[Peja Vu]

Bibby should be back for the Toronto game.

[Peja Vu]

The Game Plan: Dallas (26-11) at Kings (14-21)

Tipoff: 7 p.m.

Where: Arco Arena

TV: CSN

Radio: KHTK (1140 AM)

Head to head: The Mavericks know they can't expect a repeat of the Nov. 3 meeting, when a Kings team without Ron Artest or Mike Bibby was blown out 123-102 in Dallas. The difference this time, the Kings hope, is the presence of point guard Beno Udrih.

Mavericks update: They fell off the radar fast by losing in the first round of the playoffs to Golden State last season and have managed to earn little fanfare since. Nonetheless, coach Avery Johnson's group is tied with Phoenix for the best record in the Western Conference.

Mavericks injuries: None.

Kings injuries: PG Bibby (torn ligament, left thumb, out); SF Artest (right elbow surgery, out); PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim (right knee surgery, out).

Probable starting lineups

KINGS

No. Player Pos.

19 Beno Udrih PG

15 John Salmons SG

32 Francisco García SF

33 Mikki Moore PF

52 Brad Miller C

Mavericks

No. Player Pos.

34 Devin Harris PG

6 Eddie Jones SG

5 Josh Howard SF

41 Dirk Nowitzki PF

25 Erick Dampier C

[Peja Vu]

Salmons takes it end to end and makes a driving shot off the glass with 2 seconds left FOR THE WIN!

[Peja Vu]

Best Kings game of the year...

Kings win thriller over Mavs

Kevin Martin had 39 points off the bench, and John Salmons scored the game winner on a drive with 2.4 seconds left as the Kings defeated the Dallas Mavericks 122-120 Monday night at Arco Arena.

The Kings forced 19 turnovers that they converted into 26 points while committing just 10 turnovers for 12 Dallas points. Sacramento's Francisco Garcia scored 22 points in the first three quarters but was scoreless in the fourth, where Salmons stepped up his game. Salmons scored 14 points in the final quarter, including six points in the final minute. The Kings entered the fourth quarter ahead 86-80, but Dallas made it 86-83 just 26 seconds in on a three-pointer by Josh Howard. The Kings built a 99-90 lead after Mikki Moore sank two free throws with 7:40 remaining, but Dallas was never far behind, outscoring the Kings 22-13 over the next six minutes.

With the score 112-112, Martin hit 1 of 2 free throws with 1:04 remaining, and Salmons followed with a driving layup for a 115-112 lead.

Mavericks guard Devin Harris sank a three-pointer to tie the score again. Salmons again came up big, scoring on a layup with 26.1 seconds remaining. Jason Terry came back with a three-point play after Dahntay Jones fouled him with 22.2 seconds to go, giving Dallas a 118-117 lead.

Martin scored his final three points after sinking a jump shot and the accompanying free throw with 11.6 seconds left. Terry scored again with seven seconds left, but Salmons' drive gave the Kings the victory and a 3-1 homestand.

[Peja Vu]

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[Peja Vu]

Heaps of Martin, a dash of Salmons: K-Mart scores 39 points, and John Salmons hits a runner with 2.4 seconds remaining

The night ended with Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof storming the floor, a feat so rare these days, it said plenty about the events that inspired him to do so. In what was easily the wildest finish this season for the Kings and perhaps the league at large, a running eight-footer from John Salmons with 2.4 seconds left capped a final stretch in which the Mavericks tied the score five times and the Kings answered every time.

Martin had taken his turn just before Salmons, this despite a smiling – yet dead serious – plea from García before play resumed with 22 seconds left to pass it his way if he had the open look. Martin took it instead, running off a Brad Miller screen near the free-throw line and sinking a shot in the lane that, with contact from DeSagana Diop, became a three-point play and a 120-118 lead with 11.6 seconds remaining.

The Kings overcame a Mavericks offense that scored on 10 of its last 11 possessions, and even took a one-point lead on Jason Terry's three-point play with 22.2 seconds left – its first since the second quarter. The Kings overcame a Mavericks team that had won seven in a row coming in, the feat resulting in a 3-1 homestand that served as the perfect precursor to a pivotal road trip. While the return of Mike Bibby had long been slated for Wednesday in Toronto, small forward Ron Artest surprisingly announcing his intent to return from Jan. 2 elbow surgery at least a week early to face the Raptors.

After the crowd of 14,077 cheered and the Kings danced among each other, the young duo shared the glory on opposite sides of the floor.

