As the season winds down, the challenge becomes: How do you keep a 20-41 team still yearning for more wins and team cohesion? How about play the San Antonio Spurs (45-16) in front of a nearly packed house and learn from the seemingly simple way the team from Texas goes about its everyday business? The plan worked for 24 minutes. After halftime, the Spurs decided to lay the smackdown and really show the Sacramento Kings (20-42) how the formula translates on the floor by outscoring the home team 69-42 in the second half on way to a 127-102 rout at Power Balance Pavilion Wednesday evening. The good news was that the Kings took an early 6-0 lead on the backs of Tyreke Evans and Jason Thomps

In a tit-for-tat, intense game, the Sacramento Kings lost on Thursday at Power Balance Pavilion by one point to the Utah Jazz with a final score of 103 to 102. Both teams had won their last three games, so the pressure was on the Kings to keep it up. After the game, Kings Head Coach Keith Smart said, “Overall I thought (the Kings) did a good job … (The Jazz is) a good quality team, good quality pro big men. They made some plays that they’re accustomed to making, but yet our group was right there, one rebound away from winning (the) game.” Al Jefferson of the Jazz made the first two points, but Jason Thompson’s layup evened things out 30 seconds later. The first quarter moved at this po

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will represent the Kings at the National Basketball Association draft lottery next week, team owners and the mayor announced at a Tuesday rally. Johnson and developers representing the ICON-Taylor arena team will meet in Las Vegas Wednesday with George Maloof, whose family controls a majority share of the team, to discuss the arena project. The Maloof family owns the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. On stage at a Kings rally in Cesar Chavez Plaza, Gavin and Joe Maloof asked the former NBA All-Star player to step up for them next Tuesday at the draft lottery at the NBA Entertainment studio in Secaucus, N.J. "I accept! I accept! I accept!" Johnson yelled in

The Sacramento Kings hosted the streaking Dallas Mavericks, who were riding a 10-game winning streak going into Wednesday night's game. The Kings fought valiantly to erase an 11-point deficit, but Jason Terry and José Barea helped spark the Mavs to an 11th straight victory, beating the Kings 102-100. Terry stepped up off the bench in the wake of Dirk Nowitzki’s poor shooting night by scoring a game-high 20 points. Barea, who averages nine points per game from the bench, scored 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help hold off the Kings. “He’s one of the quickest players in the league,” Kings coach Paul Westphal said of Barea. “He can shoot. They set a lot of screens for him. He

Sure, you see the Kings everywhere in the community donating either time, money or tickets to a future home game. But this time it was different. And, according to Kings President of Business Operations Matina Kolokotronis, it was one of the most important community-minded event the Kings have ever had the chance in which to participate. On Thursday, the Sacramento Kings, The California Endowment and the Sacramento City Unified School District gathered at Earl Warren Elementary School in South Sacramento to announce their partnership in creating the new “Get Fit with the Kings” program that is intended to boost the overall health of Sacramento-area youth. On-hand for the festivities wer

    ►►► GAME COVERAGE ►►► FOLLOWED BY GAME NOTES ►►► FOLLOWED BY COMMENTARY   ♦ THE GAME The ordeal is over. The Kings finally won a game. Avenging their lone loss in the 3-game road trip that opened their season, the Kings beat the New Jersey Nets at Arco Friday night, 86 - 81. The Kings had played New Jersey in the second game of the season. In that game, they had fallen behind by 18 points, but surged in the 3rd quarter and actually held an 8 point lead with less than 4 minutes to play. Sadly, New Jersey outscored the Kings 17 - 3 in the final 3:41, and won going away. Having started the season by taking 2 out of 3 road games, the Kings had returned to Sacramento feeling confiden

Books - the basic building block in the foundation of learning - were missing from a new high school in Natomas, and it sounded like a job for the community-minded Sacramento Kings. As part of the 2010 NBA Cares Week of Service and to celebrate the five-year anniversary of NBA Cares, the Sacramento Kings landed the Kings Karavan bus along with several players on Saturday at Natomas Pacific Pathways Preparatory School (NP3) for a community book drive in an effort to fill those barren shelves in the school’s library. The slight drizzle turned to rain as the temperature dropped and the waterproof ponchos were handed out. That didn’t stop Darnell Jackson, Pooh Jeter, Jason Thompson and Dont

As the NBA season kicks off, the Kings are ramping up their promotions, both on and off the court. New this season is the Kings Karavan – a 40-foot Kings-branded luxury bus that will be cruising in the greater Sacramento area in search of “ Here We Rise” placards on fans’ cars. It will also be making stops throughout town in October looking for the best fans in the NBA. The Karavan joins Slamson, the Sacramento Kings Dance Team, the Kings Breakers, the Here We Rise campaign and more in this year’s push for greater awareness of the new Kings players and new ticket promotions. Thursday, the Karavan made its whistle stop at the Capitol. Loaded with Slamson, some SKDT members and even a few

The Sacramento Kings will host a Community Book Drive at Natomas Pacific Pathways Preparatory School (NP3) - 3700 Del Paso Road, Sacramento, CA 95834, on Saturday, October 23 from 3–4:30 p.m. as part of the 2010 NBA Cares Week of Service and to celebrate the five-year anniversary of NBA Cares, which the league and its partners launched on Oct. 18, 2005. Through the NBA Cares program, the league and its teams and players have donated more than $145 million to charity, completed more than 1.4 million hours of community service and created more than 525 places where kids and families can live, learn or play. Kings players DeMarcus Cousins, Donté Greene, Jason Thompson and Pooh Jeter will be

