Kings host Hornets

Sacramento leads the Utah Jazz by 1 1/2 games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. A Kings’ victory and a loss by Utah, which visits Dallas, would put Sacramento in the postseason for the eighth straight year.

The Kings play the first of a season-ending two-game homestand. On Saturday, Mike Bibby scored 23 points and dished out 10 assists, as Sacramento defeated the Denver Nuggets, 100-82, at the Pepsi Center.

Kenny Thomas posted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds in the win over Denver for the Kings, who have won four of their last five games overall. Kevin Martin came off the bench and netted 16 and grabbed six boards, while Shareef Abdur-Rahim contributed 14 points with seven rebounds in the victory.

Sacramento is 25-14 as the host this season. The Kings will host the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday at ARCO Arena.

The Hornets try to get back on the winning track as they open a season-ending three-game road trip. On Friday, Andrei Kirilenko finished with 25 points, nine rebounds, six assists and seven blocks to lead the Utah Jazz to a 105-104 triumph over the Hornets at the Ford Center.

David West poured in 31 points on 14-of-18 shooting from the floor and grabbed 12 boards in the loss to Utah for the Hornets, while Kirk Snyder and Speedy Claxton netted 15 apiece in defeat. Desmond Mason contributed 13 points and rookie phenom Chris Paul scored 11.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City is 14-24 on the road this season. The Hornets are scheduled to visit Phoenix on Monday and the Lakers on Wednesday.

The Hornets have won two of the three meetings between the squads this season. They have lost nine straight at Sacramento.

The last time the Hornets defeated the Kings on the road was on January 12, 1997.