García was the one reminiscing with the radio crew, while Martin – who scored 12 fourth-quarter points in his second game back from a Dec. 4 groin injury – sat on the television side reliving the finish.

"Our relationship has been growing by the years," García said of he and Martin. "The first year we didn't really talk that much. Last year we started hanging out. Now when we play together, we know what we do, know where we are, and we play together.

"I'm happy for him because he worked so hard. Just to see him come back and play so well is big for us."

It was more than big. It was a near career-high for Martin on an unconscious 14-of-16 shooting that brought his two-game comeback tally to 21 of 25 from the field. It was a season-high in the league for points off the bench, tying Chicago's Ben Gordon in that category. And while it was certainly more than enough to warrant Martin being reinserted into the starting lineup, he said he prefers to stay in this role for now.

"I told coach (Reggie Theus), 'I can only give you 28 minutes a night right now,' " Martin said. "He said, 'as long as it's good.' … I don't think it's the right time yet (to start), even for me personally. I feel like it's training camp Day No. 3, and I've still got to get back in the flow on the court, get my timing down and get my wind back, so I'm definitely not ready to play starter minutes right now and I don't need to."

Theus, who called Martin's performance "borderline unbelievable," said Martin had certainly earned his spot back but indicated the two would talk about the best plan.

[Peja Vu]

Artest Scores 18 Off the Bench to Help Kings Beat Pistons

Artest came off the bench Friday night to score 18 points, including a key basket late in the game, and lift the Sacramento Kings to a 100-93 victory over the Pistons.

Artest, suspended 73 games after instigating a Nov. 2004 brawl here, made a 3-pointer with less than 4 minutes to go to give the Kings a cushion they'd never lose.

Chauncey Billups had 28 points and Richard Hamilton added 24 for the Pistons, who have lost two of their last three and were swept by the Kings in the season series.

Trailing 96-93, the Pistons got two good looks at a tying shot in the final minute but missed both attempts. Mike Bibby converted a running layup with 18 seconds to play to put away the game for the Kings, who ended a three-game road losing streak.

The Pistons were 7-for-21 from the floor in the second quarter, when Sacramento outscored them 33-19 to take a 56-48 halftime lead. A 10-2 run midway through the third quarter got Detroit back in the game.

Kevin Martin scored 24 points and Brad Miller added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Kings, who beat the Pistons 105-95 in Sacramento on Nov. 18. Bibby had 16 points.

Artest (elbow) and Bibby (thumb), each of whom returned from injuries Wednesday, did not start the game. Coach Reggie Theus said he wanted to ease the usual starters back into the lineup.

Season sweep of the Pistons!

[Peja Vu]

1) The Kings take on the Pacers tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse. The contest is the second of two meetings between the pair this season. When the two tipped-off a week ago in Sacramento, the Pacers came away with a 111-105 victory. Guided by Mike Dunleavy's 23 points and Travis Diener's career-high 19 points, the Pacers snapped a three-game losing streak. Playing in his first game since December 4, 2007, the Kings were bolstered by Kevin Martin's 25 points.

2) The Kings have been successful in two of the last three games by minimizing turnovers. The total number of turnovers in their two wins this week nearly equals the number of mistakes the Kings made in their lone loss. Against the Mavericks (10) and the Pistons (12), the Kings combined for 22 turnovers. In Toronto, the Kings committed 20 turnovers against the Raptors.

"Anytime that we have 12 turnovers or less it has been good for us," Coach Reggie Theus said on Friday. "We were very active, very strong and didn't give up. When they were making a run we stayed solid. Execution down the stretch was primo.”

3) As Theus stated, the Kings defense was at its best when it counted most Friday. The team held the host to 29 percent shooting from the field (16 points), allowed zero 3-pointers and forced nearly half (5) of the Pistons 11 turnovers in the fourth quarter. The stellar 'D' held the Pistons' starters to four points or less in the final quarter and didn't allow a single point by a Pistons reserve. The Kings defense will need to have another stellar fourth quarter outing tonight as the Pacers are coming off one of their most productive fourth quarters of the season.

4) Despite a 17-point-second-half deficit and 24 turnovers, the Pacers scored 46 fourth quarter points and upset the Warriors, 125-117 in Indiana on Wednesday. The Pacers won by getting to the free throw line (36-of-38), moving the ball (28 assists) and outrebounding the Warriors 55-35. Danny Granger (29 points) and Kareem Rush (19 points) were especially effective from long range for the Pacers. Granger shot 3-of-6 and Rush shot 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.

