|  Wys³any: 2019-04-08 04:38:22 Temat postu: Marcus Thornton scored a season-high 24 points
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Fed up and frustrated at the lack of effort and energy, Sacramento Kings coach Michael Malone shook up his lineup hoping to find some kind of spark. The move turned out to be exactly what his team needed. Marcus Thornton scored a season-high 24 points after losing his starting spot to rookie Ben McLemore, and the Kings snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Brooklyn Nets 107-86 on Wednesday night. "Marcus, I said to him after the game, Maybe I shouldve put you on the bench sooner," Malone said. Greivis Vasquez had 17 points and 12 assists, and Isaiah Thomas added 19 points, six assists and six rebounds to help the Kings rout Brooklyn. Sacramento led by 18 points in the second quarter and 23 late in the third before holding off a brief rally in the fourth. The Kings shot 43.6 per cent and committed only seven turnovers. They also held the Nets to 37.8 per cent shooting and forced 15 turnovers. "If I couldve written a script for tonight," Malone said, "it wouldve played out just like it played out." Nothing has gone according to plan for the Nets this season. After acquiring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from Boston, the pairs championship pedigree has yet to blend in Brooklyn so far. The Nets have lost three straight to drop to 2-5 this season, including 0-4 on the road, with the latest performance perhaps the most perplexing. "Its unacceptable," first-year Nets coach Jason Kidd said. "We dont score, we hang our heads and then they score on the other end." The Nets never sustained any kind of rhythm, even after DeMarcus Cousins picked up his fourth foul and was taken out early in the third quarter. They played slow and looked like aging veterans -- especially against Sacramentos young and athletic rotation -- and were often embarrassed on both ends. Brook Lopez had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Deron Williams finished with 13 points and seven assists as the Nets lost their third straight game. Brooklyn plays at Phoenix on Friday night before wrapping up the three-game road trip at the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. "I hope this was a wakeup call to start the trip," said Pierce, who had 12 points and nine rebounds. Sacramento, a place where most NBA fans are still just happy to have a team after the Kings nearly moved to Seattle in May, finally showed some promise on the court for the first time since winning its season opener against Denver. McLemore, the seventh overall pick out of Kansas, made his first start along with Jason Thompson. Thornton and Patrick Patterson, who had eight points and a season-high 10 rebounds, moved to the bench as part of a revamped rotation Malone said he will use again Friday against Detroit. The announced crowd of 15,122 roared when McLemore finished an alley-oop from Vasquez on a fast break in the first quarter, though the rookie struggled for most of the game. McLemore finished with two points on 1-of-8 shooting. Thornton scored 13 points in the second quarter, including three 3-pointers, and tossed a lob that Cousins dunked with one hand to give the Kings a 43-25 lead. "I kept pounding in my head, Just go out there and play and relax," said Thornton, who finished 10 of 19 from the floor, adding four rebounds and two assists. "Shots started falling, and things happened." The Nets answered with 11 straight points, with Williams keying the spurt despite favouring his left ankle for a minute after slipping on teammate Andray Blatche. Cousins also was called for a technical foul -- his second this season -- to help Brooklyns run after the Sacramento centre shouted at official Joey Crawford. Sacramento closed the half leading 52-40 before blowing away Brooklyn after the break. Vasquez fed Patterson for a layup that put the Kings up 80-57 with 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Williams floater sliced Sacramentos lead to 84-72 early in the fourth. Then Jason Terry was called for a foul and a technical foul after elbowing Vasquez, part of a 16-8 run that gave the Kings a 100-80 lead. "Were not in a comfort zone or anything like that," Vasquez said. "We have to come back and be professional about this and build from this win." NOTES: The Kings had lost the last three games against the Nets. ... Nets F Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms) is not travelling with the team during its three-game road trip. ... Garnett played his 1,330th career game, passing Moses Malone for 10th place in NBA history. Cheap Jets Jerseys China . -- Conor Casey scored two goals, his first of the season, as the Philadelphia Union beat Chivas USA 3-0 on Saturday night. Cheap Winnipeg Jets Jerseys . -- Justin Verlander took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and won his fourth straight decision, leading Detroit over the Kansas City Royals 9-4 Sunday and extending the Tigers winning streak to a season-high five games. http://www.cheapwinnipegjetsjerseys.com/ . - Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick as the Prince Albert Raiders stormed past the Swift Current Broncos 5-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday. Cheap Adidas Jets Jerseys . Jacob Jacques, Andrew Ryan and Jonathan Drouin also scored for Halifax (37-18-3), who outshot the Islanders 40-26. Kevin Darveau stopped 25 shots. Bradley Kennedy had the lone goal for Charlottetown (18-33-5), which has nine losses in its last 10 games. Cheap Jets Jerseys Authentic . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri. WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper showed plenty of pop Thursday in his first on-field batting practice since undergoing ligament surgery on his left thumb last month. "Honestly, we almost ran out of baseballs," manager Matt Williams said. "Between he and Wilson (Ramos), whoever gets in the park first today and goes to the outfield will have lots of souvenirs." Williams said Harper will begin a minor league rehab assignment after the Nationals begin a road trip next week. "Im still trying to see where my swings at. ... I dont see myself coming back after five games or four games," Harper said. "I really want to push it and see how I feel after eight, nine games down there. If I feel good before that, then Ill see where Im at." Williams will have to do some shuffling when Harper returns. Ryan Zimmerman, whose chronic shoulder problems have moved him off thhird base, has been playing in Harpers spot in left field.dddddddddddd Williams originally said Zimmerman will move back to third, but now the manager says he will move players around depending on matchups and to give players rest. Zimmerman could be playing first base, third base or left field, while Harper will be used in all three outfield positions. Anthony Rendon will shuffle between second base and third base. "It doesnt really matter to me. I just want to play," Harper said. "I just want to be in the lineup and hopefully I can come back and help the team win." The Nationals have been playing well recently in Harpers absence, moving into first place in the NL East ahead of Thursdays opener of a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. "One through nine, everyones swinging it really, really well right now. Were playing well. Im the odd man out, I guess," he joked. ' ' ' |
Marcus Thornton scored a season-high 24 points
