SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Ron Artest and Mike Bibby are finding their shooting touch and the Kings' rebounding by committee is working about as well as they could have hoped. And Kevin Martin? The kid keeps putting up big numbers.

Martin had 26 points, six rebounds and made all eight of his free throws, and Sacramento extended its home winning streak against Toronto to nine games with a 107-92 victory Sunday night.

Artest scored 15 of his 23 points in the first period to get things going as the Kings produced another impressive game on both ends of the floor for their third straight win, running right along with up-tempo Toronto. Sacramento might be making an early statement that it will be a force in the Pacific Division.

"We felt like the team that had the most energy," Martin said. "You're not going to slow those guys down. They're one of the fastest pushing teams."

Bibby, still wearing a protective splint on his tender right wrist, added 21 points, five rebounds and four assists to help the Kings stay unbeaten at home this season. They haven't lost to the Raptors on their own floor since Toronto's lone win at Arco Arena on March 13, 1997.

First-year coach Eric Musselman likes looking at the stat sheet and seeing that his guards are contributing on the boards. Musselman's philosophy is that extra work on the glass only leads to better chances on offense.

Bibby shot 8-for-16 and Artest 9-of-17.

"It's still there a little bit, but they're going in," Bibby said of the wrist affecting his shot. "They've got to go in sometime."

Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 18 points and seven rebounds for Sacramento, which shot 49 percent and outrebounded the Raptors 44-35.

Chris Bosh scored 19 points and Morris Peterson 18 for the Raptors, who opened a tough five-game, 11-day road trip that also goes through Golden State, Los Angeles to play the Lakers, Denver and Utah.

T.J. Ford added 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds but committed eight of the Raptors' season-high 19 turnovers.

Toronto coach Sam Mitchell knows this could be a long stretch if the Raptors don't start playing better.

"Where is our confidence? Where is our swagger?" Mitchell said. "You've just got to have confidence when you step out on the court. We need to find it."

Artest made his first six field goals and showed again that his work to improve on rebounding is paying off ¡ª which has been a key for the Kings with center Brad Miller sidelined with a foot injury. Artest finished with four assists and 10 boards, pulling down eight or more rebounds in five of the first six games.

The Kings call it "cleaning up" on the boards ¡ª and everyone must do their part.

"That's something Coach came in and tried to drive home," Abdur-Rahim said.

1

2