Spurs End Losing Streak Defeating Kings 107-96
By: Morgan Ragan
The San Antonio Spurs won their first game since the All-Star break Friday night against the Sacramento Kings, 107-96.
The Kings were without center DeMarcus Cousins due to an ankle injury that occurred Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Sacramento had a difficult 4th quarter with nine turnovers and no assists.
"My belief in basketball is strong beats weak, talent will beat strong but smarts beat all. Our basketball IQ in the fourth quarter wasn't bad but it wasn't good," head coach George Karl said following the loss.
Gay finished the game with eight of the Kings 17 turnovers and contributed 16 points, six boards and four assists to the loss.
"We forced the flow to him [Gay] too often and he made some mistakes," Karl said. "Rudy is a huge part of why we hung around until the fourth quarter."
With Darren Collison out, Ray McCallum started for Sacramento and finished with a season-high 20 points.
Jason Thompson had his fourth double-double of the season scoring 12 points, 11 rebounds and two assists for Sacramento.
Sacramento had 19 points and 21 boards off the bench, 11 of those rebounds were from Reggie Evans.
"I think sometimes your bench guys have to be more responsible especially for the first and third quarters," Karl said after the lack of production off the bench.
The Kings finish the homestand on Sunday afternoon against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Analysis
Andre Miller played 17 minutes in Friday night's loss scoring eight points and three assists. When there was a lack of ball movement and no other offensive contributors on the floor for the Kings, Miller's patience and leadership was a factor keeping the team scoring on the offensive end.
McCallum played like the guy who was hitting big shots in the Las Vegas summer league. Even when the Spurs big man Tiago Splitter was guarding the basket, McCallum went at him with authority and got the bucket. The Kings usually struggle in the third quarter but McCallum's offensive presence kept the Kings in the lead.
Karl said it best: "It's a difficult game when you don't make smart plays." There was a lack of basketball IQ late in the third and throughout the fourth quarter from all the players.