Ray McCallum

Steven Wilson

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

Flashback to early July as the Kings Summer League team faced the San Antonio Spurs. Rookie Nik Stauskas was on the sideline before the game and admitted to feeling a few butterflies prior to his first taste of NBA action.

Those feelings remerged on Sunday afternoon versus the Toronto Raptors as the Ontario native made his debut in his home country against a team he followed since he was a kid.

“When I first checked into the game, I was a little nervous,” admitted Stauskas. “But once you get into the flow of everything, once I got my first shot, I settled down and I got more comfortable.”

Despite the nerves, No. 10 connected on his first three attempts, including a pair of triples in the first quarter.

“I made some mistakes both offensively and defensively, but we’re going to watch some film and learn from it,” he said. “For my first game, I think I held up alright.”

Following a full day of practice on Monday, a few shooting drills and a series of sprints, the Michigan product will prepare for his first appearance in Sacramento.

“It will be exciting to have our home fans out here watching us,” he stated.

Nik – ‘That Happens For Every Rookie’:

Known more for his limitless range and precise stroke than his defensive ability, Stauskas will be constantly tested by opposing offenses this season.

“I felt like whomever I was guarding, they were running plays to go after me every time,” said Stauskas referencing his preseason debut against the Raptors. “I guess I just have to expect that now.”

Possessing deceptive athleticism and a constant motor, the Kings Draft pick was paired against a trio of potent offensive competitors, who all tried to score on the newbie.

“I had to guard guys like DeMar DeRozan, Terrance Ross, Lou Williams – all proven players in the NBA,” said Stauskas. “For me to have that experience of going up against them and with them being as physical as they can against me and attacking me is just going to make me better.”

A target throughout the night, No. 10 was still able to disrupt the Raptors guards timing and even created a steal in the second quarter.

Afterwards, Kings Head Coach Michael Malone praised Stauskas’ relentlessness stating, “I thought Nik did a really good job and even defensively, and that’s where the big question mark has been – is he going to be able to guard?”

“He has a fight to him – he’s not just going to roll over and give in and he’s going to make you work on the other end. He had the most contested shots – which we chart on our defense – of anybody on our team, which leads me to believe he’s got a competitive spirit and he gives multiple efforts.”

In the final day of Training Camp, Coach Malone stated one of the team’s goals was to limit their turnovers to 12 or fewer. On Sunday against Toronto, Sacramento gave the ball away 29 times.

“You can’t beat yourselves and your opponent in the same game – I’ve said that for a long time,” stated the second-year head coach. “We continued to beat ourselves all night long. In the third quarter we did a good job, built a lead and did very well. We were playing really good defense through three quarters and then the fourth quarter was awful for us – offensively and defensively.”

Following the game, Malone stated his team was trying to do too much – moving too quickly and making snap decisions, even if the intentions were good, the result wasn’t always what he wanted.

“We just have to settle down and value the basketball,” he said. “That’s probably our biggest challenge on offense – slowing down and realizing that we can’t play offense and defense at the same pace.”

Through three quarters, the Kings defense was solid.

Although Toronto’s offense found a few opportunities in the paint just before halftime, the Kings used a 33-21 third-quarter spurt to take a 75-68 lead into the fourth.

“I felt really good for the first three quarters,” admitted Malone. “In the third quarter they were shooting 39 percent from the field. Our third quarter – I thought was our best. It was our starting group versus their starting group, we outscored them, we held them to 30-percent in that quarter and 21 points.”

DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay combined for 20 points in the third frame, but as the starters were replaced to start the final period, Sacramento found difficulty attempting to stop Toronto’s attack.

The Kings were outscored 31-19 in the fourth quarter and the Raptors claimed the 99-94 victory.

“Our goal for the year in the fourth quarter is [to hold our opponents to] 20 points or less,” said Malone at practice.

While it’s still early, Malone hopes to see growth from his defense on Tuesday as the team looks to bounce back against the Raptors at home. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

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Practice Notes: Stauskas Passes Initial Test

The final whistle of Kings Training Camp blew at approximately 1:54 PDT on Saturday afternoon. The players iced, stretched, showered and got ready for the flight to Vancouver for Sunday’s preseason opener against the Toronto Raptors.

