Kings impress with teamwork in rout over Nets

The point of origin for the Kings' cohesion and chemistry, as it turns out, was in the shower.

Ron Artest was washing up long before the New Jersey Nets entered Arco Arena on Tuesday, thinking about the past and the present and how the recent good times could roll over into the future. And this moment of philosophical wisdom, he decided, was too good to keep to himself.

"It's like Ron was saying earlier, how we're playing good, but the thing we're doing is passing the ball and playing good (defense)," said swingman Francisco García, who shared the location of the conversation when asked.

"We've just got to keep doing the little things. Keep hustling. Keep running. If I don't have a shot, somebody else can get a shot. Don't focus on (yourself), not on Mike (Bibby), not on Kevin (Martin), not on Ron. Just focus on the team and winning. We're all going to look good if we win."

After the Kings' 128-94 victory over New Jersey, they've never looked so good.

With Bibby and Artest returning to the starting lineup and the original look on display for the first time this season, the Kings won for the sixth time in eight games and secured their first three-game winning streak.

It was an evening of shared potency from three-point range (a season-high 15 and six players with at least two), a zone defense that had the Nets misfiring (45 percent shooting) and balance from the team's core trio.

The game began with Artest, Bibby and Martin each hitting a three-pointer within the first three minutes as the Kings led 11-3. The ball would only keep rotating, with the Kings setting season highs in points, assists (30), field goals (46 of 80), shooting percentage (57.5) and three-point percentage (62.5) and besting their previous largest margin of victory mark of 13 by 21 points.

After leading 64-47 at halftime, the Kings never led by fewer than 14 as the Nets lost for the sixth consecutive time.

Coach Reggie Theus had been preaching a motivational message similar to Artest's, a "less is more" approach in which all ignored the decline of individual statistics in favor of the collective objective.

"I was most impressed with our willingness to pass the basketball," Theus said. "That tells me a little bit about the character of the team. They took to heart the less is more (talk).

"I wasn't surprised because I know we're capable. It's understanding that we have the capability right now to do something special. But what are you willing to do to sacrifice?"

At least for one game, the Nets were the ones being sacrificed.

After giving up an average of 115.6 points in the last three games, New Jersey allowed an opponents' season high largely because the Kings continued to turn around a recent trend. They have made 10 or more three-pointers in three of the last four games. Previously, five successive opponents sank 10 or more threes against the Kings in what was a franchise record.

The more pleasing tendency for Theus, though, was the continued production from the former starters. García and point guard Beno Udrih combined for 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting. Udrih hit all five of his attempts, improving his total in the last three games to 17 of 21.

The only bad outing was that of John Salmons, who sprained his left ankle in the first quarter and is questionable for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I think the injuries probably were a good thing that happened to us," said Artest, who had 27 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals. "We've got to make sure we keep (the reserves) in their rhythm and give them the ball when they're open. Let them continue to carry us, and we continue to carry each other."

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Sam Amick, (916) 326-5582. Read his Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.