Marcus Thornton and Samuel Dalembert lead as Sacramento Kings top the Golden State Warriors 129-119
Marcus Thornton and Samuel Dalembert made their career highs as the Sacramento Kings registered a home victory against the Golden State Warriors 129-119 on Monday night.
The Kings were right in the groove from the tip-off. After Dorrell Wright landed a ripper from downtown to begin the proceeding, the Kings responded with a 19-0 spurt in the next four minutes of play as they ran the Warriors defence
out of the court. The Warriors never recovered from the early jolt. They faced a double digit hole throughout most of the game and came within a seven point cushion only one and that also in the last minute of regulation time.
Marcus Thornton, who was playing in his 10th game after being relocated from the New Orleans Hornets erupted with a career high 42 points on a 13-of-20 shooting. While his coach Paul Westphal proclaimed that this performance
is just one of many to come, Thornton also expressed confidence in his abilities.
"I always felt that (I was this type of player). That was my thing; if I got an opportunity I would be able to show the world what I can do. I just appreciate Sacramento for giving me the opportunity."
Samuel Dalembert, the ninth year centre for the Kings also chipped in with 27 points, 16 caroms and two blocked shots. The Warriors had seven players in the double figure. Reserve Al Thornton went 7-of-8 from the floor to finish
with a team-high 23 points of the bench, while Monta Ellis chipped in with 15 points and 9 assists. The kings however out-paced the Warriors in every facet of the game. They out-rebounded them, out-assisted them and also beat them in the points in the paint.
The Kings thumped a 19-0 run straight away in reply to the Warriors Dorell Wright’s three pointer in the eleventh minute of the first quarter. This enabled the Kings to lead the first quarter 35-16 as they shot with a smashing
average of over 63 percent off the court.
The Kings galloped to a lead of 29 points making it 50-21 in the first four minutes of the second section. Ellis and company though, made a rally to cut the deficit, as the Warriors finished 12 points behind the Kings going into
the second half.
With just 12 points down, the Warriors had a good chance to made a comeback in the game. But they failed to cash in on the opportunity, as the Kings suppressed them with their continuous attack. The Kings counted another 30 plus
points in the third segment to assert their complete dominance. The third period finished at 107-84.
At the beginning of the fourth frame the Kings were all set for a huge margin victory. The Warriors though as they have done so often this season mounted a ferocious comeback. The Kings were leading by 24 points until 5:04, when
the Warriors tried to pull another game in the last period with their aggression. They made a vociferous 15-0 run and slashed the deficit to seven points 123-114. It was too little too late though as the Kings held on to 10-point win.
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