NBA: Sacramento 128, New Jersey 94

SACRAMENTO, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The Sacramento Kings jumped to an 8-1 lead and never looked back Tuesday, with Ron Artest scoring 27 points in a 128-94 drubbing of the New Jersey Nets.

The loss extended New Jersey's futility against the Kings, having lost five of their last six overall and nine in a row in Sacramento.

Artest led seven Kings in double figures. Kevin Martin had 19 points, Mike Bibby 15, Brad Miller and Beno Udrih 14, Francisco Garcia 13 and Mikki Moore 10 in Sacramento's third straight win.

Vince Carter scored 21 points and eight assists for the Nets, while Richard Jefferson had 18 points for New Jersey.

New Jersey trailed 36-25 after the first quarter and 64-47 at halftime. It didn't get any better in the second half, with Sacramento going up 97-73 after three periods.