The weeklong conclusion signifies two things.

First, basketball is back at last. And second, we learned a few new things about our team this past week.

Entering his fifth season, the expectations are high for DeMarcus Cousins, and rightfully so. The Mobile, Alabama native is coming off a career year, a gold medal win and a summer in which he showed tremendous team leadership.

Displaying maturity and a passion for excellence, Boogie has led by example over the past three months. The 6-foot-11 big man participated in voluntary workouts in June, worked out with the Summer League team at mini-camp in Las Vegas, represented his team and his city overseas as part of Team USA and most recently met with fellow team captains this week to discuss goals.

“I know I’m not perfect and I probably never will be, but I’m aiming to be the best leader I can be for this team,” said Cousins.

No. 15 has taken newcomers under his arm, easing their transition into the NBA, while also setting personal and team goals with his peers. One goal, which was set by Reggie Evans, made headlines.

“He told me, ‘in order for me to be a better leader, I can’t get ejected and get technicals,” stated DMC. “Because without me on the floor, its hard for this team to win games.’”

No. 30 printed a sign with “5” and “Technical” on it before hanging it in his teammate’s locker.

“He challenged me and said no more than five this year,” said Cousins, “so I’m accepting the challenge.”

While Kings Head Coach Michael Malone is entering his second season, he has still had to build new relationships with a handful of his players. Although he worked with Darren Collison in New Orlean, Omri Casspi, Nik Stauskas, Ryan Hollins, Deonte Burton, Trey Johnson, Sim Bhullar, Eric Moreland and David Wear were all relatively fresh faces.

“[Training Camp] isn’t just about offense, defense and X’s and O’s,” said the Kings coach. “The more important thing is relationships and building a bond and a trust with each other. That’s what I look forward to. [Traveling to] China is a very long trip, but a great time to bond as a team and as individuals.”

With a full week of two-a-day practices in the books, Malone has been impressed with the team’s chemistry and work ethic thus far.

“This is a great group of guys,” he stated. “They are hardworking and they’re doing a much better job of policing each other and holding each other accountable – that’s a great sign of things to come.”

The first of seven preseason contests will give Sacramento’s fans insight into a deep point guard rotation. By adding Darren Collison and Ramon Sessions in free agency, the Kings backcourt now has three talented scorers and distributors – all of whom could carry the load if called upon.

“I think that Darren is more of a set-up, lead guard,” said Malone. “And Ramon… he’s an attack player – turn the corner, get downhill and put pressure on the rim and make a play or get to the free throw line.”

The duo made their impact felt this week, directing the offense, showing their leadership and establishing their offensive and defensive presence on the court. But as both know, there is a realistic chance they will be on the hardwood together.

“It’s a point guard’s League,” stated Sessions. “A lot of guys are playing in two-point guard systems. Just to have a true point guard is huge, especially for a team like this where you have a superstar that’s young, you have Rudy – who’s a veteran – and guys who have a lot of potential.”

Entering his second season, Ray McCallum adds depth and knowledge to the group as he continues his development in Sacramento’s backcourt. After a productive offseason, No. 3 enters preseason play with a better handle, a more developed stroke and a solid understanding of his team and the offense.

“I feel good out there – really comfortable,” stated the Detroit native. “Having all that experience from last year, having a year under my belt – it’s been fun and I feel like I am a much improved player from last year.”

A fan of position-less basketball tactics, the Kings front office has accumulated many hybrid players over the past year. All three small forwards on the current roster – Rudy Gay, Derrick Williams and Omri Casspi – are exactly that.

Each has the unique ability to play multiple positions on the court using their size – when matched up against smaller opponents – or speed – against bigger rosters – to their advantage.

“I know Coach Malone likes to play with different lineups – at the three and the four,” stated Casspi earlier this week. “So I had to make some adjustments from last time – I feel lean. I came in at about 230 and it’s the best I’ve ever felt.”

