• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Udrih leads balanced attack as Kings edge Pistons

Nov 19, 2007 - 6:10 AM SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- The Detroit Pistons were well introduced to Beno Udrih on Sunday night.

Udrih scored 23 points and led the way during an impressive third-quarter rally as the Sacramento Kings posted a 105-95 victory over the Pistons.

Rarely used during his three-year stint with San Antonio, Udrih signed with the Kings after the defending champions cut him in training camp and is making the best of his new found minutes.

He connected on 9-of-13 shots and handed out six assists.

"In San Antonio I never knew how much I was going to play," Udrih said. "Here, I know they needed a point guard. I'm actually the only pure point guard right now so I know I'm going to get a lot of minutes. I know I'm not going to get (taken out) if I miss two shots in a row."

Rising star Kevin Martin netted 19 points and Ron Artest added 16 for Sacramento, which has won 10 of the last 11 meetings in at home against Detroit.

"I can't say enough about the total team effort and the resiliency of this team," Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "They really stuck with it, played (Detroit's) style of basketball and grinded it out at the end. They just didn't have an answer for him on pick-and-rolls."

Chauncey Billups drilled a 3-pointer to open the third quarter to help Detroit create a 61-52 advantage. It was Billups' first game back after missing the last two due to a sore right knee.

But the Kings answered behind Udrih, who poured in 15 points in the quarter. Sacramento used a 23-7 surge to grab a 75-72 bulge entering the the final quarter.

"They were going under on the pick-and-rolls so I was wide open," Udrih said. "You have to take a shot because sometimes if you wait for another second you're not open anymore. I kept shooting, and it went in."

"(Udrih) played a heck of a third quarter," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "He made plays and has played extremely well since he has been in Sacramento."

With Detroit trailing, 96-92, at the 2:16 mark, Rasheed Wallace and assistant Dave Cowens each picked up technicals for arguing calls which fueled the Kings down the stretch.

"Tayshaun (Prince) was halfway down the court and then he decides to call it," Wallace said. "It's crazy. But, that's our fault because we let them hang around. If we didn't let them hang around, it wouldn't have made any difference."

The Pistons were never able to regroup thereafter.

It was the first time this season the Kings outrebounded their opponent, winning the battle by a 39-32 margin. Mikki Moore and Brad Miller both nine boards each.

"Our guards did a great job of coming back in and getting rebounds," said Moore, who scored 10 points. "The big guys kept (Detroit) off the boards and took away second chance shots. That's one things that helps them win games."

The win was the fourth in five home games for Sacramento.

"A double-overtime game against (New York) and this win should show them what they can do if they stick with it and rebound the basketball, and lock up at the end of the game," Theus said. "It's about what we need (at the end)."

Prince scored 19 points and Wallace chipped in 17 and 12 rebounds as the Pistons finished their five-game West Coast swing with a 2-3 mark.