TV: TNT Sacramento Kings(38-13) @ Minnesota Timberwolves(38-15) Series: Tied 1-1. Last Meeting: Timberwolves 112 @ Kings 109 OT Previous Game Suns 95 @ Timberwolves 110 Celtics 111 @ Kings 127 Streaks Kings: Won 4 (7-3 in last ten) Timberwolves: Won 3 (8-2 in last ten) Head Coaches vs. Probable Starters PG: vs. Bibby vs. Cassell SG: vs. Christie vs. Sprewell SF: vs. Stojakovic vs. Hassell PF: vs. Massenburg vs. Garnett C: vs. Divac vs. Olowokandi 6th Men vs. Jackson vs. Hudson Players to Watch vs. Bibby: 17.7 Points (.453 FG %), 5.5 Assists, 3.3 Rebounds Cassell: 21.1 Points (.495 FG %), 7.8 Assists, 3.2 Rebounds Injury Lists Sacramento Kings Lawrence Funderburke Brad Miller Minnesota Timberwolves Ndudi Ebi Darrick Martin Keys to the Game <u>Sacramento:</u> <ul> [*]Minimize Garnett's game (keep him to humanly numbers) [*]Don't let the Big Three get hot (The Big Three scores over 60% of the points, without them they will be nothing) [*]Don't let the new comers get hot (Stopping Wally, Troy, and Olowokandi is a must.) [*]Get Peja hot from the outside (Hassell is a great defender, but he shouldn't be able to stop Peja from the perimeter) [*]Limit second chance points (Madsen and Olowokandi will be going at it all the time, so limit them as much as possible)[/list] <u>Minnesota Timberwolves:</u> <ul> [*]Limit Peja (Hassell must defend him with all he has got to limit Peja to human numbers) [*]Make open jumpers (This will be easier with Wally back in the lineup) [*]Make the big men score (With Miller and Webber out, Vlade has a lot on his back) [*]Rebound (We are a poor rebounding team. With Olowokandi in the lineup, that should change) [*]Drive (With no dominating big man, the Kings defense will have no post threat. Sprewell should have fun today) [/list] twolvefan11's Prediction Should be a close one all the way through. But with everyone back for the Wolves, I see them taking this one by 2-5. The Kings won't know who to guard, and if Wally is hot from the outside, they will have four big threats that the Kings are unable to defend against. Garnett will get his 24 and 12, and Cassell will get a lot of assists. Olowokandi should get a lot of rebounds without Webber or Miller there. The Wolves should take this one. Wolves by 2-5.
This is a perfect opertunity for the Wolves to beat the Kings ...No Miller is huge for the Wolves.... Not to mention the Kings have to play @ the Wolves ....The Wolves should be able to capitilize .... Even with all the advantages the Wolves have , I still have to take the Kings by 4 ... If the Kings win , it will be because of Bobby putting up good numbers ...But the important piece of the puzzle is Songalia and Masenburg playing well on the defensive side of the ball ....Cassell has been torching teams with his steady play ...So the Kings Gaurds have to match the intensity of the Wolves gaurds ...Bibby and Bobby can match up with Cassell....Doug can gaurd Spree...Peja will be tested against Wally and or anybody he gaurds ...Divac will have to be on top of his game , along with Masenburg and Songalia putting in good defensive efforts If the Kings are able to upset the Wolves at home ... Should be interesting .. Go Kings ~
The wolves have what it takes to be the best team this season this game will be a big step to getting there. I say wolves by 7.
Yeah, but the wolves out scored the kings by 7 in the 1st, and only by 2 in the 2nd. The wolves need to keep their momentum in the second half.
The Wolves are a second half team. They rarely have the lead coming out of the first half, so I see them taking advantage of this.
I told you the wolves needed to keep the momentum in the second half in order to win the game, and so far it's not happening the're letting the kings back in this one. The kings out scored the wolves by 6 in the 3rd.
Man the wolves put an end to the kings comeback. Can you say blowout. Garnett had an amazing 24 rebounds.
We won by 17! : ) But either way, it wasn't much of a contest this time. Sacramento was missing Chris Webber, Peja was off, and Brad Miller is injured for a couple-few games. Couple that off with the fact that we had a loud crowd since Wally was back, and Sacramento had to play Minnesota in our own homecourt advantage, our 20 degree weather! Kings fans, at least be satisfied that the loss was a solid loss and not by a buzzer beater. Man, I hate losing to buzzer beaters! You guys should get better with Miller and Webber back. Our depth tonight was just too large, I guess.
Timberwolves 92, Kings 75 The defense and our rebounding was great in this game. And Garnett led it the whole way. He was 1 rebound shy of his career high, grabbing 24 rebounds. He added 22 points with those rebounds. Cassell chipped in with 18 points and 5 assists, and Sprewell contributed with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. In Wally's first game back this season, he scored 6 points in 16 minutes. He looked to have understood his role. And Troy did good today, too. He finished with 10 points in 13 minutes. Mark Madsen sparked the team in the fourth by getting tough rebounds. He finished with 4 points and 5 rebounds. Gary Trent was key off the bench, scoring 6 points and 8 rebounds. Hassell did a great job on Stojakovic, limiting him to 15 points. Overall it was a great game by the Wolves, they deserved this one. Now on to Detroit.
Garnett is a machine. He locks onto a goal and he has mad focus and he goes and gets it. Utterly unstoppable.
I'm simply amazed at this team right now. If I was an opposing team, I'd be scared. We didn't even have our starting center Olowokandi back, but we still won by 17.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Romination:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm simply amazed at this team right now. If I was an opposing team, I'd be scared. We didn't even have our starting center Olowokandi back, but we still won by 17.</div> You are acting like Kings were missing no one They are still without their superstar Chris Webber and all-star Brad Miller.
KG had a great game.He had a 20-20 game.He got that many rebounds is possibly because Brad isn't there to steal rebounds from KG.The Kings really need a Frontcourt presence.Divac is getting old and would be much of a threat.Hassell did a great job guarding Peja. The Wolves played great D and Rebounded really well.
Yes, I do acknowledge that the Kings were missing Brad and Chris, but you know, all of us non-Kings fans are still jaded into believing everyone on the Kings is good enough to allow them to win every game, no matter who's injured. Guess that's not always the case.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">You are acting like Kings were missing no one They are still without their superstar Chris Webber and all-star Brad Miller.</div> whats your problem with the Wolves? all you ever seem to do is to belittle their accomplishments when you are discussing something involving them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KG is the MVP:</div><div class="quote_post">whats your problem with the Wolves? all you ever seem to do is to belittle their accomplishments when you are discussing something involving them.</div> Since when do I ever do that? care to show me some examples. I doubt you will find any.The poster above made it seem like the Kings were heathly when mentioning Kandi was out.So thats why I mentioned what I did.