Mayor: Sacramento will not renegotiate arena deal

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is ready to meet with Kings owners at the NBA Board of Governors' gathering under one stipulation: the city will not renegotiate the proposed arena deal.

In a letter to the Maloof family released late Thursday night, Johnson put pressure on the team - and the league - to follow through with its commitment. He said Sacramento has ''done our part'' and now it's up to the team to do the same, setting the stage for a critical gathering after taking the city's hardest stance yet.

''Your handshake is your handshake. Your promise is your promise,'' Johnson said.

The two sides reached a tentative deal last month to fund the estimated $391 million arena, which would keep the team from relocating, as it almost did last year to Anaheim. The Sacramento City Council already passed its end of the deal, brokered by the league and
tentatively agreed to by the Kings.

The team has to sign off so all parties can enter into binding contracts.

Kings owners Joe, Gavin and George Maloof have since taken issue with some of the terms - particularly environmental and pre-development costs. Under the agreement, the Kings and arena operator AEG each agreed to pay about $3.25 million in pre-development costs with the city paying the remaining $6.5 million.

George Maloof has since said that he does not believe the team should pay $3.25 million in pre-development costs because they're ''playing the role of the tenant.'' All are expected to meet Friday with NBA Commissioner David Stern - who helped negotiate the original deal - and other league representatives in New York.

''We are 100% committed to moving forward under the framework laid out in the term sheet,'' Johnson said. ''And there should be no expectation in (Friday's) conversation that this deal is subject to further negotiation. In light of these facts, the ball is in your court.''
The strongly worded letter followed a day of tension from California's capital to the Big Apple.

In another letter signed by about two dozen of Sacramento's most powerful businesses leaders sent to Stern, the group asked the league to ''strongly encourage'' the Maloofs to sell. It also accused the Maloofs of not negotiating in good faith and questioned whether the owners have the finances - and motivation - to keep the team in Sacramento.

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Kings Vs Rockets Highlights

Griffin leads Clippers past Kings 93-85

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ
Posted Apr 06 2012 2:03AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Blake Griffin took a rare night off from dunking, and he still found a way to frustrate an opposing big man.

Griffin made three straight jumpers in the closing minutes to finish with 14 points and nine rebounds, overcoming a bruising battle with DeMarcus Cousins to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 93-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.

"I thought that was a great football game tonight," Kings coach Keith Smart said. "It was two big guys playing and these guys are physical. It's going to be a great rivalry."
Maybe one day.

Two of the NBA's best budding big men exchanged several shoves, elbows and words - with Griffin doing his best to stay quiet against the hot-tempered Cousins - throughout until last season's NBA Rookie of the Year and slam-dunk champion took over late.

Griffin's last jumper with 2:18 remaining put the Clippers ahead by three, and they held on to rebound from a loss to the Lakers a night earlier that ended a six-game winning streak - the franchise's best in 20 years - and slowed momentum to overtake its crosstown rival in the Pacific Division.

"It wasn't me going at anybody. I don't want to get that started," said Griffin, who had Cousins in constant foul trouble. "That's something that will hopefully go away for him. When guys get frustrated, that's what happens."

Randy Foye scored 20 points and Chris Paul had 13 points and eight assists for Los Angeles, closing to two games back of the Lakers. The Clippers host Sacramento on Saturday night, and no doubt the attention will be back on the two big men.

While Griffin insisted he was moving on from the back-and-forth with Cousins, Sacramento's second-year center has other plans.

"That's what Blake is going to say because he's in L.A., where actors belong," said Cousins, held to eight points and three rebounds before fouling out in the final seconds. "And he's an actor."

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Suns upend Kings 109-100

Posted Apr 04 2012 2:15AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash controlled the game when it mattered most, making big shots and finding open teammates in the fourth quarter with the game in doubt.

It's a trait the veteran All-Star point guard has exhibited throughout his NBA career, and he did it one more time Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings.

Marcin Gortat had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Nash added 18 points and 12 assists and the Suns held off the Kings for a 109-100 victory.

It was a key win for Phoenix, which is trying to move up in the standings with 13 games remaining, including six of the next seven on the road.

The Suns won their second straight and third in four games to move over the .500 mark (27-26) for only the third time this season.

The Suns moved within 1 1/2 games of Houston for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff berth.

"We know every game is critical," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "You have to treat every game like a playoff game. This group understands that urgency."

It was Nash helping to push the lead to double digits in the fourth quarter when the Kings kept hanging around, hoping they could get a win on a night when they didn't play well.
Sacramento even had a one-point lead early in the fourth quarter that didn't last long.

After getting a rest for the first half of the fourth quarter, Nash entered the game with 6:25 remaining and was key in a 12-2 run that put Phoenix ahead 101-90.

He made a 3-pointer and followed with an off-balance shot in the lane. A basket by Channing Frye gave the Suns an 11-point lead with 4:05 remaining.

Nash had seven points and three assists in the fourth. Nash also got Phoenix back on track in the second quarter when it squandered much of its 17-point lead but managed to go into halftime ahead by eight, thanks in part to Nash.

"I wouldn't call it a good win, but it was one we needed," said Jared Dudley, who scored 15 points. "They kept making runs at us and twice Steve Nash had to step in and come to the rescue and bail us out."

