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Although Sacramento's record doesnt show it, this will not be an easy game at all. The Kings play better at home than on the road, and are playing some decent ball right now. Guys like Beno, Evans, and Hawes have given the Spurs fits in the past..
San Antonio (27-19) at Sacramento (16-31)
* Game info: 10:00 pm EST Wed Feb 3, 2010
* TV: FSSW, CSCA
By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer
This is a tough time for the struggling San Antonio Spurs to be opening their longest road trip of the season. A matchup with the Sacramento Kings, though, gives them a chance to build some early momentum.
In the opener of an eight-game trip, the Spurs look to win their eighth straight against the lowly Kings on Wednesday night.
San Antonio (27-19) has had a long road trip at about this time of year for eight straight seasons. The Spurs’ trip will be broken up by the All-Star game Feb. 14, and will last 3 1/2 weeks.
“Everyone’s excited to get on the road and get a little bit of a rhythm going,” San Antonio forward Richard Jefferson said.
The Spurs have had successful trips each of the past two years, going 5-3 last season and 6-3 in 2007-08, but they have struggled in recent weeks. They’re coming off a 2-4 homestand and have dropped six of nine overall.
San Antonio, though, has won seven straight and 16 of its last 18 against Sacramento (16-31). The Spurs have won seven of their last eight road games in the series.
Tony Parker is averaging 21.0 points and 9.5 assists in San Antonio’s two games against Sacramento this season, but the veteran point guard isn’t expected to play in this matchup. Parker has missed two straight games with a left ankle sprain.
George Hill, who has progressed nicely in his second year, has been starting in Parker’s place. Hill is averaging 15.7 points in his last seven games.
Hill had 17 points but also committed four turnovers in San Antonio’s 103-89 loss to Denver on Sunday.
The Spurs, allowing 96.2 points per game, have surrendered at least 100 in three of their last six contests. It was San Antonio’s offense, however, that drew most of coach Gregg Popovich’s ire following the team’s latest loss.
The Spurs shot 43.0 percent from the field and made 3-of-17 attempts from 3-point range.
“People need to step up and start making shots,” Popovich said.
San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili has been in a slump, shooting 30.9 percent over his last four games. The eight-year veteran is averaging 12.9 points, his lowest since posting 12.8 in his second season.
Tim Duncan shot 35.8 percent in five games prior to going 5 for 10 versus the Nuggets. The All-Star forward is averaging 11.3 points in his last three games against the Kings.
Sacramento has had its own problems offensively. The Kings needed overtime to reach 100 points for the first time in seven games, losing 112-109 to Denver on Monday night.
Tyreke Evans was a late scratch for Sacramento because of a sore ankle, but he’s expected to return. The guard leads all rookies in scoring, averaging 20.5 points.
Evans has been one of the few bright spots on a Sacramento team that has lost 15 of 17. The Kings have also dropped seven of their last 10 at Arco Arena after winning 10 of their first 13 there.
Although Sacramento's record doesnt show it, this will not be an easy game at all. The Kings play better at home than on the road, and are playing some decent ball right now. Guys like Beno, Evans, and Hawes have given the Spurs fits in the past..
Wednesday: Spurs (27-19) at Kings (16-31)
Time: 9 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350
STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - KINGS
PG - 3 George Hill (6-2, 2nd yr) - 13 Tyreke Evans (6-6, 1st yr)
With 20.5 ppg average, Evans the clear favorite in rookie of year race.
SG - 8 Roger Mason Jr. (6-5, 6th yr) - 23 Kevin Martin (6-7, 6th yr)
Mason's line from second start of season: Two points, 0 for 5 3-pointers.
SF - 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 9th yr) - 20 Donte Greene (6-5, 2nd yr)
Two of Jefferson's five 20-point games have come vs. Kings.
PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 13th yr) - 34 J. Thompson (6-11, 2nd yr)
Duncan struggling from field, but has made 23 straight free throws.
C - Antonio McDyess (6-10, 15th yr) - 31 Spencer Hawes (7-1, 3rd yr)
With four-straight double-digit outings, McDyess in best stretch as Spur.
