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2B – Daily News – Saturday, December 18, 2010 Thunder holds off Kings’ comeback Kings 87 Oklahoma City 102 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — With the Sacramento Kings refusing to go away, it took a solid second effort for the Oklahoma City Thunder to earn their fifth straight win. Jeff Green and Nick Collison came up with a series of key offensive rebounds to give the Thunder a cushion, and Oklahoma City used a trio of fourth-quarter spurts to put away the Kings 102-87 on Friday night. Sacramento, which has an NBA-worst five wins, stayed within single digits most of the night and trailed 83-77 midway through the fourth. Then, the Thunder had two sepa- rate runs of eight straight points to put the game away. ‘‘That’s where you win games at,’’ Green said. ‘‘We’ve been playing well in the fourth quarter and getting stops, most importantly, and being precise on offense.’’ Kevin Durant scored 24 points and Rus- sell Westbrook added 21 for the Thunder, who held an opponent to 21 points or fewer in the final quarter for the fifth time in six games. ‘‘It feels good, especially when we’re winning the way we are — with defense,’’ Green said. ‘‘Getting defense and getting out in transition. We’ve just got to keep it going.’’ Serge Ibaka added 12 points and 10 rebounds, Collison had 12 points and eight rebounds and Green had 11 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City. Tyreke Evans scored 22 points and DeMarcus Cousins and Beno Udrih added 19 apiece for Sacramen- to, which has lost 18 of its last 20 games. Cousins, the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s draft, also had a career-high 16 rebounds. ‘‘I think DeMarcus is getting better every game,’’ Kings coach Paul Westphal said. ‘‘He’s putting together more good minutes, and that’s certainly a big start.’’ Cousins logged his most playing time this season — a few ticks under 33 minutes — before running into some of the same problems that have dogged him all year and fouling out for the fourth time. He picked up his fourth and fifth fouls 12 seconds apart as the Thunder were starting to pull away in the fourth quarter, and had to head to the bench. Cousins came back and scored four straight points to get Sacramento within 91- 81, but lasted less than 2 minutes before fouling out while trying to go coast-to-coast after he swiped the ball from Westbrook. ‘‘He’s kind of rolling along OK with fouls and then he commits two in like 5 sec- onds. He goes from being OK to being in dire foul trouble,’’ Westphal said. ‘‘Lapses of concentration and judgment right now, that’s probably his biggest prob- lem.’’ Collison and Green had putbacks on con- secutive possessions, then Green grabbed an offensive rebound that led to Collison’s layup as the Thunder pieced together a 9-0 run early in the fourth quarter to increase their lead to 83-68 with 8:47 left. That surge pushed Oklahoma City’s lead past 10 for the first time all game. Jason Thompson had a two-handed putback dunk and Udrih hit a 3- pointer as the Kings mounted their own 9-0 response, but Oklahoma City answered right back with eight straight points to go up 91- 77 after another Collison layup that was set up by Green. Cousins then made his brief return before Durant scored six during another 8-0 run. His driving dunk made it 99-81 in the final 2 minutes. ‘‘His conditioning is part of it and his excessive fouling is another part of it,’’ West- phal said. Sacramento stayed close early on and had a one-point lead after the first quarter, but then Eric Maynor sparked a run of 12 straight points by Oklahoma City’s bench that put the Thunder ahead to stay. Maynor had assists on all five baskets during the stretch, finished by back-to-back dunks by Green and Collison. D.J. White’s layup made it 35-25 with 7:22 left before halftime. The Kings got within three near the end of the first half and again in the opening minutes of the third quarter before the Thun- der reserves and Green put together another big run at the start of the fourth. 