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As they did in their last game (against Seattle), Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Martin and forward Ron Artest came up big; in Tuesday night’s contest against the Houston Rockets, Martin and Artest produced big-time, combining for 57 points as Sacramento edged Houston, 99-98 at Arco Arena.? The loss puts a crimp in the Rockets’ playoff positioning as they fell 2 1/2 games behind San Antonio and New Orleans in the divisional race to host a first-round playoff series.

Neither team shot that well in the first half as Sacramento held a slim 49-46 going into the third quarter; they got off to a slow start beginning the fourth quarter, with Houston missing its first 10 shots while Sacramento missed their first 5.? But Houston’s Rafer Alston broke the drought with a 3-pointer that gave the Rockets an 83-81 lead with 6:21 left in the game; the Kings’ first basket didn’t happen until Martin scored with 4:35 remaining to reduce Houston’s lead to 87-86.? The Kings took a 94-93 lead when Francisco Garcia went in for a dunk, scored then was fouled; however, he missed the free throw.?

Houston’s Shane Battier drained a 3 to give the Rockets a 2-point lead with just over 2 minutes to go, but then the Kings’ Artest hit a 3 to give Sacramento the lead; after the Rockets’ Luis Scola made 2 free throws, Martin made a pair of his own?with 48.9 seconds left, giving Sacramento?a 99-98 lead – which finished up all of the scoring.? Sacramento was led by?Artest with 30 points, including 4 three-pointers, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 5steals while Martin?scored 27 with 3 assists.? Houston was led by Tracy McGrady with 32 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal but?5turnovers?while Scola scored 20 with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal; Alston added 16 with 4 rebounds and 8 assists.? Sacramento (34-40) continues their homestand as they host the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday while Houston (49-25) makes the short trip north to Portland to face the Trail Blazers – also on Thursday.