Returning to the Kings for his second stint, No. 18 is looking to make an impact from the perimeter, as well as, in the paint.

“[He] really has a high IQ and knows how to play,” said Malone. “You can play him at the three or the four – he’s out there and makes plays and makes people around him better, which is always nice as a coach. I’ve been impressed with his toughness – he’s battling with the bigger guys and he hasn’t shied down.”

Casspi isn’t the only one leaner this season. Williams and Gay also admit to losing weight prior to camp – each stating they now feel better and stronger.

“[Derrick’s] come into camp in great shape – probably the best I’ve seen him since he’s been with the Kings,” said Malone. “Since he’s lost weight and is in great shape, he’s playing with confidence and he’s very aggressive.”

While Gay has the starting three spot locked down, look for Williams and Casspi to see quality minutes in relief and when the Kings switch to a smaller lineup.

“Omri and Derrick have done a very good job in camp,” said Malone.

One of General Manager Pete D’Alessandro’s goals this offseason was to bring in talented players to compete for starting roles – mission accomplished.

According to Jason Thompson, who’s entering his seventh season, the competition has never been higher in Training Camp, “I think it’s sky-high at every position. Guys are trying to show their abilities and get as many minutes as possible.”

Not only did D’Alessandro add talent, but he also signed veterans who will play key roles in the locker room and on the court.

“There’s a lot of depth at every position,” continued Thompson. “That’s the one good thing, it’s not just a landslide.”

No. 34 is one of four true power forwards on the squad this year – making his position one of the deepest on the team – but has worked hard to stand out in camp.

He and Reggie Evans were both recognized for their hard work on Thursday.

“They have both come in with a great mindset and in unbelievable shape,” said Malone. “But more importantly, [they’ve shown great] leadership with the example they set. We have a lot of new guys, so for Reggie and Jason to come in and play and work as hard as they have has really lifted our camp.”

The addition of veterans, Ryan Collins and Darren Collison from the Clippers, Ramon Sessions from Charlotte and Omri Casspi from the Rockets has also been beneficial, especially in the locker room.

“We needed to bring some guys in here who have been around winning,” stated Sacramento’s coach on Monday. “Because the more you’re around winning, you understand the commitment and sacrifice that it takes.”

Less than 24 hours from now, Kings basketball is back in action. Sunday’s matchup with Toronto begins at 4 p.m. PDT and will be broadcasted on KHTK Sports 1140.

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Training Camp Notes: What We Learned

Kings fans have less than 48 hours to learn the first – of many – lineup combinations Sacramento Head Coach Michael Malone will place on the floor for the first preseason game.

“What I’m looking for, to be honest, is to transfer everything that we’ve been working on and teaching both offensively and defensively to [the game],” he stated after Friday’s practice.

Sunday’s opener in Vancouver against the Raptors will feature many key positional strategies, including aligning the Kings deep point guard rotation.

Entering his second season, Ray McCallum isn’t worried about who locks down the starting spot come October 29th, but rather how he can help his team right now.

“My goal – all year – is to come out here and compete and get better for myself and for the team,” said No. 3. “There’s a lot of things that you can’t control, but the one thing I know you can always control is how hard you work. That’s something I’ll never lose.”

Following the footsteps of his veteran teammates, the Detroit Mercy product can be routinely found after practice still working on his perimeter shooting with the assistant coaches. Whether he’s joined by his fellow backcourt brothers – as is often the case – or he’s draining long-range buckets alone, the sophomore guard is determined to get better. 

“I feel good out there, really comfortable,” stated McCallum. “Having all that experience from last year and having a year under my belt – it’s been fun and I feel like I am a much improved player from last year.”

During his first year in the black and purple, McCallum shined brightest when his name was in the starting lineup. In 10 starts last year, he averaged 13.8 points, 7.3 assists and just 1.9 turnovers per matchup.

This past offseason, the Motor City native continued to hone his skills and showed why he is one of the up-and-coming skill players in the League during Summer League action. In six outings, McCallum averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4.1 assists, yet he saved his best for last, scoring a game-high 29 points against Houston en route to Championship-game MVP honors.

