SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Nov. 7, 1985, George Karl coached his first NBA game in Sacramento — his Cavaliers beat the Kings 95-94, thanks to 29 points from World B. Free.
On Friday, Karl most likely coached his final game in Sacramento. Numerous reports this spring have said the Kings are moving to Anaheim.
“A couple of people mentioned it today — they’re nervous,” Karl said before Friday night’s game. “Personally, I’d like to keep the team here. I think Sacramento is a fun stop and a good place to play basketball. And I don’t think they’re that far from being in a good place, as far as the basketball (team).
“I know some friends in Sacramento who have been around a long time and are kind of angry — they don’t think there’s a chance to save them.”
Welcome back.
Arron Afflalo returned to the Nuggets lineup Friday, an exciting jolt for the Nuggets and their fans. The starting shooting guard had missed four games because of a left hamstring strain, which he had reinjured after missing an additional three games in March.
Afflalo is averaging a career-best 12.6 points per game, providing versatile play compared with last season, when he was mostly relegated to being a spot-up shooter in the corner.
Afflalo reclaimed his starting job, and Danilo Gallinari started at small forward, with Wilson Chandler coming off the bench.
No Ely.
Nuggets reserve center Melvin Ely was not with the team Friday. He was attending a funeral.
Ely has been a surprise because many coaches didn’t think he had a shot of making the team. He is averaging 2.1 points in 12.6 minutes.
