Martin leads Kings past Grizzlies 127-116 in OT
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kevin Martin scored 48 points and Beno Udrih hit a game-tying layup in the closing seconds of regulation to give the Sacramento Kings a 127-116 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in their home opener Monday night.
After starting the season with three straight losses on the road, the Kings came through late to delight a rare sellout crowd in Sacramento. It was a back-and-forth game down the stretch with both teams delivering big shots on a night little defense was played.
The two biggest for the Kings were Udrih's driving layup with 1.6 seconds left in regulation and Martin's career-high tying seventh 3-pointer, that gave Sacramento a 116-112 lead with 1:45 remaining in overtime.
After Rudy Gay missed two free throws and Andres Nocioni blocked a driving attempt from Mike Conley, Omri Casspi dunked in transition to put the Kings up six. Nocioni's 3-pointer with 48 seconds left gave Sacramento a 121-112 lead, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Spencer Hawes added 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Udrih scored 16 for the Kings, who gave new coach Paul Westphal his first win with the team.
Zach Randolph had 30 points and 16 rebounds before fouling out in overtime. Gay added 21 points and 12 rebounds and O.J. Mayo scored 22 for the Grizzlies, who fell to 2-26 all-time in Sacramento.
Randolph had given Memphis the lead with a fallaway jumper over Kenny Thomas with 6.1 seconds left for the ninth lead change in the final 4 minutes of regulation. But Udrih answered for the Kings, Udrih did not play at all in the season opener but got the key minutes in this game ahead of rookie Tyreke Evans.
Udrih scored nine points in the fourth quarter, delivering key passes and running the offense efficiently. Evans had three points, missing all four shots from the field.
Allen Iverson, the Grizzlies' highly publicized free-agent signing, made his Memphis debut after missing the first three games while recovering from a partial right hamstring tear. Iverson was booed when he entered the game with 4:39 left in the first quarter. He started slowly before hitting a pair of jumpers late in the third quarter. Iverson finished with 11 points.
Casspi quickly won over his new fans by hitting his first three shots, leading a few fans to wave Israeli flags in honor of that country's first NBA player. Casspi finished with 15 points.
The Kings gave the fans little to cheer about early, falling behind 17-4 on a dunk by Gay midway through the first quarter as they were outhustled for rebounds and loose balls.
Martin quickly got the Kings back into the game, hitting a 3-pointer just before the first-quarter buzzer that was part of a 17-2 run that gave Sacramento a one-point lead early in the second. The game stayed close from there until
NOTES: Memphis was not called for its first foul until 1:31 remained in the opening quarter, prompting Westphal to exclaim, "Finally!". ... One of the loudest ovations was for recently retired G Bobby Jackson, who is now an "ambassador" for the team.
Source: The Associated Press
« Back to Sports News
Related News
-
NBA Roundup This Time, the Celtics Finish Off the Bulls Early Nov 2, 2009 @ 01:16 AM
Paul Pierce scored 20 of his 22 points in the third quarter Friday night, and the Boston Celtics rolled to a 118-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls in the teams’ first matchup since last spring’s thrilling seven-game playoff series.
-
Handzus scores in overtime for Kings Nov 2, 2009 @ 01:16 AM
LOS ANGELES — Michal Handzus scored at 55 seconds of overtime, and Anze Kopitar had his first three-goal game in the NHL in the Los Angeles Kings' 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
-
Frye and Stoudemire lead Suns past Kings Nov 2, 2009 @ 01:16 AM
PHOENIX — Channing Frye scored 29 points, Amare Stoudemire had 26, and the fast-moving Phoenix Suns overcame the losses of Steve Nash and Grant Hill to beat the Sacramento Kings 143-127 on Tuesday night in their final home preseason game.
-
NHL Roundup Devils Win at Home; Brodeur Nears a Record Nov 2, 2009 @ 01:16 AM
Martin Brodeur made 26 saves Saturday night and is now only one shutout from tying Terry Sawchuk’s N.H.L. career record after the Devils’ 2-0 victory over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes.
-
Miller leads Sabres to 6-3 win Nov 2, 2009 @ 01:16 AM
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Clarke MacArthur scored on a penalty shot, Ryan Miller made 36 saves, and Tyler Myers scored his first NHL goal to help keep the Buffalo Sabres undefeated in regulation with a 6-3 win over the New York Islanders on Friday night.
