Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said center Johan Petro has been struggling to stay out of foul trouble, which has limited the amount of time he's been out on the floor.
Petro fouled out at Utah five games ago, and the last five games has picked up cheap fouls in the first half, limiting his playing time. Petro had been a defensive stopper for the Sonics since taking the starting center job in February after Seattle traded veteran Kurt Thomas to San Antonio. Carlesimo liked the energy Petro played with, along with is ability to run the floor and block shots.
However, Petro has struggled to stay in games lately.
"He's been in a lull," Carlesimo said. "He was really going good for a while, and he's kind of backed off a little bit the last couple games and he's getting fouls again.
"The thing he was doing well was he was challenging shots and he wasn't getting in foul trouble... But now, he's kind of slipped back some and he's getting himself in foul trouble again."
KINGS 120, SONICS 107: With the game tied at 83-all and 3:14 left to play in the third quarter Sunday, the Kings finished the quarter on an 11-0 run to take a 94-83 lead and seize control of the game. Sacramento forward Ron Artest finished with 29 points and 12 rebounds, as the Sonics tried Jeff Green, Damien Wilkins and even Johan Petro on the 6-7, 250-pound Sacramento forward, with little success.
