--For the second straight game, Kings coach Reggie Theus opted to start a lineup that included the frontline of 6-foot-11 Jason Thompson, 7-foot Spencer Hawes and 7-foot Brad Miller. Yet while part of the intent was to help the Kings on the glass against Portland on Monday, they were out-rebounded 48-32.
--When the Blazers downed the Kings 117-96 on Friday, their 14-of-26 shooting from three-point range had much to do with the outcome. It was also the latest in a long string of such outings for the Kings, whose co-owner (Joe Maloof) had recently chastised Theus for the team's defensive weakness. In the rematch the Blazers hit just 6-of-15 from beyond the arc. QUOTE TO NOTE: "They contested the left hand. They collapsed on me, and I just tried to get the best shot I could get. It was (isolation), so I tried to spin back, they collapsed, I pump faked, tried to go to the left for the lay-up. You always got to be happy the way you fight back. It's just, we've been doing that all year (but) we have just got to start finishing games." -- Kings swingman John Salmons, on his missed attempt at the buzzer against Portland on Monday.
