Kings/NBA

The end of this season is beginning to feel a lot like the end of the Paul Westphal coaching era in Sacramento.

LOS ANGELES - When the day comes that Kobe Bryant's jersey is retired by the Lakers, it will go on the Staples Center wall as No. 24, not No. 8.

Set aside the talk of billionaire executives and flashy plans to redefine downtowns. The final stretch of the Kings saga will likely come down to which city – Sacramento or Seattle – has the more solid arena plan.

The Kings' last victory came March 28 in Phoenix against the Suns, who, like Sacramento, will miss the playoffs.

When NBA commissioner David Stern said Wednesday that a decision on the fate of the Sacramento Kings might take longer than expected, it raised the obvious question: Which city does a delay favor?

Think of the 28 seasons since the Kings came to Sacramento from Kansas City. They went to the playoffs just 10 times, and they had a winning record just eight times.

A look at tonight's Kings game vs. Dallas; including: broadcast information, three keys to the game and probable starters.

Attorneys said Thursday they hoped to settle a lawsuit filed by former Brigham Young star Jimmer Fredette against a Utah-based clothing company for failure to pay $50,000 plus royalties.

Describing the Sacramento Kings saga as too complicated to settle in a day, NBA Commissioner David Stern said Wednesday that the league needs "a lot more data and information" before it can decide whether the team moves to Seattle or stays put.

The Sacramento Kings hosted the Houston Rockets and turned in an effort that didn't inspire many good feelings.

League executives didn't quite expect this. No, they didn't. Instead of gaining some clarity in this two-city tango for one team – and that team would be your Kings – NBA Commissioner David Stern and several of his owners went off to dinner Wednesday with an even bigger mess on their hands.

Not that the Kings/arena/relocation ordeal couldn't become much dramatic, but here are a few other thoughts and observations after revisiting Wednesday's events in New York and reaching out to sources:

Reggie Theus is returning to college basketball to coach the men's team at Cal State Northridge.

The rallies in the park, the chants in the building, the gatherings outside the old arena. Then there is the campaign for corporate sponsorships, the inclusion of local owners, and the pledge for 2013-14 Kings season tickets, all motivated by the community's enduring passion for the region's only major professional sports franchise.

With Sacramento about to plead its case for keeping the Kings in town, two lawyers served notice Tuesday that they will sue the city to block its deal for a new downtown arena.

It's not only unprecedented that Seattle and Sacramento will be bidding against each other for the future of the Kings before the oligarchs of the NBA in New York today.

Compared to recent seasons, the 2013 NBA trading deadline was a dud. No big deadline deals were made as contenders were content to make a run at a championship with their current rosters.

Tonight's Kings game against the Houston Rockets, including broadcast times, three keys to the game and starters for both teams.

In a Manhattan hotel on Wednesday, the months-long battle over the fate of the Sacramento Kings will turn into a daylong debate.

Dueling teams of billionaires and mayors are heading to New York for a pivotal Wednesday showdown over the future of the Sacramento Kings.

The moment will be seared into the minds of long-suffering Sacramento Kings fans forever.

SEATTLE - Chris Hansen and Seattle city officials remain in negotiations on possible improvements needed at KeyArena should the NBA approve a relocation of the Sacramento Kings for the 2013-14 season.

The Kings led the Los Angeles Lakers 72-65 with 5:49 left in the third quarter of Saturday's 103-98 loss. But Sacramento committed five turnovers to end the quarter and help the Lakers go on a 17-3 run.

His hair long ago turned white, his joints are stiffer and his gait more deliberate. Age is tugging at him, as it always does for the luckiest among us. It is winter for Bill Russell, a member of American royalty.

The campaign to keep the Kings in Sacramento has developed into a larger civic plan, with some of California's richest business leaders promising to inject money and energy into the neglected heart of the capital city.

This was not supposed to be a big season for Spencer Hawes in Philadelphia.

The final 24.9 seconds of Saturday night's game were quite eventful for DeMarcus Cousins.

The Los Angeles Lakers' Mike D'Antoni knows about coaching an uptempo style, having directed several high-scoring Phoenix Suns teams.

Kevin Johnson used a basketball analogy when discussing Sacramento's odds of keeping the Kings, saying they were like Steve Nash at the free-throw line.

Sacramento Kings minority owner John Kehriotis said Friday he has pulled the plug on his effort to put together an investment team to bid for control of the team.

More than a decade has passed since these teams tangled in one of the most theatrical and controversial Western Conference finals (2002) in the NBA modern era.

Just how much of a rivalry remains between the Kings and Lakers depends on whom you ask.

Tonight's Kings game against the Los Angeles Lakers, including broadcast times, three keys to the game, and starters for both teams.

OAKLAND, Calif. - A hypothetical question has been making the rounds lately asks if the current Golden State Warriors were to play a series of crucial games against the "We Believe" team of 2007, which would prevail.

A night after being held out the final 12 minutes, DeMarcus Cousins had the option of going back in during the fourth quarter Thursday night.

If there is a cliché about the importance of statistics, it probably applies here. Because when it comes to Keith Smart and his defensive grading system, he's not likely to deviate from it when substituting players.

DeMarcus Cousins (34 points, 14 rebounds) and Isaiah Thomas (23 points, eight assists) sat out the entire fourth quarter as Sacramento cruised to is second win in a row, both coming on the road.

The basketball war between Sacramento and Seattle ratcheted up Wednesday as both cities made moves to strengthen their claim to the Sacramento Kings.

No list of great NCAA championship game moments is complete unless Keith Smart's jumper for Indiana in 1987 is on it.

Isaiah Thomas is the Kings' starting point guard, so he is responsible for establishing himself on offense as well as his teammates.

Within the past five days – perhaps the most important five days in the history of the Kings – Sacramento thrust itself back into the game.

Jason Thompson has started a career-high 71 of 72 games he's played for the Kings this season.

Tonight's Kings game against the Phoenix Suns, including broadcast times, three keys to the game, and starters for both teams.

Mayor Kevin Johnson wanted the Sacramento City Council to send an unmistakable message to the NBA about the city's commitment to a new arena for the Kings.

The Stephen Curry who has dominated many teams in 2012-13 hasn't been that player in three games against the Kings this season.

Tonight's Kings game against the Golden State Warriors, including broadcast times, three keys to the game, and the starting lineups.

There was supposed to be a Ron Burkle sighting at The Bee on Monday, and then there wasn't. The mystery man canceled his appearance a few hours before the 2 p.m. tipoff, offered no reasons and remained true to his reputation within the arena of professional sports.

The downtown properties that Sacramento officials are proposing to give to developers as part of a $448 million arena deal will increase sharply in value once the arena is built, several commercial real estate experts said.

Sacramento would create a bit of history if it can spin its downtown parking garages and meters into cash to buy a new home for the Kings.

As Sunday's game progressed, it became obvious that whatever energy the Kings used in a competitive loss Saturday at Denver wasn't existent at Sleep Train Arena.