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about time for those babies to learn how to behave
Bibby among two Kings ejected in loss
Associated Press
Posted: 10 hours ago
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - For three quarters of the season opener, Mike Bibby galvanized the Sacramento Kings with his surprisingly quick return to action.
Yet when they needed their leader the most, as they were unraveling in the fourth quarter against Minnesota, Bibby's stunning ejection ultimately cost the Kings the game.
Bibby picked up two technical fouls late in the fourth quarter, and Kevin Garnett finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds to lift the Timberwolves to a 92-83 victory Wednesday night.
Bibby was expected to miss the first two weeks of the season with a mallet thumb - an injury in which a finger tendon becomes detached from bone, preventing the finger from fully extending. But new Kings coach Eric Musselman said Bibby's wrist was actually causing him more pain than the thumb, and Sacramento's leading scorer from a year ago said he was good to go after Wednesday morning's shootaround.
His teammates refused to criticize Bibby's error, especially considering the toughness he showed in coming back so soon.
"We've got to learn from this, keep our cool, and make sure we execute," center Brad Miller said.
Sacramento committed 12 of its 18 turnovers in the fourth and Bibby drew two technicals, getting tossed with the Kings down by six and less than three minutes to play.
Sacramento trailed 83-77 when Bibby argued a foul call with referee Derrick Stafford. After receiving one technical, Bibby continued to bark at the official and was promptly ejected. He finished with 16 points and five assists.
Garnett made both technicals and two more free throws for getting fouled to give Minnesota an 87-77 lead.
"It's a new team, a new nucleus," Garnett said. "Tonight we were aggressive in the fourth quarter. ... The fourth quarter is winning time."
Troy Hudson, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth, sealed the victory with a 3-pointer with 43 seconds to play, and Minnesota overcame 21 turnovers by holding Sacramento to 36 percent shooting.
"I like the way our guys closed the game out in the fourth quarter," Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said. "That was a bugaboo of ours last year."
Kevin Martin scored 23 points and Ron Artest had 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven steals for the Kings, who were playing their first game under Musselman, the former Golden State coach.
It was a homecoming of sorts for Musselman, whose late father Bill coached at the University of Minnesota and was the first head coach in Timberwolves history. Eric Musselman served as an assistant on his father's Timberwolves staff and said he met up with a buddy from elementary school before the game.
Hudson, a monumental disappointment last season who missed 46 games with an ankle injury, was clutch down the stretch for Minnesota, giving the Timberwolves the perimeter shooter they sorely lacked last season.
"Man, it felt great to be out there," said Hudson, who showed plenty of emotion on the court. "And not just be out there, but to be healthy and helping the team."
Trenton Hassell added 13 points for the Wolves, who trailed by seven in the third quarter after getting dominated on the offensive glass. The Kings grabbed a staggering 22 offensive rebounds.
In a game of few runs, the Kings used a 12-2 spurt midway through the third quarter to take a 62-55 lead. Martin capped the run with a 3-pointer that was Sacramento's third shot of the possession.
"We just pretty much self-destructed," Miller said. "Turnovers and pretty much things we could control."
Notes
The Timberwolves held a moment of silence for late Celtics icon Red Auerbach before the game. ... Garnett and Maurice Taylor received double technical fouls for barking at each other with 25.6 seconds to play in the third quarter. Taylor was ejected seconds later after a confrontation with Garnett on the other end of the floor. ... Wolves rookie Craig Smith had a tough debut - three points, zero rebounds and six fouls in 10 minutes.
about time for those babies to learn how to behave
yeah, tonight is parker's, ginobili's and duncan's turn.
you hope because other wise the cuban investment will lose
I hate these no tolerence rule. A player should be able to show emotion.
yup, if you put your hands in the air its a ing big deal now. o well, the kings WILL win tomorrow against the bulls and their record will be 1-1 book it.
The new rules are bull , that is all I have to say.
It takes a lot of character away from the players.
They might as well though call this the Sheed rule cause sheed will probly get the most tecs if this is how the game will be called all season. We were only down by 3, and even though Sheed had a bad scoring night with 0 pts he could have gotten some key stops for us but no the refs have to be jackasses and kick him out of the game.
Stern making these gay rules is going to kill the NBA someday.
Who was the second King ejected along with Bibby?
Maurice Taylor.
Last night, there were 13 games played...and 24 techs called.
Is that higher than normal? I don't really know. I've never researched it before. But it sure does sound like alot.
Yeah, it was load of calls. I can't stand this . Until the officiating becomes more consistent, what the else is there to do as a player?
Add Mello to the ejected list....
Why are people complainin? THIS IS FUNNY. It is the regular season. This makes the NBA must see TV. Who will get ejected next? Wade? LeBron? Kobe? TIMMAY!?!?
I LOVE THIS STUFF!
Carmelo gets ejected in 3rd qtr @Clips, and The Alien carries Clips to a last-second win.
No chance.
Now youre really high.LeBron?
Maybe.Kobe?
Not unless David Stern wants to hear from him via a strong-worded letter clearly stating his dissatisfaction with the current officiating trends.TIMMAY!?!?
Yeah, its like a soap opera with thuggish millionaires.I LOVE THIS STUFF!
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