49ers need help from others to save playoff hopes San Francisco 49ers SANTA CLARA (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have hit the desperation stage of their season. If Seattle and St. Louis both win this weekend, the Niners’ slim playoff hopes are officially gone. Because, the Seahawks and Rams face off in the final game of the season in Seattle — which means one of them would wind up with eight victories and the division title in the awful NFC West. Even if San Francisco (5- 9) wins at St. Louis next Sunday and home against Arizona on Jan. 2, it might not be enough. The 49ers need help. There has been plenty of speculation that 49ers owner John York and his team president son, Jed, will be searching for a new head coach come January. Coach Mike Singletary still has two years left on his con- tract. ‘‘My future depends on the St. Louis game that we’ve got coming. To me, I take it one week at a time and I don’t really worry about all the other things,’’ Singletary said Friday. ‘‘But right now my focus is on St. Louis.’’ And, after an embarrass- ing 34-7 loss at San Diego on Thursday night, Single- tary is contemplating yet another quarterback switch from Alex Smith back to Troy Smith. Alex Smith was sacked six times and San Francisco was outgained in total yards 374-192. Nobody was in much mood to talk about it Friday. In fact, of five players stopped during the open locker room period — many had already headed home on a rainy afternoon following meetings — all declined comment. ‘‘I ain’t talking today,’’ linebacker Takeo Spikes said. ‘‘Everything I had to say I said yesterday.’’ After the game, he vent- ed, ‘‘The most frustrating thing is to know we had an opportunity to be sitting in the driver’s seat after tonight and we (poured) it down the drain.’’ Spikes and fellow line- backer Patrick Willis each played with bulky black casts on their broken right hands, with Willis coming off surgery three days earli- er on his hand. Neither did further damage to their hands, Singletary said. Spikes needed assistance removing his uniform and socks after the game. That’s the least of the 49ers’ troubles, however. There could be major change in a hurry if San Francisco’s playoff drought reaches an eighth straight season, even after Jed York declared his franchise would rebound from an 0-5 start to win the division and make the postseason. Singletary on Friday defended Alex Smith, say- ing, ‘‘Under the situation, under the circumstances, I thought Alex handled him- self about as well as he could.’’ After the game, Single- tary said it would have been ‘‘horrific’’ to replace Smith with Troy Smith during Thursday night’s game. Troy Smith, the 2006 Heis- BOWLS Saturday’s Bowl Games New Mexico Bowl At Albuquerque UTEP (6-6) vs. BYU (6-6), 11 a.m. (ESPN) Humanitarian Bowl At Boise, Idaho Northern Illinois (10-3) vs. Fresno State (8-4), 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) New Orleans Bowl Ohio (8-4) vs. Troy (7-5), 6 p.m. (ESPN) man Trophy winner who was well behind upon join- ing the Niners in September, started five games in place of Alex Smith from Oct. 31- Dec. 5 and went 3-2. At first, he replaced the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick after Alex Smith separated his non-throwing left shoulder at Carolina on Oct. 24, but Singletary stuck with him even after Alex Smith was healthy. Alex Smith regained his starting job and led the 49ers past Seattle 40-21 on Dec. 12. Still, Singletary insists he will — as always — name his quarterback based on who he believes best puts San Francisco in position to win. One of Troy Smith’s victories came in a 23-20 overtime win against the Rams at home Nov. 14. He threw for 356 yards and a touchdown on 