Mike Bibby scored 23 points and Kevin
Martin added 20 to help the Sacramento Kings defeat the Utah Jazz
112-96 in a pre-season game Friday night.
Despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter, Bibby was the
difference for Sacramento (3-1). He was 4-of-4 from three-point
range, 6-of-12 overall, 7-of-7 from the free throw line and handed
out seven assists to help Sacramento win its pre-season home opener.
Ron Artest added 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and five
steals for the Kings. Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 10 points and seven
rebounds.
Deron Williams scored 19 points and had nine assists for the Jazz
(2-3). Mehmet Okur had 14 points and Andrei Kirilenko added 13
points.
Ahead by three points at the half, Martin helped the Kings
increase their lead by scoring 12 points in the third quarter on
5-of-5 shooting, leading Sacramento to an 84-74 advantage going into
the final quarter.
A slimmed-down Bibby, who lost 18 pounds in the off-season, had
14 points in the opening half, helping the Kings take a 50-47 lead.
Williams scored 13 for Utah, which committed 25 turnovers in the
game.
Although he didn't start due to back spasms, Artest made his
presence felt in the opening half. Entering the game late in the
first quarter, he made a three-pointer within 18 seconds. He showed
no effects of a sore back in playing the entire second quarter,
finishing the first half with 12 points.