Kings Blog and Q&A

Result: The Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 100-91 on Tuesday at Power Balance Pavilion. View the box score.

Bee coverage:

• Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) writes that the Kings didn't wilt under the pressure of a Lakers comeback in today's newspaper recap.
• Jones writes in today's newspaper that coach Paul Westphal plans to take advantage of a deeper bench.
• Jones, in a blog post this morning, focuses on an improved DeMarcus Cousins.
• "(Jimmer Fredette) can play," writes Ailene Voisin (@ailene_voisin) in a column in today's newspaper. "He finds a way, never mind the abbreviated training camp, the lack of summer league, the shortened preseason, the lack of NBA experience.
• Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara), in an early morning blog post, gets more reaction from Fredette.
• Voisin, in an early morning blog post, checks in with more observations.
• "(Gary) Gerould's skin crawls at the thought of anyone in local government frowning at the idea of a new Kings facility," writes Joe Davidson (@sb_joedavidson) in a column in today's newspaper.
• View the photo gallery by Hector Amezcua (@hectoramezcua) and José Luis Villegas.
• View the snapshot photo gallery.
• View last night's game chat.

Bee video:

Los Angeles Lakers coverage:

• "Coach Mike Brown blamed the loss on the Lakers' defense that allowed the Kings to break the 100-point mark," writes Dave McMenamin (@mcten) in a story for ESPNLosAngeles.com.
• Brian Kamenetzky (@ESPNLandOLakers) offers his rapid reaction on the Land O'Lakers blog on ESPN.

• "Late in the game, when a comeback seemed more than probable, the Lakers couldn't get stops on defense," writes Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) in today's newspaper recap for the Los Angeles Times.
• "The Lakers looked like a tired and injured team against the Kings," Elliott Teaford (@ElliottTeaford) writes in today's newspaper recap for the LA Daily News.
• "One coaching change and one game later, the 2011-12 Lakers hardly look the same," Teaford writes in today's newspaper notes for the LA Daily News.
• "Missing the interior power of suspended Andrew Bynum again, the Lakers sure aren't the big, strong team they want to be," Kevin Ding (@KevinDing) writes in today's newspaper recap for the Orange County Register.
• The Lakers visited a Sacramento-area cryotherapy clinic before last night's game, writes McMenamin in a story for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

More coverage and analysis:

• Jonathan Santiago (@itsJONsantiago) and James Ham (@James_Ham) break down last night's game in a blog post for TrueHoop Network affiliate Cowbell Kingdom..
• Rob McAllister (@Rob_McAllister) compares the first shot you take in the NBA to a first kiss in a blog post on the rookie debuts of Fredette and Isaiah Thomas for TrueHoop Network affiliate Cowbell Kingdom..
• "In the finite sense, it was a good win over a broken team," writes Tom Ziller (@teamziller) in a blog post on SB Nation affiliate Sactown Royalty.
• "Last night was only the start of what's to come," writes Bryan Rosa writes in a blog post on FanSided affiliate A Royal Pain.
• "Last night's win over the Lakers may have illustrated that the Kings have more depth than fans have been accustomed to in recent years," writes Blake Ellington (@blakeellington) in a blog post on Sacramento Connect partner Bleed Black And Purple.
• "If this game is any indication, DeMarcus Cousins is a dramatically different player than he was last season," writes Bill Bradley (@billbradley_sac) in a blog post on Sacramento Connect partner 27x7.
• "The Lakers came to Sacramento last night for the Kings blackout season opener and found themselves unable to play in the dark," writes Sergio Villarreal (@_Villarreality_) in a blog post on Sacramento Connect partner ranSACkedmedia.
• "Overall, this loss is difficult to swallow simply because the Kings - as young and as talented as they are - did hit some shots that on a typical night you'd think would not fall," Darius Oriano (@forumbluegold) writes in a blog post for TrueHoop Network affiliate Forum Blue & Gold.
• "The Lakers continue to have terrible late game execution," writes C.A. Clark in a blog post on SB Nation affiliate Silver Screen and Roll.
• "Under normal circumstances we'd say that there is plenty of time for the Lakers to get on track this season," writes Chris Shellcroft writes in a blog post on FanSided affiliate A Royal Pain. "But this isn't a normal season."

More video:

• Danielle Leigh (@KCRADanielle) of KCRA spoke to fans after the win.

• Kristen Drew of News10 spoke to vendors, excited about the return of the NBA season.

• Koula Gianulias (@koula_g) of CBS 13 spoke to fans before the game.

• View the video highlights at NBA.com.

Tonight's game - Kings (1-0) at Trail Blazers (1-0):

• Jones previews tonight's game in today's newspaper.

• Portland Trail Blazers starting forwards Gerald Wallace and LaMarcus Aldridge combined to score 48 points last night in a 107-103 win over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers.

• "A pair of early unbeatens collide tonight in the Rose City, as the Portland Trail Blazers play host to the Sacramento Kings.," writes The Sports Network in its game preview.

• "The Kings find themselves facing the first road test of the young season, against a good team to boot," writes Ziller in his game preview on SB Nation affiliate Sactown Royalty.

• "The Kings present an interesting, perhaps even scary, challenge this year," writes Dave Decker in his game preview for SB Nation affiliate Blazer's Edge.

Tweets of the day

Maaaannn big win for the new look KINGS, I'm feeling the blackout jerseys, thanks to all the fans at power balance pavilion tonight

— chuck hayes (@c_hayes44) December 27, 2011

Great win tonight!Everyone played hard and now it's on to Portland.Thanks for the support kings fans!

— Jimmer Fredette (@jimmerfredette) December 27, 2011

Great team win tonight proud of my teammates player of the game @boogiecousins

— Marcus Thornton (@OfficialMT23) December 27, 2011

Online coverage from The Bee this season:

• LIVE CHATS: Join The Bee's Matt Kawahara for in-game chats during every Kings home game, just before tipoff right through the final buzzer.

• VIDEOS: Find out what some Kings players and coach Paul Westphal have to say about the upcoming season - and much more.

• BLOG: Stay up to date on the team's happenings with Jason Jones, Ailene Voisin and Matt Kawahara on The Bee's Kings blog.

• FACEBOOK: "Like" the Sacramento Kings Corner page and join Bee staffers and fans in discussions about the team and players.

• TWITTER: Follow The Bee's Jason Jones for up-to-the-minute developments, in-game updates and much more about the Kings.

If you see a Sacramento Kings-related story or blog post that we should feature, e-mail me at nmiller@sacbee.com or send me reply on Twitter at @journalistnate.