GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: NEW YORK (2-5) at SACRAMENTO (2-6)

SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- Kevin Martin and theSacramento Kings sent the struggling New York Knicks to yetanother road loss.


Martin scored a career-high 43 points and Ron Artest added 28and his usual stellar defense as the Kings outlasted the Knicks,123-118, in double overtime at Arco Arena on Friday night.

Brad Miller had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento, whichhad better execution in the extra periods en route to thevictory.


"It always feels good with a win," Martin said of his careerhigh. "Last year, I had 40 but we lost, so it didn't feel good.Tonight feels a lot better."


With the second overtime becoming a free-throw shooting contest,Martin - who entered the game shooting 85 percent from the line- missed both foul shots with 26.7 seconds left and his teamgrasping to a three-point lead.


But David Lee, who collected season highs with 24 points and 16rebounds, failed to box out Artest, who tipped the rebound toJohn Salmons. The Kings guard was then fouled and hit 1-of-2free throws to make it 117-113 with 17 seconds left.

"That was big," Martin said. "It gave us another opportunity toget some breathing room. Ron played tremendous tonight on bothends. He just led us."


"You gotta have it," coach Reggie Theus added. "Those arewinning plays. Mikki Moore takes a charge in the thick ofthings. Those are winning plays. Aside from everything else,it's nice to have Ron back."


Martin, who shot 11-of-21 from the field and 16-of-19 from theline, then nailed four more free throws on the Kings' next twopossessions - sending the Knicks to their fifth straight lossafter starting the season 2-1."


"Last year, I was calling (Martin) an All-Star, this year I'mcalling him first team," Artest said of his teammate - the NBA'sfourth-leading scorer entering Friday's play.


"We needed a game like that to get our confidence rolling as ateam," Martin said. "We let one go down the stretch (atMinnesota) and tonight we just had to pull it out."

New York has lost the first three games in a tough four-gameWest Coast trip and will finish the jaunt at Denver on Saturday.However, it nearly picked up the trip's first victory inregulation and the first overtime in this wild contest.

"We're close, but we're not there," Knicks coach Isiah Thomassaid. "It's a team-wide failure. We had plenty ofopportunities to win the basketball game. We missed ouropportunities - layups, free throws, turnovers - you name it, wedid it.


"But at least we're getting into position to have thoseopportunities. It's frustrating to lose this way, but we've gotto keep working at it."


Artest nailed a 3-pointer to give the Kings a 107-104 lead with1:33 left in overtime. Jamal Crawford then tied it for NewYork, converting a three-point play with 1:25 left.

Lee then got the Knicks a chance to pick up the victory in thefirst extra period, taking a charge on Salmons' drive with 35seconds left.


But Lee could not win it as his follow shot on Crawford's missedjumper rolled off the rim as time expired - sending the game todouble overtime. Ironically, a rebound on another miss byCrawford was instrumental in sending the game to extra time inthe first place.


"It's one of those things," Lee said. "It was just unfortunatethat we didn't capitalize on those three chances that wenormally hit. It just didn't fall - Jamal's shot or my tip."

Not known for his rebounding prowess, Eddy Curry snatched anoffensive board when Crawford's jumper fell short and layed theball in to tie the game at 97-97 with 9.9 seconds left inregulation.


After a timeout, Francisco Garcia missed a contested 3-pointer,allowing New York to call a timeout of its own with 1.9 ticksleft and set up one final play. On the final possession ofregulation, Curry missed a point-blank layup as time expired.

Curry collected 27 points and nine rebounds and Stephon Marburyadded 15 off the bench for New York, which played withoutforward Zach Randolph. The high-scoring performer was attendinghis grandmother's funeral.


"I think we're getting better as a team," Curry said. "It'sjust those little plays in a game that you don't think are a bigdeal that end up costing us at the end."