Andres Nocioni has had this assignment before. The Kings forward has even been successful in agitating LeBron James with his physical play.
And that's what made Friday night so frustrating for Nocioni. There was nothing he could do to slow James, who finished with 51 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 126-123 overtime win at Arco Arena.
"I left everything on the court," said Nocioni, who had 12 points and nine rebounds in 40 minutes.
"I left my effort, my energy, everything on the floor, but it was for nothing because LeBron played really well. I tried to play physical, but he's really big. He's strong, fast. It's really frustrating for people like me to try to stop him because you cannot do it."
However, the Kings put on an electric performance in front of an announced crowd of 16,317 that included team co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. The fact that Sacramento, which holds the NBA's worst record and is 0-25 against Eastern Conference opponents, pushed the Cavaliers was enough to please the Kings.
"That's what we need to do, and that's what we accomplished with that trade – some toughness," said Kevin Martin, who had 34 points and six rebounds.
"Earlier in the year and middle of the season, teams would come in and blow us out, especially the best team in the East. They would walk right in here and beat us by 20-25. Not anymore."
The Cavaliers played most of the second half without coach Mike Brown, who was ejected following a double technical for arguing a call with 8:15 left in the third quarter.
During that period, the Kings picked up momentum.
The Kings led by 16 points with 30.5 seconds remaining in the quarter after Will Solomon hit one of his five three-pointers on the night. The Kings outscored the Cavaliers 39-24 in the third, but their 98-84 lead slipped away in the fourth. James scored 16 points in the final quarter.
"He's just competitive," Kings interim coach Kenny Natt said. "I wasn't looking at the points that he scored. I just know that LeBron's going to have the ball. He's going to take control of the team, put the team on his shoulders and carry them."
That is what he did in overtime, too, scoring six unanswered points to open the period.
With the Kings down 124-120, the Cavaliers grabbed two offensive rebounds in the final minute before the Kings grabbed the ball and sent it to Solomon, who sank a three-pointer with 5.3 seconds remaining.
In a 20-second timeout with 4.1 seconds to play, Natt drew up a play for Solomon, who then missed a 27-foot three-point attempt. Solomon finished with 18 points.
"That's saying coach believed in me," Solomon said. "It was a good look. I was open. When it left my hands, I thought it was good, but it just hit the back iron.
"I guess things happen like that sometimes."
James was two points shy of matching the record for most points scored at Arco, set by Tony Delk of the Phoenix Suns in 2001. James was questionable entering the game because of a left knee contusion sustained Thursday night against Phoenix.
"He's a great player," Martin said. "Nocioni had the big assignment of defending the best."
Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521. To get alerts and game scores sent to your phone, text KINGS to 72737.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.