Martin, Kings topple Jazz

John Salmons came off the bench to add 17 points for the Kings, who snapped a four-game slide. Ron Artest and Ronnie Price chipped in with 13 points each, and Artest pulled down a game-high 10 boards.

Mehmet Okur recorded a game-best 24 points with eight rebounds for the Jazz, who have dropped three of four. Carlos Boozer had 17 points and six rebounds, Gordan Giricek contributed 16, and both Derek Fisher and Matt Harpring had 14 points in defeat.

Down by seven at the start of the fourth, the Kings opened the frame on a 9-0 run to take an 84-82 lead on Price’s three.

The Jazz tied things up at 87 on Paul Millsap’s tip-in in the lane with 6:15 to play, then went up 95-91 on Okur’s hook shot with 4:04 to go. Two from the line by Okur with 3:06 remaining boosted the Jazz lead to 99-94, and Utah appeared to be on the winning track.

However, the Kings reeled off a 9-1 run late and led 103-100 with 20 seconds remaining after Salmons scored five straight points.

On the next possession, Giricek missed a driving layup from the left side and the Kings got the ball. Martin sank a pair from the line with 12.4 to go for a 105-100 game.

Following a Fisher missed trey, Sacramento got the defensive rebound and the Jazz once again were forced to foul. Martin made both his shots from the line again for a seven-point advantage.

Okur closed things out with a three-ball, but it was too little, too late for Utah in the four-point loss.

Utah opened the game on a 10-3 run, then Jarron Collins upped the lead to 10, 36-26. on two free throws before Corliss Williamson hit a jumper to cut the Jazz lead to 36-28 after one quarter.

Giricek netted 10 points in the second as Utah stretched that advantage to 60-49 at the half.

Okur hit for eight points and Harpring poured in seven as the Jazz took an 82-75 lead into the final 12 minutes of play.

Game Notes

Sacramento leads the season series 2-1 with one game to play...Price and Salmons dished out three assists each...Millsap scored only six points, but added eight rebounds for the Jazz...The Kings won the battle of the boards, 42-33, and hit six-of-11 from beyond the arc.