MIAMI, Nov. 3 (Ticker) -- Without stars Chris Webber and Mike Bibby, the Sacramento Kings fell victim to no-names like Mike James and Rasual Butler.

NBA TV highlights from Heat-Kings: 56k | 300k

James and Butler keyed a fourth-quarter burst and the Miami Heat played terrific defense in an 88-78 victory over the previously unbeaten Kings for their first win of the season.

The Kings came in having won their first three games by a combined 72 points despite the absence of All-Star power forward Webber and premier point guard Bibby, both out with injuries. Starting a three-game road trip, they appeared to be ready to have their way with the Heat, who lost their first two games.

But Sacramento ran into a team relying on a handful of youngsters and committed to defense. The Heat held the Kings to 35.5 percent shooting (27-of-76) and never let them get into any rhythmn.

"We've showed moments like that during the preseason, but never put it together for a complete effort like tonight," said Heat coach Pat Riley, who has been reluctant to play rookies throughout his career. "We talked about shutting down their cut-and-split game, which is 70-80 percent of what they do."

Holding a three-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Miami scored 12 straight points. James, a second-year guard from Duquesne, made consecutive three-pointers and Butler, a rookie from La Salle, sank a jumper to cap it at 80-65 with 5:35 to go.

"When I saw they were letting up on me, I felt the confidence in myself to go for the threes in those situations," James said. "Coach tells us we need to step up and make big plays and I saw my chance to do that."

The Kings got no closer than the final margin.

Eddie Jones scored 16 points, second-year forward Malik Allen added 15 and rookie Caron Butler 13 for the Heat, who had all five starters in double figures.

"I've seen the capabilites of this team to come together and this result was certainly an example of that," Riley said. "Regardless of the injury situation, Sacramento is still a pretty good basketball team. I thought tonight we also put together our best defensive effort."

"The whole team played together tonight and I think all the guys saw what we are capable of," said forward Brian Grant, who had 10 points and 14 rebounds. "As well as we played around the offensive boards, I thought we equaled that effort on the defensive end. It was a great win against what I feel is going to be one of the best teams in the league."

Keon Clark had 19 points and nine rebounds and Vlade Divac added 14 and 10 for the Kings, who swept last season's two-game series. Sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic was 2-of-13 and guard Bobby Jackson was 4-of-17.

"They really came after us," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "They beat us to the loose balls and showed they deserved to win. They played physical and we didn't. We tried to force the issue offensively by going 1-on-1 and that is not how we play. We showed no patience offensively."

The Heat held a 66-56 lead late in the third quarter, but Clark had a three-point play and jumper to help cut the deficit to three points with 9:21 to go. Rasual Butler answered with a jumper and Sacramento's Hedo Turkoglu made two foul shots before Miami made its decisive run.

James struck first from the right side, doubling the lead. Just 38 seconds later, he drilled another three-pointer from the left wing for a 74-65 bulge with 8:14 left.

"That's my game," James said. "It's the way I like to play, and those guys didn't know that."

"Those were two huge shots," Adelman said. "The Heat took control of the game at that point. It was clearly a big effort on his part."

Vladimir Stepania made jumpers on consecutive trips before Rasual Butler capped the burst. James and Stepania each scored eight points and Butler six.

Travis Best scored 10 points for the Heat, who shot under 40 percent (35-of-89).

Jackson scored 12 points for the Kings, who made just 2-of-14 shots from the arc.

"I think we took some bad shots," Jackson said. "I know that I took some terrible shots. We were just rushing and when we rush we do not play our game."

Miami took the lead for good at 37-35 on a layup by former King Grant with 5:07 left in the second quarter. A three-pointer by Jones and short jumper by LaPhonso Ellis widened the lead to seven points, and the Heat held a 48-41 halftime edge.