Rookie G Evans has 32 as Kings top Jazz

November 8, 2009

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—Tyreke Evans(notes) scored a career-high 32 points and theSacramento Kings held off the Utah Jazz for a 104-99 victory Saturday night intheir first game without high-scoring guard Kevin Martin(notes).

Evans, the fourth overall pick in the June draft, became the focal point ofthe Kings’ offense in place of Martin, who averaged 30.6 points in the firstfive games. Martin will have surgery Monday to repair a fracture in his leftwrist.

The Kings relied on Evans creating off the dribble along withdrive-and-kicks to perimeter players standing ready to shoot at the 3-pointline. Evans made 16 of 19 free throws as he repeatedly drew fouls on his way tothe basket.

The Kings led by 20 points in the fourth quarter before Deron Williams’(notes)3-pointer sparked a comeback attempt. Williams, who had 29 points and 15assists, found Mehmet Okur(notes) for a 3-pointer to trim the lead to five at 97-92with 58.6 seconds left.

Sacramento Sacramento Kings forward Jason… AP – Nov 7, 10:43 pm EST Utah Jazz guard Wesley Mathews… AP – Nov 7, 10:42 pm EST Sacramento Kings center Spence… AP – Nov 7, 10:34 pm EST Sacramento Kings forward Jason… AP – Nov 7, 10:34 pm EST Sacramento Kings guard Ime Udo… AP – Nov 7, 10:33 pm EST Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke … AP – Nov 7, 10:33 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 5; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091108/capt.15b659e1bc4846ad85447e222a1e0f4a.kings_jazz_basketball_utsw105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=265&hc=294&q=70&sig=EBqkr_iHn.VVkwUfWz8ysQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091108/capt.f7affbee44ea4ba9a661326a65d28b5c.kings_jazz_basketball_utsw102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=344&hc=382&q=70&sig=7iaXqDXauIycJ0mYscHd_w--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091108/capt.d8e82e678512489b9f268efb32e166d1.kings_jazz_basketball_utsw103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=67&yc=1&wc=276&hc=307&q=70&sig=e.TRUgtBqCE24qvk7sfRUg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091108/capt.27395b7f83c14f5cb3b47006cf3c1592.kings_jazz_basketball_utsw101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=341&hc=379&q=70&sig=hobvXtm7v8WLb7.rfXr5nA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091108/capt.512a74a9f05b43489e3b09b47e9e71d4.kings_jazz_basketball_utsw104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=289&hc=321&q=70&sig=5uz4Lizt3QVmkNmDOTaGcA--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 6 Sac-Uta Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();

But the Kings grabbed two offensive rebounds in the final minute and theJazz ran out of time.

Evans scored just three of the Kings’ 127 points earlier this week againstMemphis in their only other win this season, but showed he has the offensivefirepower to step into Martin’s role while he is out six to eight weeks.

Beno Udrih(notes) got loose for two layups in the final 1:08 and finished with 15points while Andres Nocioni(notes) added 14 for Sacramento. Nocioni had four 3-pointersas the Kings made 11 of 19 from beyond the arc.

Carlos Boozer(notes) had 16 points and 17 rebounds, and Okur added 16 points forthe Jazz. Utah lost for the third time in the last four games.

After the Jazz scored the first five points of the second half, the Kingsran off 19 consecutive points, capped by a 3-pointer by Evans.

The Jazz finally ended their drought, which included 10 straight emptypossessions, when Paul Millsap(notes) made a layup.

But the Kings weren’t finished. Udrih made another 3-pointer to finish theastounding 26-2 run with 1:44 left in the third quarter.

The Jazz swept the Kings last season and seemed poised to hand them anotherblowout as Utah led by as many as 15 in the first half. But Sacramento closedthe gap and the teams went into halftime knotted at 55.

NOTES: Evans went to the locker room briefly in the third quarter afterWilliams shoulder hit his jaw on a drive and left him with a bloody mouth. …Evans’ previous scoring high was 22 in the second game of the season at NewOrleans. … The Jazz outscored the Kings in the paint 50-32.

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