One would think that with the Sacramento Kings’ weird schedule to start the month of December (home for 2 games, at Phoenix, home against Miami, on the road against New Orleans), they would be a bit tired prior to their game against the San Antonio Spurs. Interestingly enough, perhaps due to their youth, they actually were pretty energetic. But the Spurs had a weapon that has been rather sluggish – that is, until this game: Richard Jefferson. Only averaging 12.8 PPG so far this season, Jefferson more than made up for his slump as he scored 23 points, leading San Antonio to a 118-106 win over Sacramento at AT&T Center.

The Kings managed to eliminate an early 10-point second quarter deficit and took a 44-43 lead on a Spencer Hawes 3-point play with 6:37 remaining in the first half; they would extend their lead to 54-49 on a fast-break layup by former Spur Beno Udrih before San Antonio scored the final 14 points in the period, giving them a 63-54 advantage at halftime.

The Spurs would again build double-digit leads both early and late in the third quarter, but the Kings hung around, narrowing San Antonio’s lead to 101-96 on an Omri Casspi trey with 6:08 left in the game; when Tony Parker and Tim Duncan returned, Duncan would foul the Kings’ Jason Thompson. Thompson made both free throws, capping a Sacramento 12-2 run and making it 101-98; that would be the last threat by the Kings for the balance of the contest.

The Spurs were led by Jefferson with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists while Manu Ginobili came off the bench to score 20 with 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals; Parker added 18 with 3 rebounds and 11 assists while Duncan chipped in 17 with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and 2 blocks. The Kings were led by Casspi with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists while Thompson and Tyreke Evans added 19 each – with Thompson grabbing 9 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists along with a steal while Evans grabbed 4 boards, dished out 5 assists along with 4 steals. Udrih chipped in 15 with 4 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal.

San Antonio (10-9) plays again on Friday when they host the Charlotte Bobcats while Sacramento (9-12) hopes to end a 4-game losing streak when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday.