NBA Van Exel's solid play helps key resurgence

The veteran guard helped Golden State snap a 15-game losing streak to Sacramento.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Nick Van Exel had nothing to do with the Golden State Warriors' nine-season playoff drought. He could have everything to do with ending it.
Jason Richardson scored 25 points, and Van Exel hit a clutch shot in the lane with 18.8 seconds left to help the Warriors snap a 15-game losing streak against the Sacramento Kings with a 98-91 victory Friday night.
Van Exel added three free throws in the final 11 seconds, again demonstrating the late-game poise that has been the most visible aspect of his career.
Van Exel never shies from taking a big shot -- and with the game on the line, the Warriors knew who could cement their most impressive back-to-back victories in years.
After his heroics, Van Exel was unimpressed.
"It's just one game," he said. "We just have to keep playing together and stay in the hunt for the playoffs. Right now, we're just struggling to stay at .500, but we want to get over that hump."
Difference-maker
Van Exel, acquired in an offseason trade, might not realize just how impressive a .500 record is in Golden State. The Warriors (14-13) haven't been above that mark this late in a season since December 1993.
Thanks to Van Exel, the Warriors barely held on for an impressive sweep of the NBA's top two teams. Golden State beat the Lakers 107-98 Tuesday night before harassing the Kings into a rare night of poor shooting -- and then holding on against Sacramento's last-ditch rally.
If the Warriors end their playoff drought this season, they might look back at a four-day stretch in December as the turning point.
"It has been a mental thing in the past," said Troy Murphy, who had season highs of 15 points and 14 rebounds. "They are the closest team to us, and they've beaten us 15 times in a row. It has been a big mental barrier for us to get through, because we want to beat them worse than any other team in the league."
Mike Dunleavy scored 18 points for the Warriors, who surprised the Kings with physical defense. The Kings trailed 93-79 with 4:01 left before making a 12-0 run keyed by seven points from Mike Bibby, who finished with 28.
But Bibby -- an 83 percent foul shooter -- missed two free throws with 51 seconds left, and Peja Stojakovic missed an open jumper.
Van Exel then drove past three defenders and hooked in an awkward shot for Golden State's second field goal of the fourth quarter.
Two-game skid
Stojakovic returned from a one-game suspension to score 16 points for the Kings, who lost their second game in two days after a 16-2 stretch. With poor defense and worse shooting, Sacramento wasted a chance to claim the NBA's best record.
"I just didn't play well, that's it," said Stojakovic, who went 7-for-18. "I guess we kind of struggled offensively."
After losing to Dallas on Thursday while Stojakovic was suspended for bumping an official, Sacramento struggled against Golden State and dropped to 20-8 -- a half-game behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division.
Bibby had his second straight outstanding game after scoring 23 points against the Mavericks, but he was in a foul mood after missing his foul shots.
"I couldn't believe I missed one. I missed both," he said. "The big thing is that we have two 'L's' on those games."
Bibby then abruptly walked away from reporters at his locker.