“I felt like we did a pretty good job in Summer League – we were able to come out on top and win it and I felt like I got a lot better,” he admitted. “I put a lot of hard work in and I can feel a difference in my game this year compared to last year.”

McCallum’s July repertoire featured steady court awareness and an robust explosiveness on offense. On July 14th, the 6-foot-3 guard racked up 12 assists against the D-League select team before tallying a pair of double-digit scoring outings and shooting 56-percent (14-for-25) to close out summer competition.

When asked about the qualities he looks for in a starting point guard, Malone referenced both of those traits.

“We want a guy who’s going to run his team,” the second-year coach began, “push the ball, look for early attack opportunities, if not, then get us organized into a set, be a facilitator, he has to be able to guard his position, pick the ball up full-court – pressure, but contain – and he has to be able to knock down his shots and make his free throws, value and share the ball.”

With a full year under his belt, McCallum is poised for a strong season as he continues his development in Sacramento’s backcourt.

“The experience I had last year gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “[Now, I jut want to] come out here, compete and leave it all on the floor.”

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Training Camp Notes: Two Days Away

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2014 Kings Training Camp Day 6: McCallum

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2014 Kings Training Camp Day 5: Malone

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2014 Kings Training Camp Day 1: Malone

As the clock struck 12:01 p.m. in New York City on June 30, Darren Collison received a phone call on the west coast.

“That meant a lot to me,” admitted the sixth-year pro, who most recently played for the Los Angeles Clippers. “It shows that a team is really trying to work with me. They were real aggressive, they told me their future, they told me their plans and I just like every part of their vision. I think they have a really bright future and I think we can do something special.”

It wasn’t long after free agency began that Sacramento’s General Manager Pete D’Alessandro was making moves. Collison – a 6-foot, 175-pound point guard from Rancho Cucamonga, California – was atop the list thanks to his shifty, fluid offensive prowess and his tenacious defensive presence. 

“We want him to be that guy that brings out the talent from everyone else, while also showing his talent and leadership in the process,” added D’Alessandro.

Collison accepted the Kings offer to move north and take over the team’s starting point guard spot. Almost immediately, No. 7 made his presence felt. He reached out to his new teammates – contacting them through a series of phone calls and text messages – made an appearance in Las Vegas at the team’s mini-camp and met with the coaches. With just a few months to establish chemistry, digest the system and learn the nuances of Sacramento, timeliness has been of the utmost importance. 

“We have a relatively young team and there’s still going to be a lot to learn – there are going to be some road blocks and it’s not going to be easy where we want to go, but I’m excited to take on that role,” admitted Collison.

Although his NBA career has made stops in four cities, the UCLA grad has been fortunate enough to be mentored by the likes of Chris Paul, Byron Scott, Jim O’Brien and Doc Rivers. Last season in Los Angeles when Paul went down with an injury for 18 games, Collison stepped in and averaged 6.5 assists per game during that span and led his team to a 12-6 record. Furthermore, Collison shot 41.7% from three and 48.1% from the field in 35 starts for the Clippers.  

Much like his new backcourt teammate, McCallum has also shined when his name was in the starting lineup. In 10 starts last year, No. 3 averaged 13.8 points, 7.3 assists and just 1.9 turnovers per matchup. At just 23-years of age, the Detroit Mercy product showed growth in 2013-14 finishing the season with eight double-digit scoring games in the final twelve contests.  

“Once you get your opportunity, you make the most of it and try to take advantage of it and run with it – that’s something I did,” stated McCallum. “I want to use that confidence and carry it over into next season as well.”

The Kings coaching staff also saw improvement from their young guard in the offseason. In six Summer League outings, McCallum averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4.1 assists, yet he saved his best for last, scoring a game-high 29 points against Houston en route to Championship game MVP honors. 

Everything was going right for the Motor City native that night as he connected n 9-of-15 attempts from the floor, including a running buzzer-beating three from way beyond the arc. 