Kings notes: Kings, Suns participate in 'green week'

04/04/09

MATT YORK Associated PressThe Kings' Spencer Hawes goes up against Phoenix's Matt Barnes, a Del Campo High School graduate, in the first quarter Friday night. PHOENIX – Kings and Phoenix Suns players wore T-shirts made of 100 percent organic cotton during pregame warmups Friday night as part of the NBA's first "green week." While teams around the league took part in the effort to raise awareness and funding for environmental protection, the issue has always been important to the Suns' Steve Nash. The point guard drives a hybrid car and has solar panels installed on his home. The NBA has several events planned in conjunction with "green week," which began Thursday and runs through April 10. Jackson back – Bobby Jackson returned in the first quarter from a sore right knee that kept him out of the last two games. Before that, Jackson recently returned from missing five games because of a broken left cheekbone, an injury that was supposed to require the veteran to wear a mask for the remainder of the season. Jackson has opted not to wear the mask after having problems seeing and shooting in it. Against the Suns, Jackson had five points and four assists in 24 minutes. Barbosa back, too – Leandro Barbosa returned to the Suns following a seven-game absence because of a bone bruise in his left knee. Barbosa returned midway through the first quarter to hearty applause from Suns fans. "I feel good," said Barbosa, who finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 15 minutes. "I didn't feel any pain, and I was happy to be back with my teammates." Seeing time – Ike Diogu played in his fourth game with the Kings since he was acquired in February, grabbing two rebounds in five minutes. Cedric Simmons logged his fifth game with the Kings, going 0 of 2 from the field with one rebound in five minutes. Both entered the game with 4:38 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Kings trailing 128-106.