Friday, April 15, 2011

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Kings fans made it feel like old times.

Farewell: A Sacramento Kings fan expresses her emotions at Wednesday night's final regular-season game against the Phoenix Suns. The team is expected to move to Anaheim, Calif., after 26 seasons in California's capital city. The Lakers beat Sacramento 116-108 in overtime. AP PHOTO

Then, so did Kobe Bryant.

Bryant's tying 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds left in regulation forced overtime, and the Los Angeles Lakers regrouped to hand Sacramento a 116-108 loss Wednesday night in what might have been the Kings' last game ever in Sacramento.

A standing-room only crowd packed things beyond the 17,317-seat capacity, clanking cow bells and roaring louder than they had in years. They brought handmade signs, painted their faces and cheered their loudest to will their beloved team back.

And they nearly did.

Instead, the Lakers pulled away in overtime to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They will play the New Orleans Hornets in the first round.

Marcus Thornton had 33 points and Tyreke Evans added 16 to help the Kings outscore Los Angeles 29-11 in the fourth quarter to rally from 20 points down.

Fans stood for almost the entire fourth quarter and overtime as the Sacramento nearly capped an improbable rally. Jason Thompson's dunk with 1:22 remaining in the fourth gave the Kings their first lead of the half, and it would be a brief one.

Bryant finished with 36 points and Lamar Odom scored 22.

The Maloofs have until Monday to officially file for permission to relocate, and a vote would likely come within weeks of that request.

Jazz 107, Nuggets 103

In Salt Lake City, rookie Gordon Hayward scored a career-high 34 points and hit five 3-pointers to give Utah a victory over playoff-bound Denver in the season finale for both teams.

Cavaliers 100, Wizards 93

In Cleveland, Ramon Sessions scored 27 points, J.J. Hickson added 15 and the Cavaliers closed out one of the worst seasons in franchise history - and first in eight years without LeBron James - by beating Washington.

Magic 92, Pacers 74

In Orlando, Ryan Anderson scored 14 points, and Dwight Howard had 13 points and 13 rebounds in a short night of work as the Magic cruised to a victory over Indiana.

Rockets 121, Timberwolves 102

In Minneapolis, Chase Budinger scored a career-high 35 points and Kevin Martin added 25 to lead Houston to a victory over Minnesota.

Mavericks 121, Hornets 89

In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 12 of his 32 points in the decisive third quarter, leading the Mavericks to a victory over New Orleans in the season final

Pistons 104, 76ers 100

In Philadelphia, Rodney Stuckey scored 29 points, Tayshaun Prince had 14 and Detroit beat the the 76ers.

Bulls 97, Nets 92

In Chicago, Kyle Korver came up big down the stretch to finish with 19 points, Derrick Rose scored 15 and the Bulls closed the regular season with their ninth straight win.

Heat 97, Raptors 79

In Toronto, Eddie House scored a career-high 35 points, Juwan Howard added 18 and Miami beat the Raptors.

Bobcats 96, Hawks 85

In Charlotte, Gerald Henderson scored 20 points, D.J. Augustin added 17 points and seven assists and the Bobcats topped the Hawks.

Celtics 112, Knicks 102

In Boston, Avery Bradley scored a career-high 20 points as Boston's "B'' team beat the Knicks' second string in a game both teams treated as a chance to rest rather than as a rehearsal for their first-round playoff matchup.

Warriors 110, Blazers 86

In Oakland, Reggie Williams scored 28 points and Stephen Curry had 18 points and nine assists in Golden State's victory over playoff-bound Portland.

Bucks 110, Thunder 106 (OT)

In Oklahoma Ciy, Brandon Jennings scored 16 points and Milwaukee sent veteran guard Michael Redd into free agency with a win over the Thunder.

Clippers 110, Grizzlies 103

In Los Angeles, All-Star Blake Griffin had 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the 82nd and final game of his spectacular rookie season and the Clippers beat playoff-bound Memphis.

Suns 106, Spurs 103

In Phoenix, Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and the Suns denied San Antonio a chance for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

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