• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Kings hope to maintain hot shooting vs. Lakers

Mar 2, 2007 - 5:06 PM Sacramento (25-32) at LA Lakers (33-25) 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - After their best-shooting game of the season, the Sacramento Kings hope they have not lost their touch.

The Kings hope to improve on their dismal road mark Friday when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers, who have won three straight games.

In Wednesday's 135-120 victory over Charlotte, Sacramento set season highs in points, field-goal percentage (.627), 3-point percentage (.636) and baskets from the arc (14). Kevin Martin made 13-of-19 shots and scored 36 points and Mike Bibby had 26 of his 30 points in the second half, sinking seven 3-pointers overall. The Kings won without forward Ron Artest, who sat out with a sore left knee and is listed as questionable.

Sacramento is just 8-20 on the road this season, including 5-13 against Western Conference foes.

After dropping six consecutive contests, the Lakers have won their last three and are sixth in the West, 2 1/2 games behind the Houston Rockets.

Averaging 108.7 points during their winning streak, the Lakers posted a 102-94 victory at Utah on Monday. Reigning scoring champion Kobe Bryant scored 35 points despite a case of the flu and suffering a hyperextended elbow early in the game.

In the only previous meeting this season, Los Angeles rallied for a 132-128 win at Sacramento on January 4. Bryant scored 42 points and Bibby had 38.