ducks
11-11-2005, 10:27 AM
Denver (2-3) at Sacramento (1-4)
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 10:00 pm EST Fri Nov 11, 2005
TV: ALT, CSNS Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets
The Denver Nuggets are still seeking their first road win. Visiting Sacramento might not be the best way for them to get it.
Denver hopes to pick up a victory at Arco Arena for the first time in nearly nine years in the finale of a home-and-home set with the Sacramento Kings.
Denver's two home games this season have been double-digit losses to San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers. Most of the Nuggets' visits to Sacramento have produced similar results.
They're 3-25 in the last 14-plus seasons in the capital of California, and have lost 17 consecutive games at Arco since Jan. 7, 1997.
The opener of this home-and-home series pitted a pair of 1-3 teams, and Denver held Sacramento to nine points in the fourth quarter to win 107-91.
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``It was definitely a must win for us, we didn't want to go into Sacramento 1-4,'' said Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, who scored 18 points. ``Playing a team back-to-back, it's hard, it's a mental game. We all know what each other's going to do.''
For the second consecutive season, the Kings have lost four of their first five games. However, four of those contests came on the road, and the one home game was a loss to the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons.
``We look at our schedule and we've played some good teams,'' Kings newcomer Shareef Abdur-Rahim said. ``We've played legitimate playoff teams. I'm not concerned and I think we'll get it together.''
Friday's contest begins a stretch in which Sacramento plays four straight and 12 of 14 at home. The Kings went 30-11 at Arco Arena last season.
``We started 1-4 last year and now we just need to start playing like we can,'' said Sacramento's Brad Miller, who scored 16 points Wednesday.
Miller was outshined by opposing center Marcus Camby, who had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks.
With Denver struggling from 3-point range, shooting below 17 percent (10-for-59), coach George Karl hopes his team's defensive intensity from the fourth quarter Wednesday carries into Friday's game.
The Nuggets held the Kings to two field goals in the fourth quarter and tightened up their defense on Peja Stojakovic. Sacramento's top scorer had six of the team's nine 3-pointers and finished with 26 points, but only four came in the final period.
``This looked like the team I coached last year,'' said Karl, who led Denver to a 32-8 record last season after taking over. ``Anytime you can hold Sacramento to nine points in the fourth quarter you're doing a great job.''
STANDINGS (through Nov. 10): Nuggets - 4th place, 1 GB, Northwest Division. Kings - 5th place, 3 1/2 GB, Pacific Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Nuggets - F Kenyon Martin, F Anthony, C Camby, G Voshon Lenard, G Andre Miller. Kings - F Abdur-Rahim, F Stojakovic, C Miller, G Mike Bibby, G Bonzi Wells.
TEAM LEADERS: Nuggets - Anthony, 18.4 ppg; Camby, 12.0 rpg; Miller, 9.2 apg. Kings - Stojakovic, 19.2 ppg; Wells, 8.6 rpg; Bibby, 5.2 apg.
SEASON SERIES: Nuggets, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Wednesday; Nuggets, 107-91. At Denver, Camby scored eight of his points during a decisive 18-3 run in the fourth quarter.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Nuggets - 0-2 on the road; Kings - 0-1 at home.
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 10:00 pm EST Fri Nov 11, 2005
TV: ALT, CSNS Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets
The Denver Nuggets are still seeking their first road win. Visiting Sacramento might not be the best way for them to get it.
Denver hopes to pick up a victory at Arco Arena for the first time in nearly nine years in the finale of a home-and-home set with the Sacramento Kings.
Denver's two home games this season have been double-digit losses to San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers. Most of the Nuggets' visits to Sacramento have produced similar results.
They're 3-25 in the last 14-plus seasons in the capital of California, and have lost 17 consecutive games at Arco since Jan. 7, 1997.
The opener of this home-and-home series pitted a pair of 1-3 teams, and Denver held Sacramento to nine points in the fourth quarter to win 107-91.
ADVERTISEMENT
``It was definitely a must win for us, we didn't want to go into Sacramento 1-4,'' said Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, who scored 18 points. ``Playing a team back-to-back, it's hard, it's a mental game. We all know what each other's going to do.''
For the second consecutive season, the Kings have lost four of their first five games. However, four of those contests came on the road, and the one home game was a loss to the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons.
``We look at our schedule and we've played some good teams,'' Kings newcomer Shareef Abdur-Rahim said. ``We've played legitimate playoff teams. I'm not concerned and I think we'll get it together.''
Friday's contest begins a stretch in which Sacramento plays four straight and 12 of 14 at home. The Kings went 30-11 at Arco Arena last season.
``We started 1-4 last year and now we just need to start playing like we can,'' said Sacramento's Brad Miller, who scored 16 points Wednesday.
Miller was outshined by opposing center Marcus Camby, who had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks.
With Denver struggling from 3-point range, shooting below 17 percent (10-for-59), coach George Karl hopes his team's defensive intensity from the fourth quarter Wednesday carries into Friday's game.
The Nuggets held the Kings to two field goals in the fourth quarter and tightened up their defense on Peja Stojakovic. Sacramento's top scorer had six of the team's nine 3-pointers and finished with 26 points, but only four came in the final period.
``This looked like the team I coached last year,'' said Karl, who led Denver to a 32-8 record last season after taking over. ``Anytime you can hold Sacramento to nine points in the fourth quarter you're doing a great job.''
STANDINGS (through Nov. 10): Nuggets - 4th place, 1 GB, Northwest Division. Kings - 5th place, 3 1/2 GB, Pacific Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Nuggets - F Kenyon Martin, F Anthony, C Camby, G Voshon Lenard, G Andre Miller. Kings - F Abdur-Rahim, F Stojakovic, C Miller, G Mike Bibby, G Bonzi Wells.
TEAM LEADERS: Nuggets - Anthony, 18.4 ppg; Camby, 12.0 rpg; Miller, 9.2 apg. Kings - Stojakovic, 19.2 ppg; Wells, 8.6 rpg; Bibby, 5.2 apg.
SEASON SERIES: Nuggets, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Wednesday; Nuggets, 107-91. At Denver, Camby scored eight of his points during a decisive 18-3 run in the fourth quarter.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Nuggets - 0-2 on the road; Kings - 0-1 at home.