CK Postgame Report: Knicks 114, Kings 92

From the get-go, the Sacramento Kings played catch-up tonight.

The Kings were outscored by 15 and gave up 35 points in the first quarter of their 114-92 loss to the New York Knicks on New Year’s Eve.  They never  recovered from a 12-0 Knicks run midway through the first, resulting in their third loss of the season.

“Well, they jumped on us early,” Head Coach Paul Westphal said postgame. “They were hitting threes, they were executing, and they jumped on us 35-20. and we were never really able to crawl back in the game.”

The Knicks captured victory without Amar’e Stoudemire, who sat out with a sprained left ankle, and just a quiet 23 points in only 33 minutes by Carmelo Anthony.

• In Amar’e Stoudemire’s absence, Josh Harrellson stepped up admirably for the Knicks, especially from beyond-the-arc.  He was 4-of-8 from three-point land and finished with 14 points.  He also notched 12 boards to boot.  Having seen Harrellson in pre-draft workouts last June, Westphal during pregame availibility described him as Jon Brockman with a jumper.

• The Kings had no answer for Tyson Chandler as the veteran center scored 22 points on 6-for-8 shooting and went 10-for-10 from the line in just 24 minutes of play.  Chandler came into the game averaging 7.3 points per contest.

• Travis Outlaw hasn’t hit a shot since the Kings first game of the season.  He has missed his last eight attempts and looks extremely uncomfortable shooting right now.

• Carmelo Anthony played all 12 minutes of the first quarter, yet only scored three points.  He didn’t look for his shot and instead deferred to teammates.

• John Salmons had no fouls in the first quarter, but racked up three personals in the second.  His foul troubles opened the door for Donte Greene, who scored nine points in just eight minutes in the third quarter.  He finished with 10 points off the bench in 12 minutes.

• Jason Thompson is playing his way into major minutes.  The fourth year power forward/center scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 24 minutes tonight.

• The Kings shot just 34.9 percent from the field and 63.4 percent from the line, enough said.

• Chuck Hayes has recorded double figure rebounding totals in all but one game this season, a nine-rebound performance in game one.  DeMarcus Cousins has bettered that number, grabbing at least four rebounds in all four games, despite consistently being in foul trouble.

• Jimmer Fredette had his worst shooting performance to date, hitting only one of his seven attempted 3-pointers.

• Stat of the night: Of the Kings 51 rebounds, 22 of them came on the offensive glass.