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Kings aim for first division win vs. listless Clippers

Mar 5, 2008 - 2:42 PM Sacramento (26-34) at LA Clippers (14-46) 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - A night after getting their hearts broken by Kobe Bryant, the Sacramento Kings look to take their frustrations out on the struggling Los Angeles Clippers.

Sacramento was held scoreless for the final 4:07 and Bryant scored 17 fourth-quarter points as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied for a 117-105 victory over the Kings on Tuesday.

Ron Artest and Kevin Martin each scored 23 points for Sacramento, which lost for the fifth time in six games and fell to 0-8 vs. Pacific Division foes.

But the Kings should be able to get their first division win against the Clippers, who have lost six straight and are showing no signs of life.

Rookie Al Thornton scored 20 points in his first start - a 106-80 loss to Philadelphia on Monday. The setback leaves Los Angeles one loss shy of matching its season-high seven-game losing steak set from November 23 - December 5.

Not only are the Clippers losing - they are being blown out. Their last six losses have been by an average of 18 points.

In a lost season, Thornton has been one of the lone bright spots. The 14th overall pick of last year's draft has scored in double figures in 11 of the past 12 games.

The Clippers won the first two meetings. Thornton scored 23 points in a 111-85 win in the last meeting on January 23.