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Kings looking like tough playoff opponent

(AP)
Updated: 2006-04-07 08:50

The Sacramento Kings are getting it together at just the right time, making them an opponent few teams will want to see in the playoffs.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of their 97-87 victory at San Antonio on Wednesday night was how the Kings bounced back from being routed by Dallas the previous night. And they did it against the defending NBA champions.

"If we play like we did tonight, I see us going far in the playoffs," point guard Mike Bibby said. "If we play like last night (against Dallas), no way."

Bibby played all but 2 minutes, 36 seconds, and scored 31 points, had eight assists and seven rebounds for Sacramento, currently the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The Spurs (58-17) have the top seed.

"We played solid all the way through," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "We beat the best team in the West at their place. If we keep playing at this level, we are going to put ourselves in great position for the playoffs."

Sacramento has a two-game lead over New Orleans for the eighth playoff spot and time is running out. The Kings have six games remaining and have won four of their last five.

The loss ended a four-game winning streak for the Spurs, who were led by Tony Parker with 16 points.

"I thought Sacramento played great tonight," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Bibby was great. We just didn't play our normal game, and it cost us."

Elsewhere on a busy night in the NBA, New Orleans beat Golden State 114-109 in overtime; the Los Angeles Clippers won at Phoenix 119-105; Chicago beat Philadelphia 99-92; Washington took Boston 108-91; Orlando beat Milwaukee 108-105; New York defeated Cleveland 96-94; Indiana downed Toronto 111-103; Atlanta defeated Minnesota 101-99; and Portland beat Houston 76-75.

Hornets 114, Warriors 109, OT

At Oklahoma City, Chris Paul got his second triple-double in three games and set up Kirk Snyder's go-ahead alley-oop dunk in overtime. Paul had 17 points, a career-high 16 assists and 10 rebounds.