17-for-28 passing. That could play a factor in the decision who to start this time against St. Louis. ‘‘I just think that right now as we look at the film and look at the things we NCAABASKETBALL Friday’s Top 25 result Charlotte 49, No. 7 Tennessee 48 Saturday’s Top 25 games No.2 Ohio State vs.South Carolina, 11 a.m. No.3 Kansas vs.Southern Cal, 9 a.m., ESPN No. 5 Syracuse vs. Iona, 4 p.m. No.6 Kansas St.vs.Florida, 2:30 p.m., CSNB No.8 Pitt vs.Maryland-Eastern Shore, 4 p.m. No.9 Baylor vs.Gonzaga, 1:30 p.m., ESPN2 No. 10 Villanova vs. Delaware, 4:30 p.m. No.11 S.D.St.vs.UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m. No. 12 Illinois vs. Illinois-Chicago, 11 a.m. No.13 Missouri vs.Central Arkansas, 5 p.m. No.14 Michigan St.vs.Prairie View, 3:30 p.m. No.15 Georgetown vs.Loyola, Md., 9 a.m. No.16 BYU vs.UCLA, 2:30 p.m., CSNC No.17 Kentucky vs.MVSU, 5 p.m. No. 19 Purdue vs. Indiana State, 1 p.m. No.20 Louisville vs.Gar.-Webb, 12:30 p.m. No.22 Texas vs.North Carolina, 1 p.m., CBS No.22 UNLV vs. Southern Utah, 7 p.m. No.25 Texas A&M vs.Ark., 11 a.m., ESPN2 Saturday’s other televised games Arkansas State vs.Georgia, 9 a.m., CSNC Miami vs. Central Florida, 10 a.m., CSNB Stanford at Butler, 11 a.m., CBS Alabama vs.Okla.State, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2 Sunday’s Top 25 game No.24 Notre Dame vs.Stony Brook, 1:30 p.m. Sunday’s other televised games Arizona at North Carolina St., 1:30 p.m., CSNB want to do, we’ll look at the Rams when we played them the first time,’’ Singletary said. ‘‘The Rams were a lit- tle bit different and I think we’re a little bit different. There are some things that have changed since then and we’ll deal with it according- ly.’’ Notes: The other 49ers NFL AFC West WL T Pct PF PA Kansas City 8 5 0 .615 295 268 Chargers 8 6 0 .571 388 260 RAIDERS 67 0 .462 314 307 Denver East 3 10 0 .231 269 376 WL T Pct PF PA x-N.England 11 2 0 .846 415 276 N.Y.Jets 9 4 0 .692 273 242 Miami Buffalo South 7 6 0 .538 225 244 3 10 0 .231 256 339 WL T Pct PF PA Jacksonville 8 5 0 .615 295 331 Indianapolis 7 6 0 .538 347 318 Houston 5 8 0 .385 316 355 Tennessee 5 8 0 .385 291 265 North WL T Pct PF PA Pittsburgh 10 3 0 .769 290 198 Baltimore 9 4 0 .692 294 229 Cleveland 5 8 0 .385 235 252 Cincinnati 2 11 0 .154 262 345 NFC West Seattle WL T Pct PF PA 6 7 0 .462 261 329 St. Louis 6 7 0 .462 245 268 49ERS 59 0 .357 250 314 Arizona 4 9 0 .308 243 351 East WL T Pct PF PA N.Y. Giants 9 4 0 .692 329 250 Philadelphia 9 4 0 .692 374 308 Washington 5 8 0 .385 238 310 Dallas South 4 9 0 .308 321 366 WL T Pct PF PA Atlanta 11 2 0 .846 335 243 New Orleans10 3 0 .769 330 240 Tampa Bay 8 5 0 .615 260 267 Carolina 1 12 0 .077 164 338 North WL T Pct PF PA Chicago 9 4 0 .692 253 228 Green Bay 8 5 0 .615 306 189 Minnesota 5 8 0 .385 230 274 Detroit x-clinched playoff spot ————————————————— Sunday’s games Denver at Oakland, 1:15 p.m.,CBS Arizona at Carolina, 10 a.m. Buffalo at Miami, 10 a.m. Cleveland at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. Detroit at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m. Houston at Tennessee, 10 a.m. Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 10 a.m., CBS Kansas City at St. Louis, 10 a.m. New Orleans at Baltimore, 10 a.m. Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 10 a.m., FOX Washington at Dallas, 10 a.m. Atlanta at Seattle, 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Jets at Pittsburgh, 1:15 p.m. Green Bay at New England, 5:20 p.m., NBC Monday’s game Chicago at Minnesota, 5:30 p.m. 3 10 0 .231 285 309 injuries from Thursday were LB Travis LaBoy (knee sprain), RB Anthony Dixon (ankle sprain), S Dashon Goldson (dislocated finger), LB Manny Lawson (thigh contusion), CB Nate Clements (ankle). Singletary said the team might look to add a running back this coming week NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division Dallas Ducks WL OT Pts GF GA 18 10 3 39 89 