Kings win as police lock down arena because of protests

In a matchup of teams stockpiling ping-pong balls for the NBA Draft Lottery in May, the Sacramento Kings got 20 points from rookie Justin Jackson on Thursday night in a 105-90 home win over the Atlanta Hawks.
The game was played in front of a tiny crowd at Golden 1 Center, with admissions shut down just before tipoff by the Sacramento Police Department when late-arriving fans were met by a human chain of protesters barring entrances.
The protests were in response to the release of a video showing police fatally shooting unarmed Stephon Clark on Sunday night. Protesters took over downtown and also blocked roads.
The Sacramento Kings released a statement saying, “Due to law enforcement being unable to ensure ticketed fans could safely enter the arena, the arena remains closed and we ask fans outside to travel home.”
The Kings allowed all fans in attendance to move into the lower bowl and told fans who were kept from entering the building that they would offer refunds. They also gave the fans who made it into the arena free non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.
Those who got to watch saw Sacramento pull away late in the third quarter, aided by three double-figure scorers off the bench. Frank Mason and Buddy Hield each tallied 16, while Kosta Koufos hit for 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Bogdan Bogdanovic chipped in 11 points.
Isaiah Taylor paced Atlanta with 18 points, while Damion Lee and Dewayne Dedmon each scored 13. Dedmon also hauled in 10 boards for a double-double. In a reserve role, Tyler Dorsey netted 11 points.
The Hawks fielded a lineup that didn’t include three starters, including point guard Dennis Schroder, who on Tuesday night became their first player in nine years to score 40 points in a game.
Opening tip was delayed a few minutes and there was no national anthem or starting lineup introductions. The Hawks appeared to adapt better to the unusual circumstances, taking a 13-5 lead before settling for a 28-25 advantage after the first quarter. The Kings clamped down on the shorthanded visitors in the second quarter, allowing just 16 points and earning a 49-44 lead at the half.
Sacramento broke the game open late in the third quarter with a 16-4 spurt that helped it grab an 80-71 cushion going to the fourth period.

Walker’s 46 leads record Charlotte rout, Rockets soar
Kemba Walker scored 46 points Thursday in leading the Charlotte Hornets to a record-shattering 140-79 romp over visiting Memphis, one of the most lopsided routs in NBA history.
The 61-point victory margin was the largest in any NBA game since 1998 and marked only the sixth time in league history a team won by 60 or more points.
“It was fun. The crowd was into it. It was good to be a part of something like that,” Charlotte guard Jeremy Lamb said. “It feels really good.”
Walker sank a club-record 10 3-pointers and made 10 free throws, becoming only the third player in any NBA contest with so many of each.
“I would have never imagined (making 10 3-pointers),” Walker said. “I never thought I’d be able to shoot the ball like that, especially in one individual game.”
Walker’s total came in only 28 minutes, the shortest span to reach 45 points since the NBA shot clock debuted in 1954.
“He could do that every night,” Hornets reserve forward Dwayne Bacon said. “He’s a great player. Just being around him, watching how he prepares, just playing, is just amazing.
“It was another great night for him.”
The Hornets, who led 75-42 at half-time and 112-57 entering the fourth quarter, won their most lopsided triumph and inflicted the worst lost ever upon the Grizzlies, who have lost 22 of their past 23 games.
The victory came with Charlotte center Dwight Howard sidelined for accumulated technical fouls.
He committed his 16th of the season on Wednesday in the same game where he scored 32 points and grabbed 30 rebounds in beating Brooklyn 111-105.