The Suns won despite the play of DeMarcus Cousins. He scored a career-high 41 points and had 12 rebounds for the Kings, who have lost three of four. Cousins said Nash was the difference-maker.

"All the credit goes to Steve. He's an incredible player and he knows how to run his team. He sits on the sidelines, rests up a little bit, and then comes back in to (get) you. He doesn't take a lot of shots until the end of the game. He's a tough matchup."

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Cousins’ 27 lift Kings over Jazz 104-103

Amy LYNN DeBRUIN, AP Sports Writer Mar 31, 1:20 am EDT SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—DeMarcus Cousins played with stitches under his left brow and fire in his eyes. After Friday night’s game, there also was contentment in his voice as the Sacramento Kings pulled off a rare road win against a Utah Jazz team scrapping for a playoff spot. “It feels good, especially playing through the type of adversity we played through tonight,” said Cousins, who led the Kings with 27 points, including the game-winning free throw with 3.8 seconds left in a 104-103 victory. “It was definitely a big win for us.” No one was happier than Kings coach Keith Smart, who was able to celebrate on the 25th anniversary of his winning shot that lifted Indiana to the 1987 NCAA Championship. “This young group, they’ve been in every game for the most part,” said Smart, who took over in January for the fired Paul Westphal. “We are judging our team right now on how they play in the last 2 minutes and 30 seconds. The mistakes we have made in those 2 minutes and 20 seconds … have cost us 11 games. I thought the guys managed themselves from a personal standpoint … and they made the right plays that were necessary to help us win this game.” The Jazz can only lament another that got away, just five days after losing a quadruple-overtime game in Atlanta. The win snapped Utah’s seven-game home winning streak, while the Kings (18-33) won on the road for only the fifth time all season. “We didn’t play Utah Jazz basketball that we have been playing,” said Al Jefferson, who led them with 27 points. “We still had a chance to win. We can’t blame anybody but ourselves.” The Jazz had a woeful shooting night in every aspect. They shot just 35 percent from the field (31 of 88), 23 percent from 3-point range (3 of 13) and only 73 percent from the foul line, making just 38 of 52 free throws. No one fared worse than Derrick Favors, who set an all-time Jazz futility mark by shooting 0 of 13 from the field. Most were on missed putbacks, including one with seven-tenths of a second left after Gordon Hayward’s driving layup missed its mark. Jefferson’s tip-in fell, but too late and the game was over. “You’ve got to learn how to play and close out ballgames,” Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. “We’ve taken some steps forward; we just didn’t demonstrate it tonight.” Marcus Thornton added 26 points for Sacramento, which snapped a four-game losing streak. Hayward added 19 for the Jazz while rookie guard Alec Burks had 15, outplaying the more publicized Sacramento rookie Jimmer Fredette, who was back in Utah for only the second time as a pro. But Burks, who was in the game instead of Devin Harris at crunch time, committed a late turnover that gave the Kings a chance to win it. They went right to Cousins, who was fouled, but made one of two free throws. Asked why the Jazz-Kings games are so heated, Cousins said simply, “They get every call.” The Kings were called for three technical, including one on Cousins after he suffered the gash in a physical third quarter. He left the court to get stitches, but didn’t go quietly. “I prefer a guy with fire,” Smart said of Cousins. “We have guys that you’ve got to pump up and put air in them to make them play hard and play with passion. (Cousins) is going to grow out of that and know how to manage. He’ll settle down and his skills will continue to develop.” If the Jazz are to make the playoffs, they’ll need the same from their young players, especially big men Favors and Enes Kanter, who helped Utah win the rebounding battle (62-48) but couldn’t find the basket. Entering Friday, the Jazz and Kings seemed headed in opposite directions, with Utah having won seven of its last nine. But each of the three previous meetings had been close. Eight days ago, the Jazz won on Jefferson’s last-second tip-in. In the first meeting, Fredette had a chance to win it late, but shot an air-ball 3-pointer. This time, Fredette wasn’t on the court late, having been surpassed by diminutive point guard Isaiah Thomas in the lineup. Thomas added 19 on Friday for Sacramento on 6-of-8 shooting At this time a year ago, Fredette was leading the nation in scoring at BYU and preparing to pick up his Player of the Year award. He insisted before the game he was willing to be patient and learn, and Smart insisted Fredette would develop into a solid NBA player. While the Kings got the win Friday, Fredette struggled. He made his first shot after entering with 2:46 left in the first quarter and hit a jumper in the fourth. But he looked like a man lacking confidence. He missed a pair of free throws, was called for a lane violation and traveling and was 0 of 2 from beyond the arc. He finished with four points in 16 minutes, and as a sign in the arena read, it’s time still to Simmer Jimmer. He was happy with the win, nonetheless. “It’s a big win for us to be able to come into this building. Not many teams can come in here and win,” Fredette said. Notes: Jazz swingman Josh Howard was at Friday’s game just eight days after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Howard already has been rehabbing the knee with hopes he will be able to play again should the Jazz make the playoffs, and possibly even sooner. … Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans did not dress because of back spasms. … Smart reflected on Friday being the 25th anniversary of his winning shot that gave Indiana a 74-73 win over Syracuse in the 1987 NCAA championship game. “It reminds me every time I look in the mirror that 25 years ago I had a full head of hair,” he joked. “Today is always special.” … At halftime, the Jazz honored Hall of Fame golfer Billy Casper, a Utah resident.