Martin Helps Kings Hold Off Raptors

[March 17, 2008]  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Kevin Martin scored 32 points and had eight rebounds Sunday night to help the Sacramento Kings hold off the struggling Toronto Raptors for a 106-100 victory.

Ron Artest added 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikki Moore scored 17 for the Kings, who have won three of four games.

Jason Kapono scored 26 points off the bench for the Raptors, who have lost four straight and five of six. Rasho Nesterovic added 20 points and eight rebounds for Toronto.

Scoreless through three quarters, Carlos Delfino hit a 3-pointer and then made two free throws, pulling Toronto within one point with 2:59 remaining.

The Kings went on a 6-0 run as Artest made a tough fallaway jumper, Martin connected on a corner jumper corner and Brad Miller converted two free throws to put Sacramento ahead 98-91 with 1:35 left.

Kapono brought the Raptors to within three points twice in the final 23 seconds, but Martin made three free throws and Artest made a layup off an inbounds pass with 10.9 seconds left to put the Kings ahead 104-98.

The Raptors played their ninth straight game without All-Star forward Chris Bosh, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, who's out with a sore right knee. Toronto is 2-7 during the stretch without Bosh and 4-10 overall this season without him.

Sloppy turnovers were prevalent all game for the Kings, who had 15 by halftime and finished with 22.

The Kings led 32-23 after one quarter and their fast start offensively was hardly surprising considering Toronto's recent defense. The Raptors had allowed their previous five opponents to shoot 54 percent or better and were coming off a humiliating 137-105 loss Friday in Denver, allowing the fourth-most points in franchise history.

It was the 10th straight loss at Arco Arena for the Raptors, who haven't left the building with a victory since March 13, 1997. Toronto is 0-4 on its current road trip, which concludes Monday night in Utah.

Martin ignited the Kings early in the third quarter with a pair of 3-pointers during a 10-0 run . He scored 13 points in the third to help Sacramento take a 75-73 lead into the final period.

Beno Udrih scored 12 points and both Artest and Moore had 11 in the opening half for the Kings, who led by as many as 13. Led by the shooting of Kapono, who scored 16 points, the Raptors went on a 15-2 run and trailed 53-49 at the half.

Notes: Geoff Petrie, the Kings' vice president of basketball operations, was scouting the SEC tournament at the Georgia Dome when the tornado hit Friday. Nesterovic and Kapono took nearly half of Toronto's 47 first-half shots. Kings rookie Spencer Hawes suffered a strained left foot and left in the second quarter. His status is day to day. The Raptors shot four free throws through three quarters and finished 8-of-13.

[Associated Press]

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