GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (9-8) at SACRAMENTO (5-10)

NBA: HOUSTON at SACRAMENTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 94
SACRAMENTO 99 3:01 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SACRAMENTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 99
SACRAMENTO 106 1:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SACRAMENTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 99
SACRAMENTO 107 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SACRAMENTO

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 29 21 24 25 99
SACRAMENTO 26 23 30 28 107 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 40, YAO MING 29, BONZI
WELLS 8
SAC - RON ARTEST 26, KEVIN MARTIN 26, BENO
UDRIH 15</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SACRAMENTO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (99) AT SACRAMENTO (107)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R ALSTON G 34:44 2-7 0-2 1 3 4 8 1 0 2 5
T MCGRADY G 41:08 14-30 7-8 0 5 5 4 1 1 5 40
C HAYES F 18:13 1-3 0-0 2 3 5 0 4 1 0 2
S BATTIER F 43:00 2-6 0-0 0 4 4 1 2 0 1 4
Y MING C 37:11 8-15 13-13 7 4 11 1 6 0 3 29
B WELLS 26:36 4-8 0-0 2 8 10 1 5 2 0 8
M JAMES 16:03 2-6 2-2 0 2 2 1 4 1 1 7
L SCOLA 14:00 0-1 0-0 0 4 4 0 3 0 1 0
L HEAD 8:34 2-5 0-0 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 4
A BROOKS 0:31 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 35-82 22-25 13 35 48 16 27 5 13 99
(.427) (.880) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 13 (0 PTS)

SACRAMENTO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

B UDRIH G 33:52 6-7 3-4 0 5 5 5 2 1 2 15
K MARTIN G 38:13 8-20 7-8 1 3 4 2 1 2 1 26
M MOORE F 24:41 2-7 0-0 2 0 2 0 4 0 0 4
R ARTEST F 42:41 9-20 7-9 1 5 6 3 2 4 1 26
B MILLER C 34:08 4-9 4-6 2 5 7 2 4 1 0 12
J SALMONS 28:38 5-7 3-3 0 4 4 4 3 1 0 13
F GARCIA 17:04 3-8 1-1 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 7
S HAWES 13:52 1-6 0-0 5 5 10 0 1 0 0 2
Q DOUBY 6:51 1-3 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 2

TOTALS 240:00 39-87 25-31 11 31 42 16 17 9 5 107
(.448) (.806) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 5 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON 29 21 24 25 - 99
SACRAMENTO 26 23 30 28 - 107

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - S BATTIER 3, Y MING 2, B WELLS. SACRAMENTO -
S HAWES 2, R ARTEST, F GARCIA.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 7-24 (.292), R ALSTON 1-4, T MCGRADY 5-
10, S BATTIER 0-4, M JAMES 1-4, L HEAD 0-1, A BROOKS 0-1. SACRAMENTO 4-
14 (.286), K MARTIN 3-6, R ARTEST 1-6, F GARCIA 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - Y MING. SACRAMENTO - M MOORE 2, B MILLER.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DEREK RICHARDSON, GARY ZIELINSKI, GREG WILLARD.
A - 15,081. T - 2:10.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SACRAMENTO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (99)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 34:44 2-7 0-2 1-4 8 1 5
T McGrady 41:08 14-30 7-8 0-5 4 1 40
C Hayes 18:13 1-3 0-0 2-5 0 4 2
S Battier 43:00 2-6 0-0 0-4 1 2 4
Y Ming 37:11 8-15 13-13 7-11 1 6 29
B Wells 26:36 4-8 0-0 2-10 1 5 8
M James 16:03 2-6 2-2 0-2 1 4 7
L Scola 14:00 0-1 0-0 0-4 0 3 0
L Head 8:34 2-5 0-0 1-3 0 1 4
A Brooks 0:31 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 35-82 22-25 13-48 16 27 99
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.427, FT-.880. 3-Point Goals:
7-24, .292 (R Alston 1-4, T McGrady 5-10, S
Battier 0-4, M James 1-4, L Head 0-1, A
Brooks 0-1). Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked
Shots:6 (S Battier 3, Y Ming 2, B Wells).
Turnovers:13 (T McGrady 5, Y Ming 3, R Alston
2, S Battier, M James, L Scola). Steals: 5 (B
Wells 2, T McGrady, M James, C Hayes).


