Sunday, January 22, 2012

San Antonio handed first home loss of year

SAN ANTONIO — In an already tumultuous season for the Sacramento Kings, road trips have been especially brutal.

They finally caught a break away from home, in perhaps the most unlikely place.

Tyreke Evans had 23 points and 11 rebounds, including a 7-meter jumper with 47.2 seconds left to put the Kings ahead for good in a surprising 88-86 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.

The Spurs had been 9-0 at home, best in the NBA. Sacramento, meanwhile, had been abysmal away from home, getting blown out by an average of 23 points in its seven road losses.

"It just shows you the type of team we've got. We've got all the pieces to this puzzle," Evans said. "We've got big men, we've got guards. We just have to play hard for all 48 minutes. It shows the type of team we can be."

DeMarcus Cousins had 17 points and 13 rebounds and Marcus Thornton also scored 17 in Sacramento's second road victory of the season. The Kings are still trying to sort themselves out after coach Paul Westphal was fired this month following his escalating feud with Cousins, and Sacramento seemed to savor this win as if it was needed.

Evans paced around the court with both his arms raised. His teammates lingered long on the floor with wide smiles and high-fives as the stunned Spurs walked to their locker room.

Tony Parker led the Spurs with 24 points. San Antonio led 84-78 with 4 minutes to go but missed its last five shots, including Danny Green badly airballing a short runner as time expired.

Green said the play was the same one as a spectacular give-and-go with Tim Duncan that worked in Orlando two nights earlier. But this time Green, a former deep reserve who's been thrust into a significant role because Manu Ginobili broke his hand, took the shot himself instead of tossing it back to the perennial All-Star.

"I had Timmy for a drop-off but I wasn't sure if I had enough time left," said Green, who finished with eight points. "I let it go, and it was a little short."

It was the end of a disappointing final minute for Green, who was standing in front of Evans as the Kings star pulled up for the winning shot.

San Antonio started 9-0 at home for the third time in franchise history. Now only Chicago (6-0) remains unbeaten at home.

The Spurs hardly gave the game away. Sacramento led the entire way before Spurs center Tiago Splitter finally put San Antonio ahead with just under 10 minutes left.

Splitter, Duncan and DeJuan Blair all had 10 points for the Spurs.

Timberwolves 101, Clippers 98

In Los Angeles, Kevin Love hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer after Ricky Rubio's tying 3 with 20 seconds to play, lifting Minnesota to a pulsating victory over the Clippers.

76ers 90, Hawks 76

In Philadelphia, Jrue Holiday had 16 points and 11 assists, and Thaddeus Young scored 20 points to lead the 76ers to a win over Atlanta.

Magic 92, Lakers 80

In Orlando, Dwight Howard scored 21 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, and the Magic overcame a tough shooting performance to beat Los Angeles.

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and Pau Gasol 13 for the Lakers, now 1-6 on the road this season.

Bulls 114, Cavaliers 75

In Cleveland, Luol Deng scored 21 points, Carlos Boozer added 19 and 14 rebounds, and Chicago managed easily without superstar Derrick Rose in embarrassing the Cavs.

Suns 79, Celtics 71

In Boston, Marcin Gortat scored 24 points with 12 rebounds and Steve Nash had 11 points and nine assists to lead Phoenix over the hosts.

Trail Blazers 94, Raptors 84

In Toronto, LaMarcus Aldridge had a season-high 33 points and a career-best 23 rebounds as Portland handed the Raptors their seventh consecutive loss.

Nuggets 108, Wizards 104

In Washington, Al Harrington scored a season-high 29 points, and Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson each had 21 to lead Denver past the Wizards.

Bucks 100, Knicks 86

In New York, Brandon Jennings scored a season-high 36 points and Milwaukee won on the road for the first time this season.

Grizzlies 98, Pistons 81

In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Rudy Gay scored 24 points and surging Memphis held off a second-half rally by Detroit.

Pacers 94, Warriors 91

In Oakland, George Hill scored on a three-point play with 1.8 seconds remaining and Indiana held off a late charge by Golden State to beat the Warriors.

SANTA ANA CALIFORNIA — Records show the wife of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will keep their three California homes as part of the couple's divorce plans.

Orange County property records reviewed by the Los Angeles Times show that the three mansions in Newport Coast, valued at $18.8 million total, were transferred into Vanessa Bryant's name since their divorce proceedings began in December.


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