Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Sergio Rodriguez scored a career-high 24 points, as the Sacramento Kings took a 112-96 victory over the New Orleans Hornets at ARCO Arena.
Jason Thompson added 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Kings, who have won the first three games of their current four-game homestand. Beno Udrih made all five of his field goals and finished with 13 points and three steals off the bench in the victory.
David West scored 24 to pace New Orleans, which had won four in a row against the Kings, including a 97-92 decision in its home opener on October 30. Emeka Okafor contributed 20 points and nine boards for the Hornets, who had won four of five.
A 26-26 contest after the first remained close in the second until Sacramento started to pull away late. A seven-point burst, closed by a Jon Brockman layup, made it a 44-35 game with four minutes left.
A few minutes later, an Andres Nocioni three and Brockman bucket pushed the Kings' lead to 13, and they took a 57-45 lead into the break.
New Orleans got back in the contest with eight consecutive points shortly into the third, as Devin Brown's two free throws got the Hornets within 59-55.
West later poured in six straight points to trim New Orleans' deficit to 67-64 with 4 1/2 minutes to play, but the Kings never gave up the lead, as Thompson responded to West's run with a jumper and Omri Casspi followed with a layup.
Sacramento held an 82-74 advantage as the game moved to the fourth, though again the Hornets got within three. Seven straight points got them within 86-83, but this time the Kings put the game away.
New Orleans went cold down the stretch, allowing Sacramento to go on a decisive 18-4 run. Rodriguez had nine of Sacramento's points, including a bucket with under three minutes left that expanded his team's lead to 104-87.
Game Notes: Rodriguez recorded his previous career high of 23 on January 14, 2007 against Denver...Nocioni had 13 points and Casspi 12 for the Kings. Tyreke Evans totaled 14 points and four assists in the victory...Darren Collison had 11 points for the Hornets, while Brown and Marcus Thornton each had 10...The Kings shot 53.7 percent, including 9-of-18 from beyond the arc.