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Bibby-led Kings prevail

Sacramento's Mike Bibby overcame poor performances in the first two games to lead the to victory in Game 3. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Sacramento's Mike Bibby overcame poor performances in the first two games to lead the to victory in Game 3. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On the morning of Game 3, Mike Bibby and Cuttino Mobley made a vow: If the Sacramento Kings were doomed to be knocked out of the playoffs, they would leave playing their favorite high-energy, high-risk style of basketball.

And thanks to that mutual aggression pact, the Kings finally got a win in their first-round series with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Bibby had 31 points and seven rebounds in a dramatic improvement on his last two performances, and the Kings earned a 116-104 victory over the SuperSonics on Friday night to cut Seattle’s series lead to 2-1.

Kenny Thomas scored 22 points and Mobley had 21 — both career playoff highs — for the Kings, who rode the energy from their deafening sellout crowd to a 21-point lead in the first half. With Bibby leading the way, Sacramento coolly stayed ahead throughout a foul-filled second half, making 50 percent of its shots.

The Kings were disgusted with themselves after two losses in Seattle, where the Sonics controlled the tempo, jumped to big early leads and played better defense. Bibby, the Kings’ floor quarterback, and self-appointed locker-room leader Mobley both worked to change things by studying film and putting in extra workouts after practice Thursday — and they outlined a simple strategy for themselves in Game 3.

“Before the game, we just said we were going to the cup every single time,” Mobley said. “Mike and I just talked about what we needed to do, how we needed to play to our strengths.”

The Kings’ playoff fortunes in this rebuilding season probably hang on Bibby, but the taciturn point guard didn’t live up to his vaunted playoff reputation in Seattle. He went 8 for 30 in the first two games — including a 1-for-16 performance that probably decided Game 1 in the Sonics’ favor.

“I knew I would bounce back,” Bibby said. “The fans helped us out a lot. They helped get the momentum going. We were aggressive in the first quarter. We jumped to a big lead.”

Bibby had his usual playoff determination from the opening tip, scoring 10 points in the first quarter while the Kings built a 15-point lead. He scored eight points and ran Sacramento’s offense with poise in the fourth quarter, finishing 11 for 21.

Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday night, with Game 5 back in Seattle on Tuesday.

Seattle’s Ray Allen scored 33 points and Jerome James had 22 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in the final minutes.