They traded runs with the San Antonio Spurs in the first half, but the Sacramento Kings had no answer after intermission.  The Kings were outscored by 24 points in the second half and lost 127-102 at Power Balance Pavilion Wednesday evening.

“I thought we played about as close as we could,” said Kings head coach Keith Smart after the loss.  ”We did a really good job in the first half and then they came out and had 39 points in the third quarter, and they wrapped it up a little bit.  We didn’t have what was necessary; we turned the ball over 12 times and they got 21 points off of those turnovers.  You make a mistake and this team is going to capitalize on them.”

Rookie Isaiah Thomas led Sacramento with 21 points and eight assists.  Marcus Thornton was ruled out after suffering a left-quad contusion in the third quarter, but returned in the final period to finish with 20 points.

In their third game in as many nights, Gary Neal and Tiago Splitter led the Spurs in victory.  Neal and Splitter combined for 34 points off San Antonio’s bench.  Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich rested veteran superstar Tim Duncan, who played  just a total of 46 minutes in San Antonio’s previous two wins.

The Kings fall to 20-42 overall and 15-16 at home.  They host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

- Jonathan Santiago

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Just five games remain in the Kings’ season.  After breaking a seven-game losing skid on Sunday, Sacramento faces a San Antonio Spurs team completing a set of three games in three nights.

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by Jonathan Santiago & James Ham

Thanks to the heroics of Marcus Thornton and Terrence Williams, the Sacramento Kings ended a season-high seven-game losing streak by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers, 104-103, at Power Balance Pavilion.

“No matter who the opponent was, we needed this win,” said Kings head coach Keith Smart after the Sunday victory. “And the young men found a way to do it.  Based on everything that happened with our franchise this week and the way it has been with our team in the past two weeks, we found a way.”

After climbing out of an eight-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter, Williams was subbed into one of the game’s final defensive possessions.  The Kings reserve forward made a timely steal that led to a lay-up by Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.  The Blazers’ Wesley Matthews responded with a corner three in front of the Kings’ bench to take a 103-102 lead.  But Thornton would seal the game’s outcome by hitting a 17-foot jumper with 3.4 seconds left to seal the Kings’ victory.

For the second time this season, three Kings’ players tallied at least 20 points.  Cousins recorded 23 while Thornton and Tyreke Evans finished 20 points each.  Former King J.J. Hickson recorded his fifth double-double in a Blazers uniform, finishing with 10 points and a season-high-tying 13 rebounds.

With the win, the Kings improve their home record to 15-15 and their overall standing to 20-41.  They host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

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With seven consecutive games lost, the Sacramento Kings are riding their longest losing streak of the season.  They attempt to buck the trend in a Sunday matinee against a familiar face and the Portland Trailblazers.

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The curtain wasn’t raised in the viewing room, but the sound of a lively, boisterous workout session could be heard in the Sacramento Kings practice facility late Saturday afternoon.  As a tumultuous lockout-shortened season nears its end, players and coaches say they remain focused on the product they can control.

“No, I don’t focus on that anyway,” replied Kings head coach Keith Smart when asked if he held practice to keep his team centered on basketball and not the chaotic events that led to the dissolution of a deal to build a new Sacramento  arena.

“I focus on the team,” he added.  “I focus on the players – each individual player – our basketball team.  Players are going to play.  I want to get their minds off of how bad they played last night…to get us back to working again.”

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After a solid game against the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings fell flat in New Orleans.  The Hornets shot an amazing 56 percent from the field on their way to 105-96 victory.

Jason Smith led the way for New Orleans, finishing with 22 points and six rebounds on 10-for-12 shooting.  Marco Belinelli scored 21 points, while Xavier Henry dropped 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting off the Hornets’ bench.  This was just the 16th win of the season for New Orleans, who have struggled with injuries all year long.

Marcus Thornton played inspired ball in his home state of Louisiana.  The former Hornet finished with a game-high 25 points in his second game back from injury.  Jason Thompson anchored the post with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting and kicked in seven rebounds.

The Kings have now lost six straight and drop to 19-40 on the season.

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The Sacramento Kings wrap up their 17th and final back-to-back set of the season with a visit to New Orleans.  A win would help them avoid matching a season-long six-game losing streak.

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The Sacramento Kings gave a valiant effort tonight in Dallas, but a series of mistakes late cost them big time, allowing the Mavs to come away with the 110-100 win.

Roddy Beaubois and Dirk Nowitzki  each scored 15 to lead the way for Dallas.  Also,  Shawn Marion scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds for Dallas.  The Mavs hit 50 percent (7-for-14) of their 3-point attempts and out-rebounded the Kings 56-40 on the night.  Six Mavs players finished with double-digit scoring figures in a well-balanced Dallas attack.

DeMarcus Cousins picked up his 34th double-double, finishing with 25 points, 18 rebounds and a career-high six steals.  Marcus Thornton returned for the Kings after missing five straight games with a bruised left calf.  He looked solid in his return, scoring 16 points on 7-for-16 shooting.  Tyreke Evans and Isaiah Thomas chipped in 16 a piece and Jimmer Fredette scored 13 off the bench for the Kings, who fell to 19-39 on the season.

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The Kings snapped a 10-game regular season losing streak to the Mavericks when they beat Dallas 110-97 a month ago at Power Balance Pavilion.  Limping with injuries down the stretch, the Kings visit Dallas for their last match-up with the Mavericks this season.

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In the conclusion of a two part conversation with Cowbell Kingdom, the Sacramento Kings color analyst and director of player personnel touches on the following topics:

• The value of Jason Thompson
• The ceiling of DeMarcus Cousins
• Where do the Kings go in the 2012 NBA Draft?
• The Hall of Fame Chances of Chris Webber

Interview by James Ham, shot/edited by Tobin Halsey.

You can find part 1 of the Jerry Reynolds interview series here.

Follow @Cowbell_Kingdom