the worst guy to face under those conditions, Nishikor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A new coach, a new arena and a new attitude. The Sacramento Kings hope these qualities can help transform a losing franchise into a winning one.DeMarcus Cousins had 29 points and Rudy Gay added 28 and the Kings defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 106-103 on Saturday night.Down as many as 18 points and playing lethargic basketball that was somewhat typical of the past few seasons, the Kings played inspired basketball in the second half when they outscored the Timberwolves 52-38 to win their second game of the season.Its definitely a different attitude this year and a different locker room, reserve guard Ben McLemore said. We have older veterans on this team who have been to the playoffs. They have been in a position like we were in tonight. We hung in there and played well when it mattered most.One of those veterans is Matt Barnes, who played last season in Memphis under Dave Joerger, now the Kings coach. Barnes had 12 points and nine assists and played tough defense throughout the game.Following a listless first half, the Kings gained control in the third, running off 17 straight points to take the lead. The suddenly cold Timberwolves shot 3 for 12 in the third when they were outscored 31-12 and trailed 85-77 heading into the fourth.Just defense and energy, said Barnes, explaining the third-quarter turnaround. Youve got to be locked in for 48 minutes, you cant pick and choose when you want to play defense. We got hit in the face (in the first half) and just played bad basketball.McLemore had 13 points for the Kings, who won for the first time at new Golden 1 Center. And the Kings hung on to the victory despite losing Cousins, who picked up two fouls in the games final minute and fouled out.Andrew Wiggins scored 29 points for the Timberwolves, who are off to an 0-2 start under new coach Tom Thibodeau. Zach Levine had three 3-pointers and 21 points while Karl Anthony-Towns had 15 points and Gorgui Dieng had 14 points and 13 rebounds.The third quarter was a problem. A big problem, Thibodeau said. So we got to look at the film to see what the issues were. Weve got to be tougher.A putback by Towns got Minnesota within 105-103. After regaining possession following a jump ball with 7.5 seconds left, Wiggins misfired on a jumper and Barnes corralled the rebound and made one of two free throws to end the game.Gay put the Kings ahead by two with a jumper and Ty Lawson connected on a corner 3 for a 105-100 lead with 1:10 remaining.BIG QUARTERNow in his fourth season, McLemore has suffered through some tough times, seeing his playing time continually decrease due in part to erratic shooting.After being stripped twice late in Thursdays game by Kawhi Leonard in a loss to San Antonio, McLemore delivered in the fourth quarter against Minnesota. He made two big 3-pointers and scored nine points in the fourth.He was very impressive, Joerger said. He had a tough game the other night and it didnt break him. Thats what pro basketball is -- theres always going to be another night.TIP-INSTimberwolves: Last season the Timberwolves beat the Kings in all four games and they were 4-3 in the previous seven games in Sacramento. . Wiggins had 13 points and the Timberwolves shot 67 percent in leading 34-24 after one quarter.Kings: Cousins picked up his first technical late in the second quarter following his objection to an obvious personal foul. ... A Minnesota assistant last season, Bryan Gates is a Kings assistant coach. ... San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Erik Armstead was among the sellout crowd.UP NEXTTimberwolves: Host Memphis on Tuesday in their home opener.Kings: At Atlanta on Monday for the first of five straight road games.Kings Jerseys China .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Cheap Kings Jerseys . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. http://www.customnbakingsjersey.com/custom-mitch-richmond-jersey-large-73w.html . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Custom Kings Jersey China . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. Custom Mitch Richmond Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers.Certain scenarios are meant for certain people, and the one that has developed in Londons 02 Arena at the ATP World Tour Finals seems tailor made for Stan Wawrinka.Should Wawrinka beat No. 1 Andy Murray in straight sets Friday, and Kei Nishikori defeat 0-2 Marin Cilic, the year-end championships will be denied that much-anticipated showdown between Murray and Novak Djokovic. It would also open the door for Djokovic to reclaim the top ranking.In fact if this scenario transpires, Murray will be out of the tournament before the semifinals. Among the possibilities if that happens is a rematch of the Djokovic-Wawrinka US Open final.Early in the week, after Wawrinka plodded his way through a desultory first-round loss to Nishikori, the chances of something like this being in play were remote. Not any longer, especially in light of Wawrinkas display of firepower Wednesday evening in a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) win against Cilic.I think the level was really high, Wawrinka told reporters after that match. Im happy with many things tonight -- the way I was mentally on the court, the way I was moving. I think I was moving great. I had some good defense, some long rallies. I mixed a lot with my game in general.When Stan the Man, aka Stanimal, is living in HappiStan, its time for everyone else, including Djokovic, to be afraid. Thick as a linebacker, Wawrinka is bearish in more ways than one. He tends to hibernate for significant periods, but when he comes out of his den, and the scent of a nearby meal sets his nose quivering, its time to climb the nearest tree.Wawrinka has never been No. 1, but he can play like the No. 1. It tends to happen in critical matches on the biggest stages.Im very far from being No. 1, Wawrinka said for perhaps the 2,700th time at the pretournament news conference. Referring to tennis Big Four, he added, If you look at their records, theyre playing in the final of every tournament they play, so its not something Im thinking about now.But rest assured, Wawrinka is something theyre thinking about. He not only belted Djokovic off the court in the last US Open final, he ruined the same guys day in the French Open final of 2015.Wawrinka also hammered Murray in straight sets at the Tour Finals last year. Murray leads the head-to-head by a very slender 9-7 edge, but there is so much pressure on him in London that he might have to take hits off an oxygen tank instead of a sporrts drink on changeovers when he plays Wawrinka.ddddddddddddPundits have tried to shoehorn Wawrinka into the Big Four ever since he belted his way to the 2014 Australian Open title (he beat Djokovic in the quarters and Rafael Nadal in the final), then backed it up during the ensuing months. Some have tried to expand the quartet into a Big Five including Wawrinka, but hell be the first to shun the honor. Hes humble and realistic. Hes also a creature who needs to hibernate.Besides, life is much more fun in HappiStan if Wawrinka can avoid the pressures and hassles that accompany everyday life. Wawrinka has a deft way of staying under the radar despite having, in every respect, the profile of a cargo plane.Nobody has taken Wawrinka very seriously at this tournament, and thats somewhat understandable. He won just one match in two fall Masters 1000 events. The only bright spot after that stunning upset of Djokovic in Arthur Ashe Stadium was a final in Moscow, where Wawrinka lost that to ATP #nextgen upstart Alexander Zverev.The sluggish opener against Nishikori in the O2 suggested that sometime in early October, Wawrinka decided to just mail it in. But its a mistaken assumption. This is just Wawrinkas way. He showed Wednesday that he hasnt licked and stamped the envelope just yet.Im here to try to enjoy, Wawrinka said, tacitly acknowledging that he doesnt want to fire expectations -- or put pressure on himself. Its still always a dream for me to be here. Im trying to enjoy; Im trying to do the right thing; Im trying to fight as much as I can to stay alive on the tournament.Because of his build, Wawrinka is only as good as his movement on that day. Thats a difficult factor to control. Wawrinka was moving poorly and mentally out of it Monday against perhaps the worst guy to face under those conditions, Nishikori.On Wednesday, the gum on his shoes turned into wheels. I know I can beat every player, Wawrinka said, when asked if he intends to compete for the top ranking now that applications are again being accepted. But I need to do it more often in the year if I want to think about that. But three Grand Slams in three years is something that I didnt expect. Im very happy with where I am now.Welcome to HappiStan. Beware if your name is Murray or Djokovic. ' ' '