Kevin Martin set a record for scoring in a
Kings home opener, pouring in 48 points as Sacramento beat the Memphis
Grizzlies, 127-116, to capture its first win of the season.
Martin, who went 14-of-27 from the field, including 7-of-10 from three-point
range, had seven of his points in the extra session. Martin also had four
steals for the Kings, who capitalized with 67 points from their bench.
After three straight losses to begin the season, Sacramento was able to hit
effectively from long range, going 14-of-25 from beyond the arc.
Spencer Hawes added 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for Sacramento,
which also received 16 points from Beno Udrih, 15 from Omri Casspi and 13 from
Andres Nocioni.
"That was a special experience for our team," said Kings coach Paul Westphal.
"It was a true team game. It was a team game as far as the city was concerned
too, to have that place packed and cheering for a team that won 17 games the
year before, that was a fantastic feeling for us."
Zach Randolph tallied 30 points and 16 rebounds before fouling out in overtime
for the Grizzlies, who fell to 1-3 on the season. O.J. Mayo scored 22 and Rudy
Gay chipped in 21 points and 13 boards. Marc Gasol ended with 16 points and 16
boards.
The result also spoiled the debut for new Memphis guard Allen Iverson, who had
11 points on 5-of-9 shooting in a reserve role. Iverson sat out the opening
three games with a slightly torn left hamstring.
After the game, Iverson seemed upset at his status playing off the bench.
"I am not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life
and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve," he said. "That's
something for the media to talk about. It's only a big issue when the media
talks about it. The subject never came up in my career until everything
happened in Detroit last year. No one talked about me being a sub or anything
like that until last year. In all of the other years of my career it never
came up. I've been a starter on All-Star teams, Olympic teams and NBA Finals
teams. It's just a big deal now."
Gay's three-pointer with 45.3 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 108,
and then after a turnover from Casspi, Randolph hit a fadeaway jumper from the
foul line with 6.1 seconds left.
The Kings sent the game into OT thanks to a great bounce pass from Hawes to
Udrih for a layup with 1.4 seconds left to even the game at 110.
Gay's hook shot bucket opened the OT, but the Kings ran off the next 14 points
to take control. Nocioni's layup pushed the hosts ahead and Martin drilled a
three-ball from the left wing for a 116-112 edge. Nocioni hit another from
beyond the arc later in the rally, which ended on a Casspi hook shot inside of
a minute left.
Memphis was ahead 17-4 early, but held just a 33-26 lead after 12 minutes.
The see-saw battle began in the second quarter with the Kings grabbing a 43-39
lead on a Casspi three-pointer. Sacramento held a 56-54 edge at the half, but
trailed, 80-79, moving to the fourth. Neither team led by more than four over
the last 12 minutes of regulation.
Game Notes
Rookie Tyreke Evans, who turned an ankle in Saturday's game against San
Antonio, started but had just three points for the Kings...Mike Conley had 13
points for Memphis.
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