The Kings reportedly were close to firing George Karl, as ESPN reported Monday the coach’s dismissal basically was a formality and that the team would cut ties over this weekend’s All-Star break.
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Boston was led by guard Avery Bradley’s 25 points, as well as 22 points by Thomas and 21 from Jared Sullinger.
DeMarcus Cousins led Sacramento with 31 points.
Sacramento has lost eight of its past nine games, and its embarrassing defeat at hand of the lowly Brooklyn Nets on Friday prompted widespread reports of Karl’s imminent dismissal. NUGGETS 101, KNICKS 96 NEW YORK Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay scored nine of his 15 points during a decisive fourth-quarter run, and Denver beat the fading Knicks. Now the Kings find themselves at 21 and 31, needing to win 19 of their next 30 games for a realistic chance at the playoffs. – Nik Vucevic hit an 18-footer at the buzzer to lift Orlando, which improved to 3-15 in 2016. The most memorable moment of Rajon Rondo’s season was an indefensible one – when he was ejected and suspended one game for yelling homophobic slurs at referee Bill Kennedy, who then came out as gay.
Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic each scored 17 points for Miami. The Magic had gone scoreless since Paytons jump shot with 3:41 left, squandering a 94-86 lead.
A left-ankle injury prevented Tobias Harris from playing Sunday, prompting Skiles to start Fournier at small forward in Harris’ place. Payton had 12 points and 12 assists. Six players scored in double figures for the Celtics in the win, with three coming off the bench. With great team efforts against top contenders such as Toronto, Cleveland, Golden State, and San Antonio, it is clear that the Celtics really can play with every team in the league.
That wouldn’t work in Toronto next weekend, obviously.
Johnson was a second round pick (36th overall) by the Sacramento Kings during the 2012 NBA Draft.
Karl almost lost his job in November after a much-publicized blowup with Cousins, but one source insisted Monday that the dispute was “the result of frustration over a lack of coaching”. “I don’t have any control over what other people are thinking or saying”, Karl told reporters before Sunday’s 128-119 loss at Boston. Some may argue that when teammates or coaches fight with one another it helps build character and can actually help strengthen a team’s morale in the long run, but clearly that has not been the case with the Sacramento Kings as things haven’t been able to get any better.
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Shaq proposed a tournament of 1-on-1 games featuring the All-Stars, with the victor taking home $1 million to ratchet up the competition.
