Rockets vs. Kings According to the Sacramento Bee

The "discussion" between Artest and Corliss Williamson gets more coverage than the game.

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/107877.html

Kings go down again, but show lots of fight
After Ron Artest and Corliss Williamson exchange words, the team rallies to force OT.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer

Last Updated 12:44 am PST Sunday, January 14, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3

It was ironic in a roundabout sort of way.

Saturday night was supposed to be the return of Bonzi Wells, the former King and current Houston guard whose tough-minded attitude and style had provided a potent one-two punch and led to a playoff run for the Kings last season.

But Wells missed the reunion game with the flu. And Ron Artest, whose combination of personality and potent skills continue to be a double-edged sword for this team, might have found a new running mate. Or, at least, a balancing force.

Kings forward Corliss Williamson had a season-high 30 points and 12 rebounds as the Kings fell 115-111 in overtime to the Rockets at Arco Arena - Sacramento's fifth consecutive loss. But in contrast to a sluggish effort the previous night in Portland, there was fight in the team this time.

And nearly among teammates. Between the third and fourth quarters, a frustrated Artest was animated and vocal in the Kings huddle, yelling and pumping his fist. Williamson, who was seated, stood up and had words and harsh stares for Artest. The two stood chest to chest before rookie big man Justin Williams stepped in between. Seconds later, the tension broke with slaps to the backside, and they were back to nearly replicating the same rock-'em, sock-'em act that made Artest and Wells so dangerous.

Artest finished with 34 points, including 14 in a row for the Kings in a stretch that spanned the fourth quarter and overtime. His bank-shot three-pointer with three seconds left in regulation forced the extra period, but the Kings were well in position to win the game if not for Tracy McGrady.

The Rockets star was sensational, scoring 37 points and hitting two of his three-pointers in the final two minutes of regulation. Rockets guard Rafer Alston finished the job in overtime, scoring seven of his 22 points in the extra period.

Artest has had fits of emotion often this season, but never more so than after the Kings' loss to Cleveland on Tuesday. In an already heated locker room, according to numerous sources close to the team, Artest's shot selection was questioned by one of his teammates. Artest, the sources said, exploded at the notion, then demanded to Kings coach Eric Musselman that he be traded if he was being asked to change his style.

Williamson, whose nickname of "Big Nasty" has long referred as much to his fearless attitude as his physical makeup, admitted that part of his decision to challenge Artest was a hope that the player's energy would be used in a positive manner.

"Everyone knows Ron has a lot of emotion in his game," Williamson said. "And when it is harnessed, and it is focused in the right area, he's a hell of a player out there. That's something that this team needs is for Ron to really focus this team in the right direction. ... I'm actually happy (the standoff) did happen. We came out on the court after that and were revived and played harder."

Artest agreed with Williamson that their confrontation only ramped up the intensity.

"Corliss was just trying to calm me down a little bit, and I was trying to make a point," Artest said. "And we kept playing. The guys kept playing. That's important that we can talk to each other. It wasn't selfish. It was competitive. We both wanted to win. We got on the same level, and we finished the ballgame off."

But not quite. The Kings traded blows with a Rockets team that nullified what might have been their most inspired effort of the season. Rockets forward Shane Battier became the poster boy for his squad, receiving eight stitches after absorbing a Williamson charge in the fourth quarter.

"There is no question in anyone's mind around the NBA that Houston plays as hard as any NBA team, and we played just as hard as them tonight," Musselman said. "There is no question in my mind that we matched them."

The losing streak, though, might have been broken if not for what appeared to be a bad call in the final seconds of regulation. After Artest's three tied it 101-101, the Kings defended an inbound pass for what seemed longer than the five-second violation.

Nonetheless, Houston was issued a timeout. Then McGrady missed a 20-footer at the buzzer, while the Kings lost a chance for their own game-winning attempt.

The Kings were without center Brad Miller, who missed the game for personal reasons and whose status for the upcoming four-game road trip is unknown.