SPURS RESERVES
15 Matt Bonner, C/F, 6-10, 6th yr
45 DeJuan Blair, F, 6-7, 1st yr
4 Michael Finley, G/F, 6-7, 15th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 8th yr
10 Keith Bogans, G, 6-5, 7th yr
28 Ian Mahinmi, C/F, 6-10, 3rd yr
42 Theo Ratliff, C, 6-10, 15th yr
KINGS RESERVES
40 Jon Brockman, F, 6-7, 1st yr
18 Omri Casspi, F, 6-9, 1st yr
3 Ime Udoka, G, 6-5, 6th yr
42 Sean May, F, 6-9, 4th yr
10 Sergio Rodriguez, G, 6-3, 4th yr
5 Andres Nocioni, F, 6-7, 6th yr
19 Beno Udrih, G, 6-3, 6th yr
COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Kings: Paul Westphal
INJURIES
Spurs: Tony Parker (sprained left ankle) is questionable.
Kings: Francisco Garcia (fractured right forearm).
PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Parker, Malik Hairston.
Kings: Garcia, Kenny Thomas, Hilton Armstrong.
NOTABLE
Spurs open annual rodeo road trip against Kings, who own the worst record of the five teams they will face on western leg of the trek. ... Spurs have won seven in a row vs. Kings, including three at Arco Arena. ... Sacramento is coming off a 2-13 January. ... Martin is averaging 17 ppg after missing 32 games with a broken wrist. ... Spurs have been outshot from the field and the foul line in nine of past 10 games.
- Jeff McDonald
Evans will be back for this game and Roy likely back the next game. Unfortunately for the Spurs, they're all out of excuses. There is no excuse to lose to either of these teams, particularly the former. The Spurs need to beat the Kings convincingly and have the result decided early, so that they can rest the key players.
I suspect Duncan will sit out one of these games and it might just be against the Trail Blazers, because it's more than likely that the Spurs will struggle to win this game (even though they shouldn't). The Spurs thinking might be, let's be absolutely sure that we beat the team we have to beat, then see how things go against the team that should give us more trouble. We'll see. Either way, let's hope Ratliff get's some run in the game Duncan doesn't play. It's time to dust him off and let him shake off the rust. Too bad Pop will probably resort to playing small ball, since both of these teams are thin at the big positions.
Blair will be a huge key to winning both games of this back to back. In one, there's a good chance Duncan doesn't play. In the other, there's a good chance McDyess is dead-legged.
please win this game.
Referee Assignments
Wed. Feb 3
San Antonio @ Sacramento: Monty McCutchen; Derrick Collins; Kane Fitzgerald
The only guys I ever see the Spurs having trouble with are Grillo and Brothers.
I would throw Joey Crawford and Zach Zarba in that mix too.
Here's a recap and box score from the last time we played them:
http://www.nba.com/games/20091209/SA...#nbaGIboxscore
Yeaahh baby
Joey goes without saying. I just assumed it's understood among Spurs fans that Joey should never have reffed another Spurs game after the incident with Duncan.
I am not going to even watch this game...
http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/2509302.html
Kings game plan vs. San Antonio
By Jason Jones
[email protected] The Sacramento Bee
Published: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 4C
Last Modified: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 - 8:51 am
TONIGHT'S GAME
Kings (16-31) vs. San Antonio (27-19)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Arco Arena.
TV: CSNCA.
Radio: KHTK (1140 AM).
Kings update: Sacramento has dropped seven consecutive games to the Spurs, including both games in San Antonio earlier this season. And after going 2-13 in January, the Kings are hoping their shooters start making shots again and their defense picks up. After ending December with 14 wins, the assumption was the Kings would have surpassed last season's total of 17 wins by now. Instead the Kings find themselves a win short of 17 and several players trying to work their ways out of slumps.
Spurs update: It seems as if San Antonio battles injuries every season. But in the end, the Spurs end up near the top of the Western Conference. The Spurs will be without Tony Parker (sprained left ankle) but have confidence in backup guard George Hill. And San Antonio will have All-Star forward Tim Duncan. He's the only player in the NBA to rank in the top 20 in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage.
Probable starting lineups
KINGS
No. Player Pos.
13 Tyreke Evans PG
23 Kevin Martin SG
20 Donté Greene SF
34 Jason Thompson PF
31 Spencer Hawes C
SPURS
No. Player Pos.
3 George Hill PG
8 Roger Mason Jr. SG
24 Richard Jefferson SF
21 Tim Duncan PF
34 Antonio McDyess C
– Jason Jones
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