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Artest, sliding Kings visit Knicks

Jan 15, 2007 - 2:39 PM Sacramento (14-20) at New York (16-22) 1:00 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Perhaps another matchup with the New York Knicks is just what the Sacramento Kings need.

The Kings look to avoid a season-high sixth straight loss and beat the Knicks for the second time in less than two weeks when the teams square off Monday at Madison Square Garden.

Since rallying for a 112-100 home victory over New York on January 2, Sacramento has dropped five straight contests, yielding an average of 112 points per game over that stretch.

Despite receiving outstanding efforts from Ron Artest and Corliss Williamson, the Kings dropped a 115-111 overtime decision to the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

Artest scored 34 points while Williamson chipped in 30 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for Sacramento, which fell to 10-11 at home this season.

The Kings have been even worse on the road, going just 4-9. They hope to improve that mark against a Knicks squad which looks to bounce back from an embarrassing 126-110 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats here on Friday.

Stephon Marbury scored 28 points in the contest for New York, which had its five-game home winning streak snapped.