Kings players ran with urgency Tuesday, racing the clock as they slipped each basket in. After two minutes, players and coaches headed to the team huddle satisfied.
They beat the Los Angeles Lakers, even if it was just in a drill at the Kings' practice facility.
The drill consists of running from baseline to baseline with two passes along the way and attempting to make as many layups as possible in two minutes.
Kings coach Reggie Theus read a story in the Riverside Press-Enterprise that said the Lakers had made 82 layups in two minutes.
"We do 87 in two minutes," Theus said. "Some people do 82 in two."
Minute madness – Quincy Douby will not play tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers and also is scheduled to miss Friday's game in Houston. Douby, who is nursing a sprained right ankle, did not practice with the team Tuesday, opting to condition courtside on an elliptical machine.
The third-year guard originally was injured in an Oct. 3 scrimmage. He played one half of Sunday's loss to the Lakers before his ankle began to hurt.
Douby might not be the only player sitting out tonight's game. Theus said he is thinking about resting Mikki Moore and John Salmons to focus on the younger players.
"I'm trying to get everybody good looks," Theus said. "We have a lot of guys, and it's tough for me to play 13 guys and give anyone any kind of real rhythm."
Moore said he doesn't like to sit out games, but he knows now is the time to get the younger players some experience.
"(Coach) said I look a little banged up, but I'm fine," Moore said. "I've got a little tendinitis. It's nothing. It comes with old age. I turn 33 in two weeks. He's trying to get me prepared for the beginning of the season."
Guessing game – While most of the Kings were unaware that Celine Dion was scheduled to perform Tuesday night at Arco Arena, one player didn't shy away from saying he planned to be there.
Who was it?
"It's not Brad Miller," Bobby Jackson said. "Spencer Hawes?"
No.
"I'd go with Brad," Kevin Martin said.
No, again.
Beno Udrih said he planned to take his mom and girlfriend to the concert. "My mom doesn't live here, and it's not every day she can see Celine Dion," Udrih said. "I know she's got good music, so why not?"
No deal – Playing the Clippers offers Udrih his first chance to see the team he could have joined. Udrih met Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy and was offered a nearly identical five-year deal to the one he accepted with the Kings in July.
"I'm a King, and I don't really think about that," Udrih said. "It's behind me."
Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521.
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