Sacramento, Feb 25: The Kings defeated the New York Knicks 107-99 in Sacramento on Tuesday. Mike Bibby finished with 28 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead Sacramento to a 107-99 win over New York at ARCO Arena. Peja Stojakovic notched 27 points for the Kings, who earned their third straight victory and seventh in their last eight games. Darius Songaila contributed 17 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. Tim Thomas scored a season-high 33 points for the Knicks, who suffered their second straight loss and fell for the fifth time in six games. Stephon Marbury delivered 15 points and nine assists, while Nazr Mohammed added 15 points and eight rebounds in his first start for New York. Down 77-72 late in the third quarter, Sacramento ended the period with six straight points. Two free throws by Vlade Divac staked the team to a 78-77 advantage. Divac ended the game with 14 points and seven rebounds.



The Kings started the fourth quarter on a 16-7 flurry to pull away. Stojakovic hit three foul shots to open a 96-83 edge with 5:04 remaining.

New York got no closer than six points the rest of the way. After falling behind 8-7, the Knicks mounted a 16-9 flurry. A jumper by Mohammed put them ahead 23-17 midway through the first quarter.


Sacramento ended the first on a 18-6 surge. The team scored the final seven points of the quarter, including Anthony Peeler's three-pointer at the buzzer to lead 35-29.


Less than two minutes into the second quarter, a bucket by Tony Massenburg staked New York to a 39-33 edge.


Four points by Mike Sweetney helped the Kings mount an 8-0 run and go ahead 41-39 midway through the second. They trailed 51-50 with less than two minutes to go in the quarter, but posted the final five points to lead 55-51 at halftime.


A three-pointer by Stojakovic put Sacramento ahead 62-57 just over four minutes into the third quarter. But a basket by Shandon Anderson with over three minutes left in the third put New York ahead 75-69.


Bureau Report