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Artest, 3-pointers lead Kings past Bucks

Dec 20, 2007 - 5:07 AM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Ron Artest and the Sacramento Kings dialed long distance to finish up strong.

Artest scored 26 points and handed out eight assists as the Kings posted a 102-89 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

Beno Udrih scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and John Salmons scored 17 for Sacramento, which has won two straight to go 3-2 on its five-game road trip.

"Every game is a must win for us," Artest said. "This win salvages our road trip. This was like a big win rather than a must win."

"We turned what was a good road trip into a great road trip," Kings coach Theus added. "Hopefully, on this road trip, we learned how to finish games."

The Kings, who have also won 12 of 14 vs. the Bucks, used late 3-pointers to open up a close game vs. Milwaukee.

After Michael Redd made a pair of free throws to knot the contest at 85-85 with 4:52 left, the Kings ran off an 11-2 burst, capped by a shot from the arc by Udrih to give Sacramento a 96-87 advantage with 2:28 remaining.

Artest began the spurt with a 3-pointer and Udrih nailed two from the arc to help the Kings cruise to victory.

"We had great spacing, and when we have great spacing, we usually win the game," Udrih said. "We were moving the ball and finding open players, and I was able to knock down shots and help us win the game."

"Beno understands who he is and what he does for us," Theus said. "I thought that he was looking for his shot early in the game and it wasn't falling, but he just stayed with it and that's what you have to do on the road."

Artest connected on 8-of-12 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from the arc, and Udrih was 6-of-7 from 3-point range for Sacramento, which shot 49 percent (37-of-76) from the field, including 10-of-20 on 3-pointers.

"Artest was tremendous tonight and, in the end, we had guys knock down shots and make plays," Theus said.

"The reality is we're dead last in the league at defending the 3-point shot," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "We are 30th."

Redd scored 27 points and Mo Williams added 17 for Milwaukee, which has lost six of seven here vs. Sacramento.

Andrew Bogut had 12 points and 11 rebounds - his ninth double-double - for the Bucks, who dropped to 8-3 at home.

"We're at the point where we can't seem to win two straight," Bogut said. "It's either a win and a loss or a loss and a loss and a win. We just need to get some momentum going."