5) The Pacers are averaging more than 112 points per game in its last three contests and Mike Dunleavy's output over that span has a lot to do with it. The Pacers swingman is averaging nearly 22 points, eight boards, four assists and shooting 51 percent from the field in the last three outings. Dunleavy has also converted 17-of-18 free throw attempts. His 41.8 percent 3-point accuracy this season ranks him among the top 15 in the NBA, but long range shooting is about the only thing he has struggled with recently. Over the last three games, Dunleavy is shooting just 33.3 percent from distance (6-of-18).

[Peja Vu]

Kings are winning at the half 48-42. Udrih is having a nice game, while Bibby, Martin, and Artest are are a combined 6/22 FG.

[Peja Vu]

Kings hold off Pacers; win back-to-back road games

Ron Artest scored 15 points against his former team, and the Kings beat the Indiana Pacers 110-104 on Saturday night.

Artest still is disliked by Indiana fans for his role in the brawl between Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans in 2004. He was booed often, but got his first win against the Pacers since he requested a trade from Indiana two seasons ago.

Mikki Moore had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Kevin Martin and Beno Udrih each scored 20 points for the Kings. Another former Pacer, Brad Miller, had 11 points and 16 rebounds for Sacramento.

Danny Granger led the Pacers with 26 points, and Kareem Rush tied a season high with 22. Jeff Foster had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Jamaal Tinsley had 13 assists for Indiana.

The Pacers played without forward Jermaine O'Neal, who will miss at least two weeks with a bruised left knee.

[MikeBibbyAK]

loved the game against the Pistons. full lineup. Kings played great!
Salmons missed alot of minutes tho, kinda odd. Artest takes some ballsy shots i tell ya, but thats how you beat great teams, take the game out of their reach. Billups dominated. Bibby was aggressive and played well.

[Peja Vu]

Total satisfaction: Kings are entirely healthy – and happy – after a 2-1 trip

Through the halfhearted boos of yet another Artest return and a game in which fortune fell the Kings' way when injured Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal was on the bench instead of in the paint, there was the continuation of the getting-to-know-you (again) period. And as Miller put it in such clear-cut fashion, it went deeper than going 2-1 on this trip.

"We're 2-1 with our team," he said.

As in the whole team. Five games into Kevin Martin's return from a groin strain, he re-entered the starting lineup and had 20 points, while Mike Bibby and Artest – both playing in their third game back – were again used as reserves and struggled to a combined 8-of-26 shooting night. The Kings held off the Pacers late, after a 13-point lead was cut to 99-97 with 1:52 left when Shawne Williams' layup finished an 11-0 Indiana run. The Kings' late aggression was barely enough to hold on, with Miller, Bibby and Beno Udrih driving to the basket and combining to hit 9 of 10 free throws in the final minute.

"Two out of three (wins) on the road is solid for us, and I think my guys are still getting their way into shape and feeling their way back," said Kings coach Reggie Theus, whose team has won five of seven games. "Their energy was really down, but we did enough to win the basketball game and that's what's important."

The tension from Friday night was gone, partly because downing the Pistons in the Palace was all that mattered but also because moving forward is this team's method. And ever so slowly, the various challenges that will face the Kings with their new roster were addressed.

Namely, it is Theus' preference that his entire bench stays engaged, even as minutes inevitably decrease for all and roles change as well. Among them, Udrih continued to re-emerge at point guard even with Bibby back in the fold. After scoring three points in Toronto on Wednesday and 12 in Detroit, he finished with 20 against the Pacers and was nothing short of locked in. Udrih was 7 of 9 overall, his three three-pointers aiding a collective 10-for-20 effort from beyond the arc.

Ironically, Mikki Moore had seen his playing time increase and his production fall since the roster grew, a trend that ended with his rim-shaking outing against the Pacers. With O'Neal and his blocking prowess out with a bruised left knee and the Pacers struggling with their defensive rotations, Moore had 22 points on 9 of 12 shooting and 11 rebounds. He had seven dunks, including one that sparked a 5-0 run to start the second half as the Kings pushed their lead to 11.

"I'm a role player, the guy who's on the court to make the game easier for everybody," said Moore, who had his second double double of the season. "But at the same time, when they're paying attention to the other guys a lot and I'm open, I have to be prepared to be involved and make the best out of it."