Recap: Minnesota vs. Sacramento

Sports Network | April 15, 2009

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Ike Diogu posted game-highs with 28 points and 13 rebounds as Sacramento topped Minnesota, 97-90, in the season-finale for both teams at Target Center.

Andres Nocioni had 17 points, while Jason Thompson, Bobby Jackson and Rashad McCants each poured in 14 for the Kings (16-65), who snapped a nine-game losing streak but still finished with the worst record in franchise history.

The last time the Kings franchise failed to win at least 20 games in a season came in 1959-60, when the Cincinnati Royals finished 19-56.

"Obviously this was a long year, and not the best rookie year for myself, going through something I'm not used to," said Thompson. "It's a learning experience and I don't want to have this feeling again."

Craig Smith led the way with 18 points for the T-Wolves (24-58), who ended the year with three consecutive defeats. Mike Miller contributed 14 points, and Kevin Love recorded 12 points and 10 boards in defeat.

"Even if I were to make second-team, it would be something," said Love, the former UCLA star, when asked if he thought he'd get consideration for rookie of the year. "I made progress this season and look forward to being better next year."

The Kings led 21-19 after one thanks to Smith tallying the final four points of the quarter.

Sacramento reeled off the first seven points of the second period, but Minnesota reversed momentum with a huge 20-5 burst and took a 39-33 edge with 3:29 left before halftime after Rodney Carney sank a pair from the line. McCants ended the spurt with a three-point play and the Kings responded to end the half on a 16-8 run to take a 49-47 lead.

Diogu hit two from the line near the midway point of the third and Sacramento led by 11 points, but a Carney layup with 2:41 to go brought Minnesota within seven. The visitors finished the period by hitting 7-of-8 shots from the charity stripe and led 79-65 heading to the fourth.

Ryan Gomes hit a layup with a little more than nine minutes left in the contest and the T-Wolves were within 81-76, but Nocioni's long trey spurred a 12-5 for a 93-81 game and the Wolves never threatened the rest of the way.

Sacramento won three of four against Minnesota this season...Love's double- double was his 28th of the season, tying Christian Laettner's franchise mark for rookies...Carney finished with 13 points for the Wolves...Nocioni led all players by hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.