KINGS Enjoy Jim Jackson Satisfaction
Every time the Sacramento Kings have a player go down, another player steps up.
Recently acquired Jim Jackson scored a season-high 23 points and Doug Christie had a terrific all-around game with 16 points, nine assists and eight steals as the shorthanded Kings outclassed the San Antonio Spurs, 104-80, for their sixth straight win.
Despite being limited to eight healthy players, including three not with the team last season, Sacramento tied an NBA record for fewest turnovers in a game, committing only three.
The Kings are 18-5, just 1 1/2 games behind Dallas for the league's best record.
"Even though we have eight guys, they all played great defensively and just made a lot of good decisions with the ball," Kings coach Rick Adelman said.
"I really think that with the limited numbers that we have, everyone's in the gym early, we're all really working, we know that when we step out on the floor, all we have is each other," Christie said. "We're just playing really hard basketball; that's the bottom line."
Guard Mike Bibby, swingman Hedo Turkoglu, forwards Peja Stojakovic and Lawrence Funderburke and forward-center Scot Pollard all have missed large chunks of the season with injuries.
On Sunday, the Kings had to begin the second half without All-Star forward Chris Webber, who hurt his left wrist bad enough to have X-rays.
That was no problem for Christie, who sparked Sacramento with his playmaking and defense. He helped facilitate the offense, which had five players score at least 16 points.
On defense, Christie played the passing lanes on defense and repeatedly turned steals into easy buckets at the other end. The Kings enjoyed a 27-8 edge in fast-break points and ran away from the slower Spurs in the second half.
"We're just trying to be active," Christie said. "Everybody's getting their hands in there, getting the loose balls and picking them up. We were trying to get into the key and out of the key, make them think a little bit instead of letting them get it and turn around and make their shots."
The Kings became the fourth team to commit just three turnovers and the first since Toronto on January 16, 2001. The Spurs became the 17th team to fail to register at least one steal in a game.
Despite his injury, Webber collected 23 points and 13 rebounds as he outplayed NBA MVP Tim Duncan. Jim Jackson - signed last week to help fill out the roster - shot 10-for 14 for a Kings team which shot 52 percent (46-of-88) from the field.
"We were up for the challenge tonight to play San Antonio," Webber said. "They have great players, but we wanted to come in and prove that we're one of the elite teams, so it was a big win for us."
Jackson really is giving us a lift off the bench," Adelman said. "He is giving us quality and just knows how to get the job done. Playing without Mike and our other guys, it just makes things a lot better to know that you can count on a guy to come in and give you solid minutes."
Duncan had 16 points and 13 rebounds but was the only San Antonio starter to score in double figures. The Spurs have lost five of their last eight games and host Dallas on Wednesday.
"They did a great job hanging out in the lane and getting their hands on the basketball," Duncan said. "Especailly Doug Christie, he just sort of hung out, not covering anybody in particular, picking off passes and cutting off lanes."
The Kings were nursing a 38-36 lead midway through the second period before using a 10-2 run to open a 10-point lead. Vlade Divac scored the first two baskets and Christie fed a fast-breaking Bobby Jackson for the last two.
Sacramento held a 79-65 lead entering the final period, and Jim Jackson scored seven quick points, including a layup off a steal by Christie to push the advantage to 89-70 with 9:08 to go.
Christie made another 3-pointer and a steal that led to a thunderous fast-break dunk by Keon Clark that gave the Kings their largest lead at 96-72 with 7:13 to play.
Bobby Jackson scored 18 points and Divac added 16 for Sacramento, which has won four of the last five meetings between the clubs.
Every time the Sacramento Kings have a player go down, another player steps up.
Recently acquired Jim Jackson scored a season-high 23 points and Doug Christie had a terrific all-around game with 16 points, nine assists and eight steals as the shorthanded Kings outclassed the San Antonio Spurs, 104-80, for their sixth straight win.
Despite being limited to eight healthy players, including three not with the team last season, Sacramento tied an NBA record for fewest turnovers in a game, committing only three.
The Kings are 18-5, just 1 1/2 games behind Dallas for the league's best record.
"Even though we have eight guys, they all played great defensively and just made a lot of good decisions with the ball," Kings coach Rick Adelman said.
"I really think that with the limited numbers that we have, everyone's in the gym early, we're all really working, we know that when we step out on the floor, all we have is each other," Christie said. "We're just playing really hard basketball; that's the bottom line."
Guard Mike Bibby, swingman Hedo Turkoglu, forwards Peja Stojakovic and Lawrence Funderburke and forward-center Scot Pollard all have missed large chunks of the season with injuries.
On Sunday, the Kings had to begin the second half without All-Star forward Chris Webber, who hurt his left wrist bad enough to have X-rays.
That was no problem for Christie, who sparked Sacramento with his playmaking and defense. He helped facilitate the offense, which had five players score at least 16 points.
On defense, Christie played the passing lanes on defense and repeatedly turned steals into easy buckets at the other end. The Kings enjoyed a 27-8 edge in fast-break points and ran away from the slower Spurs in the second half.
"We're just trying to be active," Christie said. "Everybody's getting their hands in there, getting the loose balls and picking them up. We were trying to get into the key and out of the key, make them think a little bit instead of letting them get it and turn around and make their shots."
The Kings became the fourth team to commit just three turnovers and the first since Toronto on January 16, 2001. The Spurs became the 17th team to fail to register at least one steal in a game.
Despite his injury, Webber collected 23 points and 13 rebounds as he outplayed NBA MVP Tim Duncan. Jim Jackson - signed last week to help fill out the roster - shot 10-for 14 for a Kings team which shot 52 percent (46-of-88) from the field.
"We were up for the challenge tonight to play San Antonio," Webber said. "They have great players, but we wanted to come in and prove that we're one of the elite teams, so it was a big win for us."
Jackson really is giving us a lift off the bench," Adelman said. "He is giving us quality and just knows how to get the job done. Playing without Mike and our other guys, it just makes things a lot better to know that you can count on a guy to come in and give you solid minutes."
Duncan had 16 points and 13 rebounds but was the only San Antonio starter to score in double figures. The Spurs have lost five of their last eight games and host Dallas on Wednesday.
"They did a great job hanging out in the lane and getting their hands on the basketball," Duncan said. "Especailly Doug Christie, he just sort of hung out, not covering anybody in particular, picking off passes and cutting off lanes."
The Kings were nursing a 38-36 lead midway through the second period before using a 10-2 run to open a 10-point lead. Vlade Divac scored the first two baskets and Christie fed a fast-breaking Bobby Jackson for the last two.
Sacramento held a 79-65 lead entering the final period, and Jim Jackson scored seven quick points, including a layup off a steal by Christie to push the advantage to 89-70 with 9:08 to go.
Christie made another 3-pointer and a steal that led to a thunderous fast-break dunk by Keon Clark that gave the Kings their largest lead at 96-72 with 7:13 to play.
Bobby Jackson scored 18 points and Divac added 16 for Sacramento, which has won four of the last five meetings between the clubs.
