Artest scores 36 to lead Kings past Bucks

Kevin Martin added 18 points for the Kings, who beat the Bucks for the 10th time in the last 12 meetings. Kenny Thomas contributed 14 points and nine rebounds, while Brad Miller totaled 14 points, seven boards and eight assists, as Sacramento won its second straight.

"I thought Kenny Thomas played his best game of the season tonight," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "He rebounded the ball for us, he did a great job of finding open areas off guys’ penetration."

Earl Boykins poured in 36 points for Milwaukee, which again was shorthanded. The Bucks played without forward Charlie Villanueva (right shoulder tendinitis), and guards Michael Redd (strained patellar tendon in left knee) and Mo Williams (sprained left shoulder).

"The ultimate goal is to win basketball games and whenever you play well, it’s a very empty feeling," Boykins said. "Tonight we just didn’t start the game in the right mind frame."

Ruben Patterson had 21 points and 12 rebounds, but the Bucks fell for the 10th time in 11 games.

Martin got into the act early for the Kings with a three-pointer and alley-oop layup on consecutive trips down the floor for an 18-8 Sacramento lead. Artest’s layup made it 31-15 and the Kings were on top 37-27 going into the second.

A Patterson free throw had the Bucks within 46-45 with 3:35 remaining until halftime, but Sacramento took control with the next 12 points. Miller’s three in the final minute ended the flurry, and the Kings took a 58-47 cushion into the locker room.

A three-pointer from Boykins pulled Milwaukee within 72-69 with under three minutes remaining in the third, but later in the period the Kings pulled away again. Thomas’ emphatic slam made it 81-71 going into the final period.

Sacramento led by double digits most of the final quarter, but Patterson’s finger roll had Milwaukee within 93-86 midway through the stanza. Shareef Abdur-Rahim responded with a pair of free throws, and after a Boykins turnover, Artest drove in for a layup for another double-digit lead for the Kings.

One last push by the Bucks had them within 101-95 with 3 1/2 minutes remaining, but that was as close as they could get.

Game Notes

Milwaukee has lost six of eight at Sacramento...Mike Bibby had 11 points and eight assists for the Kings...Charlie Bell scored 18 and Ersan Ilyasova ended with 13 for the Bucks.