Feb

2

Artest, Martin Combine for 46 As Kings Swat Down Hornets 112-103

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main 

????????????????????????????????Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest (#93) stretches out with one hand to grab a rebound away from New Orleans Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic (#16) during second quarter action of their game, played Friday night. Sacramento defeated New Orleans 112-103.?

Despite the constant trade rumors surrounding Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest, he doesn’t let it affect his game.? Artest and Kevin Martin combined for 46 points, leading the Kings to the 1112-103 win at Arco Arena Friday night.? Sacramento got off to a fast start, getting some easy baskets with some excellent ball movement; consecutive dunks by Mikki Moore and Brad Miller gave the Kings a early 10-point lead, and an 11-0 run late in the first quarter made it 34-17.

The Kings’ Artest scored 7 of?Sacramento’s first 9 points of the second quarter, making it 43-21 as he drained a trey.? The Kings built the lead up to 26 on a 3-pointer by Martin? with 4:12 left in the half and led 66-44 at halftime when Artest put back in his own missed shot just before the?buzzer.? New Orleans finally found their shooting touch in the third quarter, cutting the Kings’ lead to 12 following consecutive 3’s by Peja Stojakovic; but the Kings’ Artest beat the buzzer? with a basket, giving Sacramento a 96-82 lead going into the fourth quarter.

In the final period, whenever the Hornets would score, the Kings would respond in the same fashion with a 3-pointer by John Salmons, a basket?by Miller and a jumper by Martin after the Hornets had cut the Kings’ lead to 8.? The Hornets would score only once in the final 2:45 of the game, sealing the win for Sacramento.? Sacramento had?6 players in double-digits, led by Artest with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot.? Martin and Miller scored 22 apiece; Martin made 4 treys, while Miller grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked a shot.? Mike Bibby added 15 with 6 rebounds, 7 assists and a pair of steals.

New Orleans was led by Stojakovic with 25 points - including 7 treys - 9 rebounds and a steal; Tyson Chandler added 21 and 9 rebounds and a blocked shot, while Chris Paul and Morris Peterson added 15 each - with Paul dishing out 19 assists.? Sacramento (21-24) continues their homestand by hosting the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, while New Orleans (32-14), losers of back-to-back games, hope to end that streak when they travel to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz Monday.



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