The NBA returns to Kansas City
(Note for readers- I simmed the first half, and played the second half, that is why the scores from the 3rd and 4th quarter are higher, and the first half commentary is kind of thin, also, this thread is very much NOT 56k-friendly- I apologize to any 56k users.)
Tonight marked the third game of the season for this team- but the first in a new city, new arena, and under a new name-- the Kansas City Knights played the first game in their history tonight. Hale Arena, in the heart of Kansas City, hosted a sell-out crowd and a freechristmas bobble-head giveaway of Knights Point Guard Joshua Carr, a Kansas City native:
And, on to the game.....
First Half:
The Knights and Grizzlies both had trouble starting things up on offense in the first half- neither team was playing particuarly good defense either- they just couldn't get the shots to fall. Grant Hill and Dwight Howard both found themselves with 4 fouls by the end of the first half. I'm sure neither of the teams were particuarly pleased during the halftime break.
Halftime Score:
Knights-37.
Grizzlies- 34
Second Half:
Both teams seemed to have put the dismal first half behind them, and flew out of the gates in the third quarter. Grant Hill jumped right out and scored three possesions in a row for the Knights- he had 11 points in the game, but fouled out with 3:30 remaining in the 4th quarter. Dwight Howard joined the foul out party soon after that.


Losing two of their main guys really didn't help the Knights- who had given up a lead to go down by one with just over a minute remaining. But a pair of 3's by Joshua Carr and some well placed jumpers from Nikoloz Tskitishvili sealed the deal for the Knights- bringing the Kansas City crowd to a deafening roar- looks like the Knights are here to stay. The move to a new venue hasn't seemed to distrupt the potency of this team. The Knights win 105-103, and improve to 3-0.


Play of the game:
A beautiful steal by PG J. Carr:
Player of the Game:
Dwight Howard, Knights (14pts, 11rb, 3blk, 2ast, 1stl)
Kansas City:
Memphis:
Fans in attendance were dazzled by the sights of the Arena's renovation- especially the Knights logo on the bottom of the monitors suspended from the rafters......
Next game:
Washington Wizards