jumper followed by a Wally Szczerbiak three-pointer. Durant ended the half with a floater in the paint to make it a six-point game. The late surge got Durant to 10 points in the first half on 3-of-8 shooting after a slow start. The Sonics are now shooting 44.2%, but need to get more stops on the other end.
Important Stretch Before Half
Second Quarter: Sacramento 48, Sonics 39
The Sonics have the crowd in it during the latter stages of this second quarter and looked to be making a run before Sacramento center Brad Miller slowed their momentum with a three-pointer, his 17th of the season. As we take our final mandatory timeout of the first half, there are 2:21 left before intermission and it would go a long ways toward improving the Sonics chances if they could slice their current nine-point deficit down to five or so. They'll start with Chris Wilcox at the free-throw line after the timeout.
Sonics Getting Outshot
Second Quarter: Sacramento 38, Sonics 28
A 7-1 run has pushed Sacramento's advantage to double-figures for the first time tonight at 10 points. The culprit is a familiar one: The Sonics just aren't putting the ball in the bucket at the same rate as their opposition. So far tonight, they're hitting 36.7% from the field while the Kings are up at 53.6%. Sacramento is doing a great job of sharing the basketball, with nine assists on 15 buckets. Five Kings players have six points apiece so far, and another two have scored four. The depth of weapons has made Sacramento tough to stop.
Hawes Homecoming
Second Quarter: Sacramento 31, Sonics 27
We're becoming old hands at this homecoming stuff, with Seattle natives Jason Terry and Aaron Brooks and Bremerton's Marvin Williams all preceding Spencer Hawes into KeyArena during the month of January, but this one seemed like a bigger deal. Not only is it Hawes' first trip back to Seattle as a pro, he's the only guy in this group who played his college ball at the University of Washington. Several of Hawes' former Huskies teammates have made it out to support him, including Ryan Appleby and Jon Brockman. Hawes also has about 70 friends and family members in the crowd tonight, with his parents - sitting two rows behind the Sacramento bench - purchasing a suite to accommodate everyone.
"My entire life I've been coming to Sonics games, sitting in those same seats," Hawes told reporters before the game, pointing to his usual spot in the KeyArena seats. "This was my first taste of the NBA; this has been my favorite team. I'm like a kid living a dream to be playing in the arena I feel like I grew up in."
Hawes remembered playing at the Key once before, during high school, when his Seattle Prep team (which also featured Portland forward Martell Webster) defeated Rainier Beach during the King Holiday Hoopfest. This is a little different. Kings Head Coach Reggie Theus said he wanted to make sure Hawes, not always a fixture in the team's rotation, got a chance to play because coming home is special. Then it's up to Hawes to create his playing time.
"I'm going to put him in," said Theus. "How long he plays is on him."
Salmons Beats Buzzer
End First Quarter: Sacramento 25, Sonics 18
Tough finish to the first quarter for the Sonics, as a Luke Ridnour foray to the basket ended in a block and the Kings recovered with just enough time left in the period to throw ahead to John Salmons for a layup that went through just before the buzzer. That makes it a seven-point margin as we head to the second quarter.
Good strong period of play for Sonics rookie Jeff Green, who added a block late in the first quarter o his steal n his four points. Green played the entire quarter, but will get a break as we start the second period with a lineup of five Sonics reserves - Luke Ridnour and Damien Wilkins in the backcourt, Wally Szczerbiak and Nick Collison at forward and Johan Petro in the middle. Seattle native Spencer Hawes is in to see his first action for Sacramento.
Sonics Getting More Energy
First Quarter: Sacramento 19, Sonics 14
The Sonics are back within five as we head to our second timeout of the evening, getting more energy over the last couple of minutes. One play in particular stands out. After some good movement from the Sonics in their zone, Jeff Green saved a ball headed out of bounds for a steal and ignited a fast break that ended with an Earl Watson layup. On the other end, Mikki Moore has taken advantage of the Sonics rotating off of him on defense to score eight early points on 4-of-6 shooting.
The Storm Dance Troupe performs during the timeout as part of "Kids at the Key" festivities. The 2008 Storm season is still a ways off, but draws nearer every day. We're less than three months away from the start of training camp. Season tickets and packages are on sale now - check out storm.wnba.com for more.
Kings Take Early Lead
First Quarter: Sacramento 15, Sonics 8
Another slow start for the Sonics on offense, as they've been limited to eight points over the first six and a half minutes of the game, shooting 4-for-13 from the field (30.8%) with a pair of turnovers. Kurt Thomas picked up a pair of early fouls battling Brad Miller in the paint and has checked out, replaced in the lineup by Nick Collison. Jeff Green has been the most productive Sonics starter, hitting a 20-foot jumper and getting to the basket for a score.
Squatch's Birthday festivities open up with the introduction of the other mascots in the house. Rocky from the Denver Nuggets, Rufus Lynx from the Charlotte Bobcats, Hip Hop from the Philadelphia 76ers, SkyHawk from the Atlanta Hawks, Moon Dog from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Coyote from the San Antonio Spurs, The Gorilla from the Phoenix Suns, Boomer from the Indiana Pacers and Slamson from the Kings are all here. They were ultimately joined on the floor by Squatch, celebrating the big day on his motorcycle.
Sonics Stay Healthy
Pregame
The Sonics had some injury question marks at yesterday's practice, and four players were listed as day-to-day coming into tonight's game - guards Kevin Durant (right thigh contusion) and Delonte West (plantar fasciitis, right foot), forward Nick Collison (right knee contusion) and center Kurt Thomas (right knee contusion). Today has brought better news - all four players are suited up and expected to be available for the Sonics tonight.
In terms of the severity of the new injuries (all contusions), Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo ranked Thomas' injury as the most painful (Thomas had an MRI on the knee which showed no structural damage), followed by Durant and then Collison. However, Thomas felt much better today than he did yesterday and will give it a go.
Signing On
Pregame
We're back at KeyArena tonight for one of my favorite games of the year - Squatch's Birthday celebration. In addition to all the action on the court as the Sonics host the Sacramento Kings, there will be plenty of wacky antics during timeouts from the nine NBA mascots in attendance to help Squatch celebrate. The Sonics will be looking to even the season series with the Kings, who won at ARCO Arena in early November on a late Francisco Garcia three-pointer.
