Beno Udrih's strained left hip Wednesday became a left hamstring strain Thursday, with the terminology mattering less than the impact.
The Kings point guard is not expected to play in tonight's exhibition game at Arco Arena against Oklahoma City, meaning rookie point guard Bobby Brown might be looking at yet another carpe diem moment. Undrafted out of Cal State Fullerton in 2007 and having played in Germany last year, Brown already has seized most of his opportunities. And with Kings coach Reggie Theus eager to see more, Brown said he is ready to oblige.
"(In) my first game, I got the jitters out," said Brown, who had eight points (3-of-9 shooting) and two assists in 21 minutes in Tuesday's 110-81 loss to Portland. "Now I think I'm ready to play and contribute a lot more, especially on the defensive end. I had a lot of lapses away from the ball."
Theus said after Thursday's practice that he hadn't decided whether to start Brown or Bobby Jackson.
"I've seen Bobby Jackson play, so I'm trying to get a good visual on Bobby Brown," he said.
Jackson would just as soon Theus insert Brown into Udrih's spot. Since the season's outset, he has been clear he's not interested in logging heavy minutes in his 12th season. He even joked at media day Sept. 29 that he would complain about playing time only if Theus played him more than 30 minutes per game. His feelings, apparently, haven't changed.
"I'm not starting," Jackson said. "It don't matter (about Udrih being out). I know I'm not starting."
In light of the added practice load because of Udrih's absence, Jackson said he had no plans to take his place.
"When Beno isn't practicing, it's tough on me," Jackson said. "I'm out there trying to practice the whole practice and he isn't practicing, but I got through it."
Take two for Salmons – Swingman John Salmons didn't have the start he hoped for Tuesday, shooting 1 of 9 and finishing with five points and no assists in 24 minutes.
The outing, he said with a laugh, heightened his sense of appreciation for the exhibition season because "it (the game) matters, but it's still the preseason."
Salmons said his reliance on the outside shot was partly to blame for his lackluster shooting start.
"I shot a lot of jumpers early, and I usually like to get to the basket early and then go inside out," he said. "I missed some early, and then I got pressing. It was one of those nights."
The Kings led by as many as 11 points in the second quarter against the Trail Blazers, with much of their production coming from the up-tempo game they're trying to implement. Salmons said the team must build on the positives tonight.
"We weren't pushing the ball up like we wanted to," he said. "We did it more than we did all year last year. But (was it) like we wanted to do it? It wasn't even close. We were getting it up (the floor), but we want to really, really get up and down."
Injury update – Kings center Brad Miller (right quadriceps strain) and guard Quincy Douby (sprained right ankle) returned to practice and are expected to play tonight. Shooting guard Kevin Martin (right quadriceps strain) also is likely to play.
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