casper
12-29-2009, 12:53 PM
NOCIONI LIFTS KINGS OVER REELING NUGGETS
THE SPORTS NETWORK
Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Andres Nocioni scored a season-high 21 points off the bench, and the Sacramento Kings grabbed a 106-101 win over the reeling Denver Nuggets at Arco Arena.
Donte Greene and Beno Udrih each added 17 points for the Kings, who finally got a win on their four-game homestand (1-2). They had lost their two previous games in overtime to Cleveland and the Lakers, respectively.
Jason Thompson added 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Omri Casspi had 11 points in the win.
Carmelo Anthony had 34 points to pace the Nuggets, who have lost five of six in the continued absence of Chauncey Billups, who sat for the fifth time in six games with an injury. Nene added a season-high 25 points and eight rebounds, while Ty Lawson contributed 12 points in defeat.
The Nuggets trailed by six with 5 1/2 minutes left in the game, but they went on an 8-0 run to surge in front. Nene scored the first five points, then an Anthony free throw made it 94-92 with three minutes left.
After the teams traded a basket, Casspi drilled a corner three-pointer for a 97-96 Kings lead with two minutes to go. Udrih followed with a three-point play for a four-point lead, and Thompson's two free throws with 1:21 left extended the margin to five.
Denver was unable to score on the next few possessions, and Sergio Rodriguez's free throw with 13 seconds left made it a six-point game. Sacramento was able to hold on down the stretch.
The Nuggets led by as many as 11 in the opening quarter, but the Kings finished on a 7-2 burst to cut their deficit to 32-26 heading to the second.
Sacramento tied the game, 40-40, on a Nocioni layup with 5 1/2 minutes until halftime, and both sides played it close for the remainder of the period. Denver held a 48-47 lead at halftime.
The Kings trailed by four, 66-62, with four minutes left in the third before embarking on an 11-2 burst. Jon Brockman went 4-for-4 from the line during the stretch that gave the hosts a 73-68 lead, and Sacramento led, 75-70, at the end of the third.
The lead remained small for a majority of the fourth quarter, as a Thompson basket gave the Kings a 92-86 lead with 5 1/2 minutes left.
Game Notes
The Nuggets have lost six straight road games...Denver is 1-4 without Billups, who is out with a groin injury...Kenyon Martin had 10 points and 12 boards for Denver, while Udrih added seven assists for Sacramento...Brockman finished with six points and 10 boards...The Nuggets went 20-of-35 from the free throw line, compared to 25-of-33 for Sacramento....The Kings played without rookie sensation Tyreke Evans, who sprained his right ankle Saturday.
THE SPORTS NETWORK
Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Andres Nocioni scored a season-high 21 points off the bench, and the Sacramento Kings grabbed a 106-101 win over the reeling Denver Nuggets at Arco Arena.
Donte Greene and Beno Udrih each added 17 points for the Kings, who finally got a win on their four-game homestand (1-2). They had lost their two previous games in overtime to Cleveland and the Lakers, respectively.
Jason Thompson added 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Omri Casspi had 11 points in the win.
Carmelo Anthony had 34 points to pace the Nuggets, who have lost five of six in the continued absence of Chauncey Billups, who sat for the fifth time in six games with an injury. Nene added a season-high 25 points and eight rebounds, while Ty Lawson contributed 12 points in defeat.
The Nuggets trailed by six with 5 1/2 minutes left in the game, but they went on an 8-0 run to surge in front. Nene scored the first five points, then an Anthony free throw made it 94-92 with three minutes left.
After the teams traded a basket, Casspi drilled a corner three-pointer for a 97-96 Kings lead with two minutes to go. Udrih followed with a three-point play for a four-point lead, and Thompson's two free throws with 1:21 left extended the margin to five.
Denver was unable to score on the next few possessions, and Sergio Rodriguez's free throw with 13 seconds left made it a six-point game. Sacramento was able to hold on down the stretch.
The Nuggets led by as many as 11 in the opening quarter, but the Kings finished on a 7-2 burst to cut their deficit to 32-26 heading to the second.
Sacramento tied the game, 40-40, on a Nocioni layup with 5 1/2 minutes until halftime, and both sides played it close for the remainder of the period. Denver held a 48-47 lead at halftime.
The Kings trailed by four, 66-62, with four minutes left in the third before embarking on an 11-2 burst. Jon Brockman went 4-for-4 from the line during the stretch that gave the hosts a 73-68 lead, and Sacramento led, 75-70, at the end of the third.
The lead remained small for a majority of the fourth quarter, as a Thompson basket gave the Kings a 92-86 lead with 5 1/2 minutes left.
Game Notes
The Nuggets have lost six straight road games...Denver is 1-4 without Billups, who is out with a groin injury...Kenyon Martin had 10 points and 12 boards for Denver, while Udrih added seven assists for Sacramento...Brockman finished with six points and 10 boards...The Nuggets went 20-of-35 from the free throw line, compared to 25-of-33 for Sacramento....The Kings played without rookie sensation Tyreke Evans, who sprained his right ankle Saturday.