Updated at 1:45 am
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smXZNdfqroE&w=560&h=315]
After blowing a big first quarter lead in the Rose Garden, the Sacramento Kings took a two-point leads into halftime over the Portland Trail Blazers. But after intermission, the Kings stomped the Blazers on their home floor and won by the score of 99-80.
Notes and Analysis
- Holy Travis Outlaw! After receiving 13 DNP-CD’s in the Kings first 18 games, Outlaw brought the noise against his former team. The veteran wing scored 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting and added four rebounds in 17 minutes off Keith Smarts bench.
- John Salmons played an incredible 36 minutes, scoring 19 points and handing out a Kings’ season-high 11 assists. When Salmons is the main facilitator, this team plays well.
- DeMarcus Cousins continued his double-double streak, dropping 19 points and 12 rebounds against the Blazers frontline. Cousins only shot 6-for-17 from the field, but he went 7-for-8 from the line and only committed two personal fouls.
- Francisco Garcia started for the injured Tyreke Evans for a second game in a row and once again, he delivered. Cisco finished with 12 points and five rebounds and now has five blocked shots in the last two games. It appears that there is still something left in the tank of the longest tenured King.
- Isaiah Thomas got the call tonight for Smart as the primary back-up to Aaron Brooks. Thomas finished with five points, two assists and three turnovers in 18 minutes, while Jimmer Fredette got a DNP-CD.
- Stat of the Night: The Kings won their third game in a row and now sit at 7-12 on the season. This was also the team’s first road win of the season after losing their first five away from Sleep Train Arena.
Three answers to three questions pondered
1. Will Tyreke Evans play tonight?
Evans missed his fourth game in the Kings’ last five with a sore left knee. Garcia filled in admirably, but the Kings miss Evans and his attacking game. He tried to give it a go, but after warming up in pre-game, he told the trainers he wasn’t quite ready.
2. How much will rest or lack there of it factor into this evening’s match-up?
The Kings looked well rested and ready to go tonight when they took on the Blazers. All five starters played 29 minutes or more as Smart relied heavily on his veterans in this one. A well rested Outlaw made a nice contribution off the bench, but after strong nights yesterday, Jimmer never entered the game and Thomas Robinson played less than eight minutes.
3. Can the Kings contain the Blazers from beyond the arc?
It was the Kings who couldn’t be contained in this one. Portland went 8-for-21 (38-percent) from distance, but the Kings hit nine of their 19 3-ball attempts for an impressive 47-percent. Salmons, Brooks and Garcia combined to go 7-for-13 for the starting unit.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
