Kings guard Isaiah Thomas pumps up the crowd in Thurday's home win over the Portand Trail Blazers
SACRAMENTO - Kings rookie Isaiah Thomas made the play of the game, a leaping defensive block on the Trail Blazers Wesley Matthews that helped spark a 95-92 victory over Portland Thursday night.
Thomas was the only Kings defender on a three-on-one fast break, and the 5'9" point guard had to use all of his 41.5 inch vertical jump to stop the play.
"You had Wesley Matthews, Gerald Wallace who was in the dunk contest in the middle, and Jamal Crawford on the right," Thomas told News10 after the Kings practice on Friday. "I was thinking I am not going to go for Gerald Wallace, I am going to try to get a block or steal on Matthews or Crawford, and he (Matthews) took it himself and I did the best I can to make a play, and I got a play on the ball."
The block prevented the Trail Blazers from taking a four point lead in the fourth quarter, and on the very next play Marcus Thornton hit a 3-pointer giving the Kings the 82-81 lead- a lead they never gave up.
Thomas was selected out of the University of Washington by the Kings with the final pick (60th) of the 2011 NBA Draft, and even Head Coach Keith Smart said he didn't know how to how to use him.
"When I saw him for the first time in person, (I asked ) what do they do with you small guys at Washington and other guys like that," said Smart. "But the guy has tremendous heart, he plays hard, and he is a very very good athlete."
Thomas' fearless attitude and natural leadership ability is earning him more playing time. In the last five games, he has averaged 11 points, 4 assists and 24 minutes per game.
"I feel like when I am on the court I don't feel like I amd 5'8" - 5'9", I feel like I am just as big as them," said Thomas. "I know that can get me in trouble sometimes, but at the sametime I think when you are small you have to have that mindset."
"If we 6'1" he would have been drafted in the first round and have a chance to start in the NBA," added Coach Smart.
The Kings host the Warriors at Power Balance Pavilion, Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Written by Ryan Yamamoto: RYamamoto@News10.net
Twitter: @YamsNews10
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