As part of the NBA Cares campaign, “Paint the Town,” the Sacramento Kings will be greeting fans throughout the Sacramento region Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17 to thank them for their support in advance of the 2010-11 Kings season. The entire Kings training camp roster, members of the Sacramento Kings Dance Team, Slamson and the Kings Breakers will interact with the Sacramento community at various locations. Fans are encouraged to attend and players will be available to greet and interact with fans. Additionally, the Kings Karavan, a Kings-branded bus, will be on display at select locations and exciting Kings prizes will be awarded to Kings fans on-site. Following is the fu

It all began just like any other training camp gathering. The players hit the floor to do some stretching, jogging and even doing the “monster walk” to get flexible and be ready to bang some bodies. It was a day like any other day this past week. Except this time, there was a major difference. The practice had been moved out of the Kings’ practice facility and over to Arco Arena. Oh, and one more thing. There were people watching – lots of people. The Sacramento Kings raised the curtain on their new-look team on Sunday for all to see for the first time since making some major acquisitions and building their team with draft picks in the off season. It was the first scrimmage held this y

Slamson and Mitch Germann, VP, Marketing and Communications for Maloof Sports & Entertainment, (above) speak to tv crews before Slamson begins his ascent to the top of the sign behind them. Slamson, the Kings Mascot, will be camping out on top of the IKEA sign in West Sacramento until an extra 1,000 tickets are bought for the Kings Home Opener Monday, Nov. 1. He made the climb to the top of the 90ft. sign Friday afternoon around 4pm. Slamson about half-way up to his new spot. Slamson gets settled in for his campout in his den with altitude. Samson waves from his easy chair atop the 90ft. IKEA sign along Hwy 80. Fans can bring Slamson back down by purchasing an extra 1,000 tickets to

The 4th of July is next weekend but the celebratory parades have already begun. In Citrus Heights the 11th Annual Red, White, and Blue Parade took place on Saturday. This was the first time I’ve attended this parade mainly due to an email I received. Since it was held in the morning the weather was very pleasant and hundreds of families began staking out viewing spots on Sunrise Avenue from just north of Madison to the end near Greenback Avenue. A skydiving display kicked off the parade after the second diver landed and moved his gear off the street. Marching bands, floats, and several classic cars made their way down the parade route. Children happily waved at parade participants and mor

 The world’s most popular reggae singer came to Sacramento Sunday and played a show in front of 4,000 ecstatic fans.   This, in and of itself, doesn't seem like it would be all that noteworthy.  Big stars play shows in Sacramento, if not all the time, at least semi-frequently.  I mean, John Mayer is coming to the Sleep Train Amphitheater in August, right?  And Carrie Underwood is coming to Arco in a couple of weeks.   But Matisyahu, the Jewish reggae artist whose album, "Bright Side of Life," has been at the top of Billboard’s reggae charts for six weeks, didn't play at Arco for $45 a seat, or Raley Field for 35 bucks a pop, or even Harlow's for 18 a ducat.  He played for free, on the

What better way to spend a sunny afternoon than on the steps of the State Capitol.  On Sunday, May 2d, the Jewish Heritage Festival drew large crowds to experience the food, culture, and arts.  The headliner, internationally known musical performer Matisyahu, shared his blend of reggae, urban beats, and flavorful world music with the crowd that not only embraced him, but also each other, thus demonstrating how, on this day at the Capitol, music was indeed the best policy.  A variety of cultural dance performers, speakers, and even the Sacramento Kings' mascot, Slamson, were on hand.

The Sacramento Kings had the day off Friday but instead of relaxing, players were hard at work refurbishing the North Roseville R.E.C. Center as part of the seventh annual Cesar Chavez Day of Volunteerism. It was sponsored by Maloof Sports & Entertainment in partnership with Wells Fargo. The wet and windy weather did not put a damper on anyone’s spirits, including the Kings and the kids at the center. The team's generosity showed inside the center and out in the form of the Kings Reading and Learning Center and new landscape players put in Friday. The basketball court also was renovated, for which the Kings donated official NBA-size rims. After the work was done, festivities kicked off

Sacramento usually sees large crowds on Second Saturday. But Wednesday, it looked more like Dublin as thousands of green-clad Sacramentans attended block parties, drank green beer and celebrated everything even remotely Irish. The following is a photo essay, depicting some of the Wednesday evening festivities. The first seven photos are from the de Vere's St. Patrick's Day Block Party. Outside the de Vere's St. Patrick's Day Block Party on L Street, this dog dressed for the occasion in a green sweater. The party drew thousands of people to the 1500s block of L Street. Kings mascot Slamson showed up to the block party on stilts and showed off his shamrock-covered blazer. He was a crowd p

A popular furry beast made a rare appearance Tuesday morning at City Hall. Slamson, the mascot for the Sacramento Kings, joined with local officials to promote Tyreke Evans as the choice for NBA Rookie of the Year. Mayor Kevin Johnson, Assemblyman Roger Niello and County Supervisor Jimmie Yee all turned out for the press conference to cheer for Evans. “Rally for RekeROY Night” will take place March 10 during the game between the Kings and the Toronto Raptors at Arco Arena.