Mason guides Hornets over Kings

Devin Brown scored 15 points for the Hornets, who have won four of five. Bobby Jackson added 14 points off the bench, and Linton Johnson contributed 12 points in the win. Tyson Chandler finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds for the Hornets.

"I am happy about the game and excited about the win and the break," said Hornets head coach Byron Scott.

Ron Artest scored 18 points for the Kings, who have lost three straight. Corliss Williamson scored 16 points off the bench for the Kings, and Kevin Martin finished with 15 points for Sacramento. Francisco Garcia scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds.

"We didn’t match their intensity," said Williamson. "They had a late run at the end of the first half and we never recovered."

The Hornets blew open the game with an 18-0 run that bridged the middle two quarters. The Hornets closed the first half with nine straight points, including a Chris Paul three at the buzzer, and took a 57-47 lead into the break.

The Hornets took that momentum into the third quarter, scoring nine more to start the first half. Paul hit two jumpers on the stretch, which Brown capped with a trey that gave the Hornets a 66-47 lead with 8:44 left in the third quarter.

Martin answered with a three to make it 66-50, but the Hornets rolled off seven straight points, and led 73-50 after a Brown jumper with 6:43 left.

The Hornets led 85-68 after three quarters of play, and the Kings never threatened in the final quarter as the Hornets cruised to the 17-point win.

The Hornets led 26-22 after the first quarter.

Game Notes

The Kings shot 33 percent from behind the arc...The Hornets outrebounded Sacramento, 45-33.