Kings out-muscled
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ByEurosport
Published 21/01/2007 at 05:17 GMT
Ron Artest returned to the scene of one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history for the first time on Saturday and his Sacramento Kings were out-muscled by a dominant Detroit Pistons, who eased to a 91-74 victory.
BASKETBALL; Ron Artest; Sacramento Kings
Image credit: Imago
Artest was playing for the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 19, 2004 when he and several team mates were involved in a huge fight that spilled into the stands at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The ugly incident made international headlines and resulted in a 73-game suspension for Artest, who lost about $5 million in earnings as a result.
Artest was traded from the Pacers to the Kings last season, but did not play at The Palace in any of his team's visits
there last year.
Sporting a Mohawk haircut, Artest was booed lustily every time he touched the ball by the Detroit fans and a few arena security guards were stationed by the Sacramento bench as a precaution.
However, the game itself was uneventful and Artest could only manage 14 points, six rebounds and four assists before sitting out most of the fourth quarter due to the lopsided scoreline.
The Pistons never trailed as they won their second straight game with newly acquired Chris Webber in the starting line-up.
Webber had 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Pistons improved to 23-16 while handing Sacramento (15-23) its eighth loss in nine games.
Richard Hamilton scored 19 points to lead the Pistons, who shot 45 percent from the field to just 36 percent for the Kings, and Tayshaun Prince added 17.
Detroit held the Kings to just 12 first quarter points and rolled to a 48-34 half time lead before expanding that to a 26-point advantage after three quarters before resting their starters in the final quarter.
Corliss Williamson led the Kings with 17 points.
Sam Cassell scored a season-high 34 points and the Los Angeles Clippers completed a three-game season series sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, downing the Grizzlies 112-91.
David West had 26 points and 12 rebounds as the New Orleans Hornets downed the Los Angeles Lakers 113-103 in Oklahoma City. Kobe Bryant was held to 23 points for the Lakers.
Eddy Curry's 26 points helped the New York Knicks edge the Indiana Pacers 108-106, the Pacers fourth straight defeat.
Vince Carter had 27 points as the New Jersey Nets won their season-high fourth straight game and ninth win in the past 11 games, downing the Orlando Magic 101-94.
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