The streak is over.

Marcus Thornton and Isaiah Thomas caught fire in the second half, leading the Sacramento Kings to the 115-107 road victory over the Washington Wizards.  The win ends a season-high six-game losing skid.

Thornton scored 18 of his 22 points after intermission.  Thomas added 16 points in the third and fourth quarters combined and finished with 18 points and six assists.

Tyreke Evans did a ton of damage in the first half, scoring 20 of his 22 points before intermission.  DeMarcus Cousins added 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, but joined Evans on the bench in the deciding fourth quarter.  Following an impressive performance in Miami, veteran Francisco Garcia gave a spirited effort off the Kings bench with 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting.

Wizards guard John Wall barely missed a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in defeat.  Sixth man Jordan Crawford lit up the Kings, scoring 32 points on 12-for-19 shooting.  The second-year guard scored 15 in the second quarter, helping his team to a 68-60 lead at halftime.  Unfortunately for the Wizards, they faded in the second half where they were outscored 55-39 on the way to an eight-point loss.

Read more…

Following their last practice before their current six-game road trip, Sacramento Kings head coach Keith Smart took some extra time off-the-court to work with Jimmer Fredette.

“Just talking about shooting percentages from different areas on the floor,” the Kings rookie said to me when I asked what he and Smart discussed.  “Kind of the stat chart of where you’re shooting the best and where you’re shooting worst and different types of stuff like that.”

Learning experiences like this can be just as important as floor time in a young player’s development.  Just look at Jeremy Lin.

Read more…

The Sacramento Kings continue their six-game road trip in New York, where they’ll witness Lin-sanity for the first and only time this season.

Read more…

Updated at 4:32 PM PT

On two levels, Jimmer Fredette can relate to Jeremy Lin.

In Jimmer-mania, the former BYU superstar experienced a similar phenomenon to Lin-sanity. Fredette understands the adoration, adulation and admiration of an extremely rabid fanbase.

Now as a rookie, Fredette is enduring the same growing pains Lin experienced in his first NBA season. The Kings rookie earned his third career “did not play – coach’s decision” did not play last night due to illness last night against the Chicago Bulls, but has seen his minutes fluctuate due largely to the play of fellow rookie Isaiah Thomas. Last year, Lin appeared in only 19 games for the Golden State Warriors and spent stints in the D-League with the Reno Bighorns.

Watch the video after the jump.

Read more…

This skit was a riot for fans who attended Saturday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns. Watch and find out why.

Sitting together sideline, head coach Keith Smart and president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie watched on, as the bench mob occupied the floor of the Sacramento Kings practice facility Friday.

On one team: Jimmer Fredette, Travis Outlaw, Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Honeycutt .  On the other: Donté Greene, Isaiah Thomas, Francisco Garcia and J.J. Hickson.  As the starters rested, the two squads composed of the Kings second and third units scrimmaged against each other to finish off practice.

“They kind of know the routine now,” said Smart following Friday’s workout session.  “Guys who played a lot of minutes worked at the top half of the practice and the other guys – bench guys, guys who are not playing at all – get a chance to be on the floor and play (in the bottom half).”

Due to a number of factors (among them – the compressed calendar and early season coaching change), it was just the second time this season Smart and his staff gave the Kings bench extensive work.  Following his promotion, Smart made it first priority to develop and work his starters.

“Now I’ve got to devote that same amount of time (to the bench),” said Smart. “I feel it’s important for me as a coach to be involved with them in plays…when we have practice days as well.”

Read more…

Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins has been selected to play in the 2012 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge.

The sophomore big man, who participated in last year’s rookie/sophomore game, is currently averaging 15.3 points and 11.5 rebounds over 24 contests played this year.

Other second-year players selected are Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Landry Fields (New York Knicks), Paul George (Indiana Pacers), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs), Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers) and John Wall (Washington Wizards).

Kings guards Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas were not chosen among this year’s class of rookies.  Fredette is currently averaging 8.7 points and two assists in 22 minutes over 22 games played.  Thomas, meanwhile, has so far posted averages of seven points and 2.5 assists in 17 minutes over 24 games played.

Read more…

With time expiring, Sacramento Kings forward Donté Greene let fly a potential game-winning three.  Unfortunately for Greene and company, the long-ball rimmed out and the Minnesota Timberwolves escaped with a two point win at home, 86-84.

Marcus Thornton led the Kings in scoring with 22 points, but it was Jimmer Fredette who nearly saved the day.

Recently, the rookie guard has played sparingly.  But Fredette came out in the fourth quarter scorching hot tonight.  He scored 13 points, including three straight three-point shots.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Kings went on to lose in dramatic fashion.

Nikola Pekovic filled in nicely for the suspended Kevin Love.  The Timberwolves big man gave the Kings fits all night, scoring a game-high 23 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.

Rookie sensation Ricky Rubio didn’t disappoint either, dishing out 14 assists and registering five steals for the Timberwolves, who are now 13-12.

Read more…

Despite the victory, Jimmer Fredette’s first career “Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision” caused a bit of a stir among fans following last night’s contest against the Portland Trailblazers.  With the full roster now available for the first time since becoming Sacramento Kings head coach, I asked Keith Smart about his rotation moving forward at practice today.  Hopefully, his answers clear up any outrage from those appalled by his decision to sit the rookie point guard (keyword – hopefully).

More notes and quotes from practice after the jump.

Read more…

by James Ham & Jonathan Santiago

Big nights from John Salmons and Marcus Thornton catapulted the Sacramento Kings to a 95-92 win over the Portland Trailblazers Thursday night at Power Balance Pavilion.

Sacramento Kings Head Coach Keith Smart said of Salmons after the game: “He’s putting work in and he’s a proud pro…The things that he is doing, other than scoring, have been great.”

And of Thornton: “As I said before, Marcus is a know-how guy and he’s going to make plays to keep us in the game…on both sides of the ball.”

The Kings trailed by as many as 13 points, but managed to tie the game 63-63with three minutes left in the third quarter.

Fast forward to the final period.  With 19.2 seconds left, Kings guard Tyreke Evans scored on a 17-foot jumper to put Sacramento up five. But following the basket, likely all-star LaMarcus Aldridge scored on a layup, trimming the Kings’ lead to three.

In the ensuing possession, Trailblazers forward Gerald Wallace forced Thornton into a turnover. However, Portland was unable to capitalize on the opportunity and missed two three-point attempts before time expired.

The victory improves the Kings record to 7-15 overall, 5-4 at home. Next up for Sacramento?  A rematch with the Golden State Warriors, who defeated the Kings 93-90 in Oakland on Tuesday.