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Martin injured as Kings rout Warriors

Nov 10, 2008 - 5:44 AM By Tom Galland PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- Kevin Martin scored 27 points before leaving with a left ankle injury in the third quarter, carrying the Sacramento Kings to a convincing 115-98 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Arco Arena on Sunday.

Martin missed the entire fourth quarter after suffering the injury with 2:39 left in the period. His status for Tuesday's game against the Detroit Pistons is not known.

"I saw him twist his ankle but I heard his head (hit) too," Kings reserve center Spencer Hawes said. "I don't know, but he said everything feels good. I saw him walking around (the locker room) so that's good."

"I don't know (Martin's status) because I haven't talked to (trainer Pete Youngman) yet," Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "It was a bad fall, an awkward fall."

Sacramento was able to rely on its center tandem of Hawes and Brad Miller, who each collected double-doubles to help secure a 50-45 rebounding edge.

Miller had his second straight since returning from suspension, collecting 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Hawes added 14 and 11 boards.

"We've got other guys that can step up," Miller said. "You don't want to see Kevin go down like that but we responded, tightened up and actually played some real good defense in the third quarter and just stayed focused."

Martin and John Salmons, who scored 16 points, netted seven apiece to key a 15-3 stretch early in the third to give the Kings a 78-64 lead.

Sacramento outscored Golden State, 27-17, in the period and took a 90-74 advantage into the fourth. The lead grew to 20 points in the opening three minutes of the final stanza for the Kings, who were not challenged the rest of the way.

Golden State played without three key offensive performers - guard Monta Ellis (ankle) and forwards Corey Maggette (hamstring) and Al Harrington (back) - and appeared to run out of gas in the third after a fast-paced first half.

Andris Biedrins collected 16 points and 18 rebounds for the Warriors.

"Right now we have a really tough spot with a couple injuries in our starting five," Biedrins said. "I think it's a time that somebody from the bench really has to step it up. We lost the game, but I think everybody will get their chances to play. They really played hard, so it was a great opportunity for those guys that didn't play the last couple games."

The Kings donned their road uniforms but looked nothing like the team that lost all four games on their season-opening trip, winning their third straight since returning home.

"I was thinking when we busted out the purples on Sunday, we can win in them," Miller said. "First one all year. It's brand new."

Golden State lost its second straight and fell to 2-5 for the season.

"Long day at the office," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "I thought the third quarter was our worst, and we lost it right there. I wasn't very happy with the way our young guys played today."

The rookie tandem of Bobby Brown and Jason Thompson gave Sacramento a nine-point lead when Brown fed Thompson for an alley-oop dunk late in the second quarter. But Golden State's Stephen Jackson answered with a three-point play to close out the first half with the Kings on top, 63-57.