Sacramento Kings Amazing 35 point Comeback vs Bulls (December 21, 2009)

Kings storm back from 35 down to beat Bulls 102-98 The buzzer sounded, the 35-point comeback was complete and both the ecstatic Sacramento Kings and the stunned Chicago Bulls had trouble describing what had just happened. Wow! All I can say is, Wow! Tyreke Evans(notes) said after dominating down the stretch and leading the Kings to a 102-98 victory Monday night. We fought to the end. It was amazing. Indeed, it was one of the most amazing comebacks in NBA history. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the biggest rally since Utah overcame a 36-point deficit to beat Denver on Nov. 27, 1996. The Jazz trailed 70-34 in the second quarter before winning 107-103. Sacramento Kings forward Jon Brockman(notes) is hugged by Beno Udrih(notes), from Solvenia, after an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls on Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, in Chicago. The Kings erased a 35-point deficit, winning 102-98. I mean, what can you say? Its unheard of to do what just happened, Kings coach Paul Westphal said. Im not even sure I believe it, but it sure was fun. The Bulls were talking about a collapse, not a comeback. This one stings, Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said. We stopped being aggressive, got a little complacent there and they jumped on it. Were not good enough to take a minute off, never mind a half. The Bulls led 79-44 with 8:50 left in the third quarter, and were still up 83-50 two minutes later before the Kings stole momentum and, eventually, the game. After Sacramento finished the third with a 19-5 run to make it 88-69, Ime Udoka(notes) scored 15 of the Kings first 22 points in the fourth quarter to cut it to 95-91 with 2:28 remaining. Evans, the outstanding rookie guard from Memphis, then personally outscored the Bulls 9-3 the rest of the way. He converted a three-point play and, after Chicagos Luol Deng(notes) made a free throw, scored on a drive and hit a foul shot to give the Kings their first lead since the opening minutes. Evans then hit a 22-footer at the shot-clock buzzer to put Sacramento up 99-96. Derrick Rose(notes) made two free throws to cut it to 99-98 before Evans hit one of two foul shots. After Rose missed a layup, Beno Udrih(notes) clinched the win with two more free throws. I think we relaxed, said Deng, who scored 26 points. We were making mistakes defensively. We were just not aggressive and that carries over to offense. Its frustrating. As the sellout crowd booed the Bulls off the court, Kings owner Gavin Maloof celebrated. If they didnt know who Tyreke Evans was, they know him now, he said. It was magical. Evans followed Rose to Memphis, where each played only one year of college ball before turning pro. Rose was last seasons Rookie of the Year and Evans— one of just four NBA players averaging at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists—is a front-runner for the award this season. I just kept attacking and never gave up, Evans said. The Bulls were almost perfect in the first quarter, shooting 71 percent, committing no turnovers, holding the Kings to 39 percent shooting and forcing seven giveaways. Chicago built a 67-43 lead by halftime and opened the second half with a 12-1 run that seemingly put the game away. But as the Bulls gradually came unglued—they were only 2 for 10 from the floor and committed nine turnovers in the fourth quarter—Evans, Udoka and the Kings took control. This game was absolutely crazy, ex-Bull Andres Nocioni(notes) said. Ive played in many games with national teams and many games in the NBA and Ive never seen anything like that. I dont know if we won the game or the Chicago Bulls lost the game. The despondent Del Negro knew. It was a matter of us not being smart at either end, he said. Its frustrating. Its difficult. But what are you going to do, put your head down and feel sorry for yourself? Youve got to go play. NOTES: Rose finished with 24 points and seven assists. Nocioni received a nice ovation when introduced before the game. Acquired from Chicago last February, he was one of the Bulls most popular players of the post-Michael Jordan years. Im fine with Sacramento, he said, but I miss Chicago a lot. Bulls F Tyrus Thomas(notes), who broke a bone in his left forearm on Nov. 6, returned to practice Sunday. Del Negro hopes Thomas will play Saturday against New Orleans. Deng has averaged 23 points while playing the last four games with a small fracture in his left (non-shooting) thumb.

Comments

1. TWolves 84-50 Warriors at Half
   Then 3Q 19-41 4Q 16-33 and Warriors win
2. I think the Timberwolves are going to do what the Bulls have done somewhere this season
3. Sad to say I was at the game
4. I was at this game. Worst part was that we didn't get free Big Macs. Had the Bulls scored 100 points everyone would have gotten free Big Macs. They had almost 70 at the half and ended up with 98. Haha.
5. fair enough
6. hey we'll see
7. yeah...things didnt exactly work out that way did they? haha i woulda said the same thing though
8. I'm watching the Chicago, Houston game and the commentator referenced this game :)
9. This was crazy
10. Bang bang bulls
11. Tyreke would be better than Rose if he kept up his level of play like how he played in his rookie season. . . too bad hes not. Kinda gay
12. @WonderBread006 HELLLLLL NO
13. @WonderBread006 no fucking way
14. Rose remembered this game and crossed Tyreke the next season! XD
15. wow is that lebron? oh my mistake it's evans :) 1:10
16. @101kingsfan tyreke does not have the same game as rose. lets just get that straight. tyreke cannot make acrobatic layups like derrick rose and rose's dunks are just amazing so you cannot compare the two like that. i agree that both of them take a huge load. and yes ty needs more help in sacramento for the king to get better but they have some good young talent.
17. @celticsrule20 Watch Reke in a few games. Thats his whole game. He has the exact same game as D-Rose. And how does that prove anything? That means Rose sacrifices more? Haha ok. Yes he missed 25. But he doesn't play along Noah, Boozer, And Deng. He doesn't take the full load like Reke did the past few seasons. But hopefully this season Cousins develops more
18. @101kingsfan have u seen how beatings drose takes at the rim when he drives in cause hes to small. . ur stupid to think tyreke sacrifices more than rose. i mean evans is a great player and one of my favorites but cmon drose has the bulls back every single game. it doesnt matter if there is a 7 ft guy in the lane. drose sacrifices his body and does anything in order to help the bulls win. rose was injured in the season too but he still played. he only missed one game in the season. Ty missed 25.
19. @celticsrule20 Was Tyreke injuried? Was that only his second season after he won R.O.Y.? How the fuck does he not sacrifice more then Rose? Thats why he got injuried. Moron. Rose may be better, but you're arguement is retarded as fuck Thumbs up if you agree
20. @celticsrule20 well at the time of this game the kings were a better team just as soon as martin came back all the chemistry went down the toilet