Kings' coach Reggie Theus decided to keep his team in Minneapolis on Wednesday night and practice there on Thursday to avoid a night of potential night of distraction in South Beach.

"We just don't necessarily want to spend too much time in Miami," Theus said. "And I think that's OK. It doesn't make as much sense (considering) what happened last (season) to go there too early. I don't know any other way to answer that. ... It's what best for the team."

The team did spent Thursday night in Miami, but Theus hoped his players would use proper discretion.

The NBA Board of Governors has voted to allow the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas to accept bets on league games, expect for ones involving the Kings.

The arrangement is similar to a deal between the NBA and casino company Harrah's Entertainment Inc., whose chief executive, Gary Loveman, owns a stake in the Boston Celtics. Harrah's casinos accept wagers on all games except those involving the Celtics.

The Kings have exercised the option on Spencer Hawes' contract for the 2009-10 season.

Hawes, who is expected to back up Brad Miller this season, averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds as a rookie last season.

He will make about $2.18 million this season and more than $2.33 million in 2009-10.

Rookie guard Eric Gordon scored 33 points and led a Clippers' comeback to help his team top the Sacramento Kings in their preseason game on Wednesday night, the L.A. Times is reporting.

Gordon, the seventh overall draft pick from Indiana, looked sharp in only his second exhibition season appearance after sitting out much of training camp because of a sprained right ankle.

Gordon hit six three pointers as part of his 33 points while for Sacramento Kevin Martin finished with 29 points in only 22 minutes of action.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim has joined the Kings' coaching staff less than a month after being forced into retirement with an arthritic right knee.

"My body just wasn?t going to let me do it anymore," said Abdur-Rahim. "I guess that?s a good thing and a bad thing because otherwise I don?t know how I would determine when to retire."

Sacramento rookie Jason Thompson is very anxious to begin his first season in the NBA later this month.

"I was real anxious getting out on the court," Thompson said Tuesday. "I just tried to learn. I'm going to learn with each and every game."

Thompson was the 12th overall pick in the first round of this past June's NBA Draft.

He scored 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in the team's first preseason game against the Blazers on Tuesday night.

"I only had four rebounds. I should have had more than that. I'm kind of hard on myself. I still have work to do. But I must have done something right," Thompson said.

Greg Oden had 13 points in just under 20 minutes of action, including a dunk within the first two minutes of the game, as he finally made his debut for the Blazers in a 110-81 win over Sacramento, the Associated Press is reporting.

"The big fella is a beast, man," teammate Brandon Roy said.

"This team tonight was already showing him some respect," Blazers' Coach Nate McMillan said about the 7-foot rookie, "sending double-teams and trying to front him."

Oden's assessment?

"It felt good to be out there playing against someone who is not on our team," he said.

Kings forward Shelden Williams wants to be on the court more often this season as he awaits Sacramento's decision on whether or not to pick up the 2009-10 option on his contract.

"I think he just wants to be a better player regardless of contract situation," said Kings assistant coach Rex Kalamian. "He accomplished a great deal in college and was an unbelievable college player. I think he has a lot of pride and wants to be the best he can be."

Williams averaged 12.9 minutes in 28 games with the Kings after being traded from the Hawks.

"I'm a guy who is going to go out and play hard," Williams said. "What I think about are the little things that don't really come out in stat books ? hustle plays and little stuff like that."

The Sacramento Kings have re-welcomed Shareef Abdur-Rahim back into the mix as an assistant coach only one week after the forward announced his retirement, the Associated Press is reporting.

Abdur-Rahim missed most of last season because of knee problems.