SACRAMENTO (107)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
B Udrih 33:52 6-7 3-4 0-5 5 2 15
K Martin 38:13 8-20 7-8 1-4 2 1 26
M Moore 24:41 2-7 0-0 2-2 0 4 4
R Artest 42:41 9-20 7-9 1-6 3 2 26
B Miller 34:08 4-9 4-6 2-7 2 4 12
J Salmons 28:38 5-7 3-3 0-4 4 3 13
F Garcia 17:04 3-8 1-1 0-2 0 0 7
S Hawes 13:52 1-6 0-0 5-10 0 1 2
Q Douby 6:51 1-3 0-0 0-2 0 0 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-87 25-31 11-42 16 17 107
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.448, FT-.806. 3-Point Goals:
4-14, .286 (K Martin 3-6, R Artest 1-6, F
Garcia 0-2). Team Rebounds: 9. Blocked
Shots:4 (S Hawes 2, R Artest, F Garcia).
Turnovers:5 (B Udrih 2, R Artest, K Martin, F
Garcia). Steals: 9 (R Artest 4, K Martin 2, B
Miller, J Salmons, B Udrih).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 29 21 24 25 - 99
SACRAMENTO 26 23 30 28 - 107
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Houston - 1 (Y Ming, 3:00
4th). Sacramento - 3 (M Moore, 1:58 1st; M
Moore, 7:52 1st; B Miller, 0:45 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 15,081. T: 2:10.
Officials: Derek Richardson, Gary Zielinski,
Greg Willard.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SACRAMENTO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
HOUSTON 99
SACRAMENTO 107 FINAL</div>

 

By Tom Galland
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- Rick Adelman enjoyed themoment as he received a standing ovation upon being announcedto the Arco Arena crowd. In the end, it was his former teamthat was left smiling.


Kevin Martin came on strong in the second half, finishing with26 points, and Ron Artest also scored 26 to help the SacramentoKings spoil Adelman's return with Saturday's 107-99 victory overthe Houston Rockets.


Martin and Tracy McGrady put on an offensive show in the thirdperiod. Martin shook off a slow start to score 14 in the quarteras the Kings pulled ahead, 70-63. But McGrady kept the gameclose with 15 points to cut the deficit to 79-74 heading intothe fourth.


Martin stayed hot in the fourth, erasing the memory of his poorshowing in the final period during Wednesday's seven-point lossto Golden State.


Martin hit a 3-pointer to put the Kings up nine just over twominutes into the quarter. After Yao Ming made two free throws,Francisco Garcia converted a three-point play as the Kingspushed the lead to 89-79 with 9:15 left.


McGrady scored on a three-point play of his own to pull theRockets within five and former King Bonzi Wells scored on abreakaway layup to slice the lead to 95-92 with 4:31 remaining.

Beno Udrih drove to the basket and picked up the sixth foul onYao, who also picked up a technical and was ejected. Martinconverted the technical and Udrih split two free throws to makeit 101-94 with three minutes left.


McGrady countered with a tough 20-foot jumper from the wing butJohn Salmons answered with a three-point play moments later toprovide the Kings with a 104-96 cushion with 2:32 to play.

Yao got the Rockets rolling out of the gate, scoring Houston'sfirst eight points and finishing with 16 on 7-of-8 shooting inthe first for a 29-26 advantage.


Reserves Luther Head and Mike James combined for 11 points togive the Rockets their biggest lead, 40-32, midway in thesecond. But Artest keyed a 12-0 run with five points andstellar defense on McGrady to bring Sacramento within 50-49 athalftime.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SACRAMENTO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (99) AT SACRAMENTO (107)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R ALSTON G 34:44 2-7 0-2 1 3 4 8 1 0 2 5
T MCGRADY G 41:08 14-30 7-8 0 5 5 4 1 1 5 40
C HAYES F 18:13 1-3 0-0 2 3 5 0 4 1 0 2
S BATTIER F 43:00 2-6 0-0 0 4 4 1 2 0 1 4
Y MING C 37:11 8-15 13-13 7 4 11 1 6 0 3 29
B WELLS 26:36 4-8 0-0 2 8 10 1 5 2 0 8
M JAMES 16:03 2-6 2-2 0 2 2 1 4 1 1 7
L SCOLA 14:00 0-1 0-0 0 4 4 0 3 0 1 0
L HEAD 8:34 2-5 0-0 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 4
A BROOKS 0:31 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 35-82 22-25 13 35 48 16 27 5 13 99
(.427) (.880) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 13 (23 PTS)

