Artest, Kings Beat Blazers

[March 14, 2008]  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Ron Artest scored 22 points and the Sacramento Kings never trailed in defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 96-85 Thursday night.

Beno Udrih had 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Kings, who snapped a two-game losing streak at Arco Arena. Brad Miller had 14 points and seven rebounds, John Salmons scored 11 points and Mikki Moore added 10.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points for Portland and Brandon Roy contributed 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Travis Outlaw had scored 13 points and Martell Webster added 10.

After trailing by double figures for much of the game, the Blazers pulled to within 82-75 on a jumper by Aldridge with 7:08 left in the fourth. But the Kings responded with eight straight points, including Artest's 3-pointer that put Sacramento ahead 90-75 with 4:54 remaining.

The Kings managed to stay in control, even though leading scorer Kevin Martin was failing to convert from the perimeter and misfiring on his flashy drives to the basket. He missed 9 of 11 shots and finished with six points. Last week in a home loss to Minnesota, Martin scored a career-high 48 points.

Even though its playoff hopes remain a long shot, Portland has 34 wins -- two more than it had a year ago.

Despite being outscored 19-14 in a sluggish third quarter, the Kings still took a 72-63 lead into the fourth.

Rested following a rare three days off after defeating the Lakers on Sunday, the Kings jumped out to a 34-27 first-quarter lead against the Blazers, who were playing the last of five straight road games. The Blazers had a 3-2 record, their first winning road trip of five or more games since early in December of last season.

Artest and Salmons combined for 11 points for the Kings, who used an 8-0 run to start the second quarter in building a 58-44 halftime advantage.

Notes: Greg Oden, the top pick in the 2007 draft, ran through a light practice for the first time all year on Wednesday. Yet to play a game following microfracture surgery on his right knee last summer, Oden wont play until next season. Blazers reserve F Channing Frye banked in a 3-pointer from near halfcourt to conclude the first quarter. Kings coach Reggie Theus, complaining to referee Bennett Salvatore about a third quarter no-call on Martin. "You've got to protect the young fella."

[Associated Press]

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