Kings Move Ever Closer to Lakers

PHOENIX â€”  The Sacramento Kings are feeling the flutters, the beating hearts, all the good sensations of spring.

It has nothing to do with love, and everything to do with the possibility of advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since the franchise was in Kansas City 20 years ago.

They are one step closer after a 104-96 victory at America West Arena on Sunday gave them a 2-1 lead over the Phoenix Suns in the best-of-five Western Conference series, a game in which the Suns gave no indication they’re prepared to pose much more of a threat.

“There’s butterflies--the good ones--the ones that are in your stomach because you’re excited,� said King forward Chris Webber, who made nine of 11 free throws and scored 23 points on an otherwise off day. “We knew it was going to be hard to get to this position. It’s almost a dream come true. Almost. Right now I’m just very antsy and energetic.�

In 1999, the Kings had a 2-1 lead on the Utah Jazz and a chance to close out the best-of-five first-round playoff series at home in Game 4 before dropping the last two games. Last year they overcame an 0-2 deficit in the first round to push the Lakers to a deciding fifth game before losing at Staples Center.

“No one’s content with going to five games two years in a row,� reserve guard Jon Barry said. “Certainly the next round is our goal--and farther than that. Obviously, if we do get to the next round, L.A. is playing as good as anybody. They’ve got it cranked up. But we’re not thinking about that yet. We’ve got one more to do here.�

It would be better for all involved if the Suns leave now and don’t play the Lakers in the next round, because that matchup would be so lopsided it wouldn’t be watchable without parental supervision.

They are overmatched on the front line and their offense lacks a dependable go-to guy. Their offense basically consisted of whatever shots Jason Kidd (16 assists) could create for his teammates. On their own, the Suns were helpless.

On Sunday they kept firing away from the outside as the Kings battled back from a 17-point deficit. Sacramento also owned a 48-38 rebounding advantage and put Phoenix’s entire starting front court in foul trouble. In fact, center Jake Tsakalidis and forwards Cliff Robinson and Shawn Marion finished with more fouls (13) than field goals (10).

And when backup big man Rodney Rogers picked up his fourth foul with 8:45 remaining in the third it seemed to deflate the Suns. They made only three field goals the rest of the quarter. After the first one, a three-point play by Kidd, Sacramento guard Jason Williams decided to take over.

He made a three-point basket. After a Marion layup, Williams rushed downcourt and sank another three-pointer. On Sacramento’s next possession he made a jumper, and was knocked to the floor by Tom Gugliotta.

The Kings were in high gear by then, playing warp-speed basketball and celebrating along the way. Doug Christie slid across the court and draped himself over Williams’ legs. Webber came running in to join the party. Then Williams popped up and started hopping around before completing the three-point play.

If you thought the Kings would show some restraint after being criticized for hot-dogging in their easy Game 2 victory, think again.

“I wonder if anybody’s going to say we were showboating today,� backup center Scot Pollard said. “Because I think we played just the same today as we did on [Wednesday]; it just wasn’t a blowout.�

Pollard played a key role in Sacramento’s comeback. The Kings shot 27% in the first quarter, Webber picked up two fouls and Phoenix came out with a 36-19 lead.

Pollard attacked the backboards, creating six second-chance points with two tip-ins and a rebound, and the Kings went on a 19-8 run to start the second quarter.

The Kings had Phoenix’s lead down to two at halftime, and emerged from the third quarter ahead by a basket. They surged ahead by eight in the fourth, then held on as their tight defense kept the Suns from getting any easy shots.

And the King fans roared their approval. Yes, King fans. The Suns had trouble selling tickets for this game. It took the players showing up to greet fans at the ticket offices--in addition to pooling together to buy 4,000 seats--to help the Suns reach a capacity crowd of 19,023. But a few hundred King fans were eager to snatch up the available tickets, and they were making themselves heard well before tipoff.

It wasn’t quite like Arco Arena. An AM/PM, perhaps?

“I’ll give you that,� Pollard said. “A little AM/PM. It was like a small gas station. It was your mom-and-pop gas station. It was no Arco.�

But it felt enough like home to help the Kings snap a four-game road playoff losing streak. They’ll need the practice, because they can’t get past the Lakers without winning a game at Staples Center.

*

J.A. Adande can be reached at his e-mail address: [email protected]