CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kings center Spencer Hawes sat for the final time with 2:53 left in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, when the tired and tortured 7-footer was seen muttering frustrations on the JumboTron at Time Warner Cable Arena.

But Hawes had no room to talk after having perhaps his worst game of the season in the Kings' 104-88 loss to Charlotte.

The second-year center had two points and no rebounds in 25 minutes, and his rough start and rougher finish didn't help the Kings against a Bobcats team fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Kings played without Kevin Martin (virus), Andres Nocioni (right quadriceps tendinitis) and Bobby Jackson (broken left cheekbone). Hawes' defense was absent in the first quarter, when the Bobcats compiled 16 of their 38 points in the paint and took a 33-25 lead.

Veteran center Calvin Booth was called on less than six minutes into the game, with the Kings trailing 17-10. It marked the second time in as many nights he had played and just the third time all season between his time with Minnesota and with the Kings. And he was far more effective at defending the rim.

It got worse for Hawes late in the fourth quarter, with the Kings trailing 90-82 and remaining competitive largely because of Rashad McCants (30 points). Hawes argued a foul for too long and was called for a technical with 4:28 left.

Suddenly, Charlotte's lead grew to 11, and the Kings tumbled to 0-28 against Eastern Conference opponents.

Combined with the previous night's performance in a loss to Atlanta, where Hawes had much to do with the Hawks' 64 points in the paint and grabbed four rebounds, this is not the direction in which the Kings want him heading at season's end.

And again, Kings interim coach Kenny Natt discussed the difficulties of having an offensive-minded center who loses his way defensively if he doesn't score early on.

"I know he can play better," Natt said. "We have to find a way to get him off to a good start (offensively). That is normally when he has a good game. That's the key and the focus in dealing with him.

"We haven't lost confidence in him."

As was the case when Hawes, 20, had an ill-timed technical foul in the fourth quarter of Sunday's two-point loss to Washington, he inspired looks of exasperation and disbelief from his veteran teammates with his inability to contain his emotions after his latest technical.

Afterward, Hawes said his anger this time resulted from "a combination of" his play and the officiating. He acknowledged, however, that he still struggles with his defensive assignments even more when he is not scoring.

"That has always been one of my shortcomings," he said. "I got a foul in the first minute and just didn't put myself in a good position (to succeed)."

There weren't many shortcomings from McCants, the Asheville, N.C., native who shone less than three hours from where he won a national title at North Carolina in 2005. He hit 10 of 20 shots after starting 0 of 4, buried 5 of 8 three-pointers and showed a commitment to defense while grabbing two steals. He injured his right ankle and left the game with 4:41 remaining but said he expected to play Friday against New York.

Francisco García made 4 of 17 shots through three quarters as the Kings trailed 78-70. García, who continues to play with his broken right ring finger taped, said he recently has been slowed by fatigue.

"I'm not going to blame my finger on my shooting, because I was hitting shots when I broke it," said García, who finished 7 of 21 overall. "My body is so tired right now. I've got to keep on fighting. I feel like I don't have any legs."

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