SALT LAKE CITY – Andres Nocioni may have been wrapped in ice, but he hardly felt numb.
The Kings veteran small forward was elated after the 104-99 win over Utah Saturday, relieved and thankful that something had gone right after a week that was so wrong.
Nocioni was charged with driving under the influence, having been pulled over and arrested in downtown Sacramento around 2 a.m. Thursday. It was disappointing and surprising news to anyone who knows Nocioni, a 29-year-old family man from Argentina with a wife and two sons, ages 5 and 1, who is known for being the antithesis of the partying professional athlete.
Nocioni said the win brought on a welcome change of mood.
"This game helped me a lot, to get me back my confidence and feel much better for myself," Nocioni said. "I felt really bad (about Thursday's incident), because I'm not this kind of a guy. I swear to God. This is the first time I've done something so stupid, so I feel really bad and frustrated for that.
"It's really stupid what I've done. (Since I've been) in the USA (2004), I've gone out like four times in my whole life. What can you do? It's my fault, a stupid mistake. I feel really bad, because I have kids and this is not good. I feel really sorry for the organization."
Greene's time? – If the writing was on the wall for Donté Greene before, then this was the all-caps, bright-red version.
The Kings, quite obviously, still lack confidence in their second-year small forward.
They drafted at his position, bringing in rookie Omri Casspi, who has since become a rotation player. They signed veteran Desmond Mason at Greene's position before training camp, then signed Ime Udoka at his spot Nov. 4 after Mason was let go.
All the while, Greene – who had his 2010-11 team option on his contract picked up recently – was on the bench.
Yet Kings coach Paul Westphal said he hasn't given up on Greene, and Greene showed why against Utah. Having played a combined 10 minutes the first five games, Greene scored 10 points in just over 12 minutes.
"I think Donté can play," Westphal said. "He asked me the other day what he needs to do. I said, 'Keep working hard in practice, stay ready.' "
The injuries to wing players Kevin Martin and Francisco García have certainly shortened the rotation and could help Greene's cause. And if he could duplicate the occasional productive practice, there will be progress.
"Some days he has had eye-opening practices, and we tell him, 'Do that every day and how are we going to keep you out of the lineup?' " Westphal said. "And then there are other days when you don't necessarily notice that he's there."
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