SACRAMENTO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

B UDRIH G 33:52 6-7 3-4 0 5 5 5 2 1 2 15
K MARTIN G 38:13 8-20 7-8 1 3 4 2 1 2 1 26
M MOORE F 24:41 2-7 0-0 2 0 2 0 4 0 0 4
R ARTEST F 42:41 9-20 7-9 1 5 6 3 2 4 1 26
B MILLER C 34:08 4-9 4-6 2 5 7 2 4 1 0 12
J SALMONS 28:38 5-7 3-3 0 4 4 4 3 1 0 13
F GARCIA 17:04 3-8 1-1 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 7
S HAWES 13:52 1-6 0-0 5 5 10 0 1 0 0 2
Q DOUBY 6:51 1-3 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 2
K THOMAS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D WATKINS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J WILLIAMS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 39-87 25-31 11 31 42 16 17 9 5 107
(.448) (.806) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 5 (7 PTS)

HOUSTON 29 21 24 25 - 99
SACRAMENTO 26 23 30 28 - 107

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - S BATTIER 3, Y MING 2, B WELLS. SACRAMENTO -
S HAWES 2, R ARTEST, F GARCIA.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 7-24 (.292), R ALSTON 1-4, T MCGRADY 5-
10, S BATTIER 0-4, M JAMES 1-4, L HEAD 0-1, A BROOKS 0-1. SACRAMENTO 4-
14 (.286), K MARTIN 3-6, R ARTEST 1-6, F GARCIA 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - Y MING. SACRAMENTO - DEFENSIVE THREE 2, B
MILLER.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DEREK RICHARDSON, GARY ZIELINSKI, GREG WILLARD.
A - 15,081. T - 2:11.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at SACRAMENTO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (99)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 34:44 2-7 0-2 1-4 8 1 5
T McGrady 41:08 14-30 7-8 0-5 4 1 40
C Hayes 18:13 1-3 0-0 2-5 0 4 2
S Battier 43:00 2-6 0-0 0-4 1 2 4
Y Ming 37:11 8-15 13-13 7-11 1 6 29
B Wells 26:36 4-8 0-0 2-10 1 5 8
M James 16:03 2-6 2-2 0-2 1 4 7
L Scola 14:00 0-1 0-0 0-4 0 3 0
L Head 8:34 2-5 0-0 1-3 0 1 4
A Brooks 0:31 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 35-82 22-25 13-48 16 27 99
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.427, FT-.880. 3-Point Goals:
7-24, .292 (R Alston 1-4, T McGrady 5-10, S
Battier 0-4, M James 1-4, L Head 0-1, A
Brooks 0-1). Team Rebounds: 5. Blocked
Shots:6 (S Battier 3, Y Ming 2, B Wells).
Turnovers:13 (T McGrady 5, Y Ming 3, R Alston
2, S Battier, M James, L Scola). Steals: 5 (B
Wells 2, T McGrady, M James, C Hayes).


SACRAMENTO (107)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
B Udrih 33:52 6-7 3-4 0-5 5 2 15
K Martin 38:13 8-20 7-8 1-4 2 1 26
M Moore 24:41 2-7 0-0 2-2 0 4 4
R Artest 42:41 9-20 7-9 1-6 3 2 26
B Miller 34:08 4-9 4-6 2-7 2 4 12
J Salmons 28:38 5-7 3-3 0-4 4 3 13
F Garcia 17:04 3-8 1-1 0-2 0 0 7
S Hawes 13:52 1-6 0-0 5-10 0 1 2
Q Douby 6:51 1-3 0-0 0-2 0 0 2
K Thomas DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Watkins DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J Williams DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-87 25-31 11-42 16 17 107
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.448, FT-.806. 3-Point Goals:
4-14, .286 (K Martin 3-6, R Artest 1-6, F
Garcia 0-2). Team Rebounds: 9. Blocked
Shots:4 (S Hawes 2, R Artest, F Garcia).
Turnovers:5 (B Udrih 2, R Artest, K Martin, F
Garcia). Steals: 9 (R Artest 4, K Martin 2, B
Miller, J Salmons, B Udrih).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 29 21 24 25 - 99
SACRAMENTO 26 23 30 28 - 107
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Houston - 1 (Y Ming, 3:00
4th). Sacramento - 3 (Defensive Three, 1:58
1st; Defensive Three, 7:52 1st; B Miller,
0:45 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 15,081. T: 2:11.
Officials: Derek Richardson, Gary Zielinski,
Greg Willard.</div>

