Kings Win Behind Bibby

Mike Bibby hasn’t lost his incredible playoff skills after all. The Sacramento Kings’ big-game guard simply left them at home.

Bibby had 31 points and seven rebounds in a dramatic improvement on his last two performances, and the Kings got back into their first-round Western Conference playoff series with a 116-104 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics in Game 3 Friday night at Sacramento

The victory cut Seattle’s lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Kenny Thomas scored 22 points and Cuttino Mobley had 21 -- both career playoff highs -- for the Kings, who rode the energy from their sellout crowd at Arco Arena to a 21-point lead in the first half.

With Bibby leading the way, Sacramento stayed ahead throughout a foul-filled second half, making 50% of its shots.

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

Ray Allen scored 33 points and Jerome James had 22 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in the final minutes of yet another surprising performance.

But just as the Kings did in the series’ first two games in Seattle, the SuperSonics fell far behind early and expended all their energy just trying to catch up.

The Kings’ playoff fortunes in this rebuilding season probably hang on Bibby, their point guard.

But he didn’t live up to his vaunted playoff reputation in Seattle, going eight for 30 in the first two games -- including a one-for-16 performance that probably decided Game 1 in the SuperSonics’ favor.

But Bibby made five of his first six shots in Game 3, and he rarely stopped attacking the basket. He scored eight points and ran Sacramento’s offense with poise in the fourth quarter.

Phoenix 110, Memphis 90 -- Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points to help the Suns rout the Grizzlies at Memphis, Tenn., for the franchise’s first 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series.

A victory Sunday night would give Phoenix a sweep of the opening-round Western Conference series.

Joe Johnson scored 20 points and reserve Jim Jackson had 17 for Phoenix. Shawn Marion had 14 points and 13 rebounds.

The knock on the Suns despite their NBA-leading 62 victories in the regular season was that they couldn’t handle physical play from bigger opponents, preferring to sprint up and down the floor.

The Grizzlies felt the time had arrived for the franchise’s first playoff victory after seven losses. What they found out is that the Suns can push back pretty hard when they want without affecting the NBA’s best offense.