January 27th, 2012 
Russ Loede 
Posted in 
Kings SG Marcus Thornton Expected To Miss 1-2 Weeks
A diagnostic ultrasound test performed on guard Marcus Thronton today at the UC Davis Medical Center revealed a significant hematoma in his left thigh.
The LSU product is expected to miss approximately one to two weeks of action.
Thornton, the Kings’ leading scorer (16.4 ppg), has missed four games due to the injury.
Kings Fire Paul Westphal; Keith Smart Takes Over
The Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Paul Westphal after a 2-5 start.
Assistant Keith Smart, who just received a two-year contract from the Kings, will serve as the team’s interim head coach.
“I want to thank Paul for all of his effort on behalf of the Kings,” said Kings president Geoff Petrie in a statement. “Unfortunately, the overall performance level of the team has not approached what we felt was reasonable to expect. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Westphal posted a record of 51-120 in his two-plus seasons as Kings coach.
“I would like to thank the Maloof family for the incredible opportunity they gave me to participate in the attempt to bring the Sacramento Kings back to prominence,” said Westphal. “While the job is far from finished, I am proud of the strides we were able to make.”
Cousins Wants Out; Coach Westphal Grants Him His Wish For Tonight
STATEMENT FROM KINGS HEAD COACH PAUL WESTPHAL
SACRAMENTO, CALIF., Jan. 1, 2012 – “Whenever a new season begins, in any sport, there is great hope that everything will progress in only a steady, upward direction. As we all know, it seldom happens like that in this life!
As coaches, we can only ask that our players do everything they can to improve themselves as individuals and teammates. If they do this with all their hearts, we live with the results.
Everything that happens on a team does not become known to the public. This is how it should be. However, when a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely.
DeMarcus Cousins has demanded to be traded. In the best interest of our team as we go forward, he has been directed by me, with the support of management, to stay home from the New Orleans game tonight.”
Cousins is averaging 13.0 points and 11.2 rebounds in 27.0 minutes through four games this season.
The Kentucky product is also shooting 32.1% from the floor and averaging 5.0 personal fouls to go along with 2.8 turnovers per game.
Kings Bullied By Bulls; Fall At Home 108-98
Derrick Rose recorded 19 points and eight assists and the Chicago Bulls collected a 108-98 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
The Bulls tallied 15 straight points early in the game and never trailed again in defeating the Kings, who missed more free throws (14) than they had assists (13).
Carlos Boozer put together his first double-double of the season, accumulating 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Bulls (2-1).
Rip Hamilton added 16 points, while Ronnie Brewer led an effective Chicago bench with 12 points.
Luol Deng also scored 12 points.
The Kings had no answer on defense, allowing the Bulls to shoot 53.8 percent from the field, while also surrendering 33 fast break points.
Marcus Thornton led Sacramento (1-2) with 20 points and Tyreke Evans generated 19 points.
DeMarcus Cousins, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, produced his third straight double-double to start the season, amassing 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Rookie Jimmer Fredette scored 14 points and John Salmons had 12.
Trailing by 12 points, Fredette hit a 3-pointer and Evans followed with an uncontested dunk, cutting the Chicago lead to seven with 2:53 left. But the Kings could never get closer than that against the savvy Bulls, who closed the game out at the charity stripe.
Next Game: Saturday vs. New York Knicks, 5 PT.
Kings Victorious In Home Opener; Breeze By Lakers 100-91
Kobe Bryant outdid his Christmas Day performance with 29 points, but the Lakers lost their second straight game to start the season, falling in Sacramento 100-91.
Kobe was 10 of 24 shooting and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line, yet missed all four of his tries from deep, in a game where the Lakers could not make a shot from long range — going 1-16 from three-point distance.
Although they had 13 more shot attempts than the Kings, due to crashing the boards on the offensive glass, they could not keep up with the blistering backcourt of Marcus Thornton and Tyreke Evans — who combined for 47 points on only 26 shots.
The Kings were efficient — 9 of 18 from beyond the arc — and explosive — scoring 19 fast break points.
This despite missing 14 shots (21-35) from the charity stripe. Still, it wasn’t a daunting obstacle to slow down the high-flying Kings, and ultimately, nothing the Lakers could take fully advantage of.
For the Kings, it was an all-around well-balanced effort as they received contributions from new pieces.
Chuck Hayes and Travis Outlaw both had game-high +11 differentials, with Hayes providing 27 productive minutes in his Kings’ debut — garnering nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots. In only his first game, the former Rocket has already been called the “Glue” guy of the team by coach Paul Westphal.
As for rookie guards Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas, they combined for 11 points and five assists.
Lastly, John Salmons, who was acquired from Milwaukee in a three-way draft day trade with Charlotte, hit three triples for 13 points in 35 minutes of action in his return to Sacramento.
In the end, outside of Kobe, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace — the Lakers’ supporting cast shot 12 of 38 for only 28 points.
I guess Andrew Bynum, who will return from his four-game suspension on New Year’s Eve at home against Denver, has been sorely missed for a Lakers team lacking shot makers — something the Kings know nothing about.
Next Game: Tonight at Portland Trail Blazers, 7 PT.
I'm so thirsty.. Care to buy me a beer?
