Sacramento (10-13) at San Antonio (18-4)

[ducks]

Sacramento (10-13) at San Antonio (18-4)

Preview - Box Score - Recap

Game Info: 8:30 pm EST Sat Dec 17, 2005
TV: CSNS, KRRT Add to Calendar
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Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs are glad to see Michael Finley adjusting nicely in his first year with the team.
The Spurs hope Finley continues his solid play of late when they host the Sacramento Kings.

Finley, who is starting in place of an injured Manu Ginobili, scored 21 points for the second consecutive game to lead the Spurs to a 90-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.

The 32-year-old swingman, averaging 17.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in his last three games, scored the Spurs' final six points to secure the road victory.

The performance caught the attention of his teammates, especially Duncan.

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"Michael Finley has been great," Duncan said. "It's great for him -- his confidence, his timing -- in a situation like this with Manu being down."

Duncan, who averages 20.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, struggled to find his shot for the second time in three contests. He only had 13 points and nine rebounds, missing four of his seven free-throw attempts, and is 5-for-20 from the line in the last two games.

"I had shots. I had excellent open shots, layups, and I missed them," Duncan said. "I was a little off of my game tonight, but the guys stepped it up. It was a great team effort all around."

San Antonio's effort in the second quarter was a big reason why it came away with a win. The Spurs outscored the Wolves 25-8 in the period en route to their eighth victory in nine games.

Sacramento had its season high-tying three-game winning streak end with a 109-98 loss to Detroit on Wednesday. The Kings allowed guards Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton to combine for 64 points and 23 assists.

"Billups and Hamilton were great," Sacramento coach Rick Adelman said. "We got back in the game at halftime, but we really couldn't sustain it. Their guards were too good for us tonight."

Brad Miller had 16 points and nine rebounds while Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Mike Bibby had 14 points each for the Kings, who fell to 1-1 on their four-game road trip.

The Spurs have won three straight and five of six over the Kings, including a 96-93 victory at Sacramento on Nov. 21.


Updated on Saturday, Dec 17, 2005 6:46 am EST

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Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Sacramento 10-13 5th Pacific / 12th West 99.3 99.3 Road 3-6 Lost 1 4-6
San Antonio 18-4 1st Southwest / 1st West 97.2 89.7 Home 10-1 Won 2 8-2

Sacramento Notes
Dec 15 F Peja Stojakovic continues to struggle from the arc, connecting on just 2-of-5 shots. ... The Kings scored 17 points off fast-break points and shot a dismal 3-of-12 on 3-pointers. ... Rookie Francisco Garcia was held scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting. ... Former Piston F Corliss Williamson had 11 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes.


San Antonio Notes
Dec 16 G Michael Finley scored 21 points for the second straight Thursday, matching his season high. Finley has filled in for injured All-Star G Manu Ginobili, who still is bothered by a bruised ankle. "Michael Finley has been great," F Tim Duncan said. "It's great for him - his confidence, his timing - in a situation like this with Manu being down." ... F Brent Barry had a solid game with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists off the bench. It was his first double-dogit scoring game since collecting a season-high 14 points vs. Philadelphia on December 3.

[howard2]

ESPN.com
Dec 17, 2005
Link: ESPN

Sacramento (10-13) at San Antonio (18-4) 8:30 pm EST
SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - The San Antonio Spurs seek their ninth win in 10 games when they face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

By edging Minnesota on Thursday, 90-88, San Antonio improved to 18-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 100 points. The Spurs shot a sizzling 62 percent (8-of-13) from the arc en route to its 13th win in 15 contests.

Michael Finley scored a season-high 21 points and went 3-of-4 from long range in the triumph. Tim Duncan added 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Bruce Bowen and Brent Barry each scored 12 points and Tony Parker had 11 and seven assists.

The Kings look to bounce back from a 109-98 loss against Detroit on Wednesday in which they allowed Pistons guards Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups to score a combined 64 points. Billups also picked apart Sacramento for a career-high 19 assists.

Brad Miller led Sacramento with 16 points and nine rebounds. Mike Bibby and Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 14 points apiece but Peja Stojakovic, the Kings' second-leading scorer, chipped in only 10.

San Antonio has a three-game winning streak against Sacramento and has won five of the last six meetings.
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Today's Line
FAVORITE OPEN CUR UNDERDOG O/U
SAN ANTONIO -9 9 SACRAMENTO 192

[howard2]

CBS Sports Line
Dec 17, 2005
Link: Sports Line

Sacramento Kings (10-13) at San Antonio Spurs (18-4).
TIME: Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST.

Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs are glad to see Michael Finley adjusting nicely in his first year with the team.

The Spurs hope Finley continues his solid play of late when they host the Sacramento Kings.

Finley, who is starting in place of an injured Manu Ginobili, scored 21 points for the second consecutive game to lead the Spurs to a 90-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.

The 32-year-old swingman, averaging 17.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in his last three games, scored the Spurs' final six points to secure the road victory.

The performance caught the attention of his teammates, especially Duncan.

"Michael Finley has been great," Duncan said. "It's great for him - his confidence, his timing - in a situation like this with Manu being down."

Duncan, who averages 20.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, struggled to find his shot for the second time in three contests. He only had 13 points and nine rebounds, missing four of his seven free-throw attempts, and is 5-for-20 from the line in the last two games.

"I had shots. I had excellent open shots, layups, and I missed them," Duncan said. "I was a little off of my game tonight, but the guys stepped it up. It was a great team effort all around."

San Antonio's effort in the second quarter was a big reason why it came away with a win. The Spurs outscored the Wolves 25-8 in the period en route to their eighth victory in nine games.

Sacramento had its season high-tying three-game winning streak end with a 109-98 loss to Detroit on Wednesday. The Kings allowed guards Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton to combine for 64 points and 23 assists.

"Billups and Hamilton were great," Sacramento coach Rick Adelman said. "We got back in the game at halftime, but we really couldn't sustain it. Their guards were too good for us tonight."

Brad Miller had 16 points and nine rebounds while Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Mike Bibby had 14 points each for the Kings, who fell to 1-1 on their four-game road trip.

The Spurs have won three straight and five of six over the Kings, including a 96-93 victory at Sacramento on Nov. 21.

[ducks]

they won
eat it kings