86 17 14 4 38 91 102 SHARKS 16 11 5 37 96 93 Kings 17 11 1 35 82 71 Phoenix 14 9 7 35 84 84 Central Division Detroit WL OT Pts GF GA 20 8 3 43 102 84 Nashville 17 8 6 40 82 73 Chicago 17 14 3 37 108 101 St. Louis 15 10 5 35 80 84 Columbus 16 12 3 35 81 88 Northwest Division WL OT Pts GF GA Colorado 18 10 4 40 118 103 Vancouver 17 8 4 38 94 76 Calgary 14 15 3 31 89 93 Minnesota 13 13 4 30 72 89 Edmonton 12 14 5 29 84 108 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL OT Pts GF GA Philadelphia 21 7 5 47 113 81 Pittsburgh 21 10 2 44 104 78 N.Y.Rangers 20 13 1 41 104 87 New Jersey 9 20 2 20 57 91 N.Y. Islanders6 18 5 17 62 100 Northeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Montreal 19 11 2 40 85 69 Boston 16 10 4 36 86 63 Ottawa 14 16 4 32 79 103 Buffalo 13 15 4 30 83 92 Toronto 12 15 4 28 71 92 Southeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Washington 18 11 4 40 99 94 Atlanta 17 11 5 39 102 96 Tampa Bay 17 10 4 38 96 107 Carolina 14 12 4 32 85 92 Florida 14 16 0 28 80 78 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. ————————————————— Friday’s results Chicago 4, Detroit 1 Colorado 6, Ottawa 5, OT Florida 6, Buffalo 2 Nashville 3, New Jersey 1 Saturday’s games San Jose at St. Louis, 5 p.m.,CSNC N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia, 10 a.m. Anaheim at Carolina, 4 p.m. Dallas at Columbus, 4 p.m. New Jersey at Atlanta, 4 p.m. Phoenix at N.Y. Islanders, 4 p.m. Toronto at Vancouver, 4 p.m., NHLN Washington at Boston, 4 p.m. Buffalo at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m. Los Angeles at Nashville, 5 p.m. Minnesota at Calgary, 7 p.m. Sunday’s games Washington at Ottawa, 2 p.m., CSNB Dallas at Detroit, 2 p.m. Los Angeles at Chicago, 4 p.m., NHLN Montreal at Colorado, 5 p.m. considering Dixon and DeShawn Wynn (dehydration) both had their issues Thursday — though he expects each player to be fine. NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division WL Pct GB Lakers 20 7 .741 — Phoenix 12 13 .480 7 WARRIORS 916 .360 10 Clippers 6 21 .222 14 KINGS 5 19 .208 13.5 Southwest Division WL Pct GB San Antonio 22 3 .880 — Dallas 21 5 .808 1.5 New Orleans16 10 .615 6.5 Memphis 12 15 .444 11 Houston 11 15 .423 11.5 Northwest Division WL Pct GB Okla. City 19 8 .704 — Utah 18 9 .667 1 Denver 15 10 .600 3 Portland 13 14 .481 6 Minnesota 6 21 .222 13 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL Pct GB Boston 21 4 .840 — New York 16 11 .593 6 Philadelphia 10 16 .385 11.5 Toronto 10 17 .370 12 New Jersey 7 20 .259 15 Southeast Division WL Pct GB 20 8 .714 — Miami Orlando 16 9 .640 2.5 Atlanta 17 11 .607 3 Charlotte 9 17 .346 10 Washington 6 18 .250 12 Central Division WL Pct GB Chicago 16 8 .667 — Indiana 12 13 .480 4.5 Milwaukee 10 14 .417 6 Detroit 8 19 .296 9.5 Cleveland 7 19 .269 10 ————————————————— Friday’s results Oklahoma City 102, Sacramento 87 Atlanta 90, Charlotte 85 Dallas 106, Phoenix 91 Houston 103, Memphis 87 Indiana 108, Cleveland 99 L.A. Clippers 109, Detroit 88 L.A. Lakers 93, Philadelphia 81 Miami 113, New York 91 New Orleans 100, Utah 71 Portland 107, Minnesota 102 Toronto 98, New Jersey 92 Saturday’s games Golden State at Portland,7 p.m.,CSNB Miami at Washington, 4 p.m., NBATV Philadelphia at Orlando, 4 p.m. New York at Cleveland, 4:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Chicago, 5 p.m. Memphis at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m. Utah at Milwaukee, 5:30 p.m. Minnesota at Denver, 6 p.m. Sunday’s Games Houston at Sacramento, 3 p.m.,CSNC Atlanta at New Jersey, 10 a.m. Indiana at Boston, 10 a.m. L.A. Lakers at Toronto, 10 a.m. New Orleans at Detroit, 3 p.m. Phoenix at Oklahoma City, 4 p.m., NBATV Thursday’s late result San Antonio 113, Denver 112 Tehama County’s Personal/Professional Service Directory AT YOUR SERVICE! $ 9900 3 month Attorney Local Bankruptcy Attorney Jocelyn C. 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