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Artest, Kings shoot for eighth straight win over Hawks

Mar 19, 2007 - 2:11 PM Sacramento (29-37) at Atlanta (26-41) 7:00 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Ron Artest and the Sacramento Kings need to start winning again quickly if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The slumping Kings hope to begin turning things around Monday when they visit the Atlanta Hawks.

Sacramento has lost four of five contests since Artest returned from a team-imposed two game suspension.

But the Kings have won seven straight over the Hawks, including three in a row in Atlanta.

Sacramento's 95-83 win over Orlando on Saturday was its first road win since March 3. Kevin Martin was 17-of-20 from the free throw line and finished with 20 points.

The Kings are tied with New Orleans (29-37) and two games behind Golden State (32-36) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Atlanta has lost two straight games on the heels of a four-game winning streak. All-Star Joe Johnson has missed six games and is expected to be down for the remainder of the season with a deep calf contusion.