 

By Tom Galland
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- Rick Adelman enjoyed themoment as he received a standing ovation upon being announced tothe Arco Arena crowd. In the end, it was his former team thatwas left smiling.


Kevin Martin came on strong in the second half, finishing with26 points, and Ron Artest also scored 26 to help the SacramentoKings spoil Adelman's return with Saturday's 107-99 victory overthe Houston Rockets.


Adelman guided Sacramento to playoff appearances in each of hiseight campaigns (1998-2006) and won 50 or more games in fiveconsecutive seasons under his leadership, including back-to-backdivision titles. He remains the winningest coach in franchisehistory at 295 career wins.


"It's a special place and the fans here have always beenterrific," Adelman said. "It was strange coming back. I wouldhave liked to get a win, but you've got to move on. But Ireally appreciated the response they gave me."


"He turned my career around when I got here," Artest said ofAdelman. "I was out of shape, coming off a lot of controversy,and he put the ball in my hands. He looked like a genius, soI'll always have a lot of respect for the guy."


Tracy McGrady scored 40 points for the third time this seasonand Yao Ming added 29 for the Rockets, who finished 2-2 on theirfour-game road trip.


Martin and McGrady put on an offensive show in the third period.Martin shook off a slow start to score 14 in the quarter asthe Kings pulled ahead, 70-63. But McGrady kept the game closewith 15 points to cut the deficit to 79-74 heading into thefourth.


Martin stayed hot in the fourth, erasing the memory of his poorshowing in the final period during Wednesday's seven-point lossto Golden State.


"It was time to get going a little bit," said Martin, who scored21 points after the break. "I was definitely more aggressive.Not just finding shots, but creating for others."


Martin hit a 3-pointer to put the Kings up nine just over twominutes into the quarter. After Yao made two free throws,Francisco Garcia converted a three-point play as the Kingspushed the lead to 89-79 with 9:15 left.


McGrady scored on a three-point play of his own to pull theRockets within five and former King Bonzi Wells scored on abreakaway layup to slice the lead to 95-92 with 4:31 remaining.

Beno Udrih drove to the basket and picked up the sixth foul onYao, who also picked up a technical and was ejected. Martinconverted the technical and Udrih split two free throws to makeit 101-94 with three minutes left.


"I don't blame Yao for getting frustrated," Adelman said. "Heshot 13 free throws, but he should have shot a lot more thanthat. You can talk about the officials, frustration on Yao'spart, but basically they just outplayed us."


McGrady countered with a tough 20-foot jumper from the wing butJohn Salmons answered with a three-point play moments later toprovide the Kings with a 104-96 cushion with 2:32 to play.

"It's a quality win for us," Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "Ithought that everybody did their jobs. For a short period oftime, there we were looking like we were going back to shootingjumpers. We had a little bit of a timeout and conversation.After that, everybody starting going to the hole again for us,and that was big."


"I can live with us missing shots, it just happens," McGradysaid. "But I can't live with us turning the ball over, foulingon the other end. That's what happened. Whatever (Sacramento)wanted, they got it."


Yao got the Rockets rolling out of the gate, scoring Houston'sfirst eight points and finishing with 16 on 7-of-8 shooting inthe first for a 29-26 advantage.


Reserves Luther Head and Mike James combined for 11 points togive the Rockets their biggest lead, 40-32, midway in thesecond. But Artest keyed a 12-0 run with five points andstellar defense on McGrady to bring Sacramento within 50-49 athalftime.