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Kings-Hornets: 56k | 300k  |
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Injuries forced the Kings to use seven different starting lineups entering Sunday. Damon Jones made it eight as he took the place of Bobby Jackson, whose right foot sprain kept him from starting at point guard.
Overall, the injuries add up to a total of 127 games, but the Kings have not been impacted as they improved to 12-0 at home and held a foe under 100 points for the 22nd time in 26 games this season.
They did that 45 times last season, when they allowed an average of 97 points per game - third most among playoff participants.
"The guys are all dedicated this year and we're all trying to do something special," Christie said. "The season is not even close to being over, but we just want to make the playoffs and take it from there."
"That was a really good weekend for us, getting that win last night in Utah and then playing what I thought was a really solid game against a good team tonight," Kings coach Rick Adelman said.
The Kings came into Sunday's game allowing 92.2 points per game - 71.6 in the first 11 games at ARCO Arena.
New Orleans was just the fifth opponent to visit ARCO with a winning record and had shot 44 percent (27-of-61) through three quarters as Sacramento held a 79-68 lead.
The Hornets shot just 39 percent (7-of-18) in the fourth and committed four of their 13 turnovers in the final 12 minutes.
Sacramento built its lead up to 90-73, using an 11-5 run to open up fourth.
Webber, who scored 23 points through three quarters, opened the final period with a 13-foot jumper from the right side. Following Courtney Alexander's missed 19-footer and Baron Davis' missed three-pointer from the left side, Christie drilled his fifth three-pointer of the night, pushing the lead to 85-70.
On Sacramento's next trip, Webber found Jimmy Jackson in the left corner for a three-pointer and Hedo Turkoglu capped the run with a layup.
"With the Kings hitting shots, it hurt us to go to the zone," Hornets guard David Wesley said. "The Kings did a good job all around and our defense wasn't up to par to win in this building.
"The Kings are doing a good job with all their guys out. They have a lot of guns. Nobody's heart is bleeding for them."
The Kings began their push in the second quarter when they turned a 29-29 deadlock into a 52-45 halftime lead, holding the Hornets to 29 percent (6-of-21) from the floor.
Jamal Mashburn converted Jackson's turnover into a layup just 16 seconds into the quarter for a 31-29 lead. But the Hornets missed six straight shots and 11 of their next 13. Sacramento made five of its next seven to open a 47-37 lead with 4:47 left in the first half.
The Hornets rallied and were within five at 57-52 following Jamaal Magliore's dunk with 8:46 left. But the Kings made eight of their final 15 shots while the Hornets missed seven of their last 11.
New Orleans had a chance to head into the fourth trailing by single digits, but Christie spotted up from the right side for a three-pointer with 17 seconds left and Davis missed a 3-pointer from the same spot.
Davis had 23 points and five assists. He scored 10 in the third but took just three shots in the fourth and scored three points.
"Stops were key," said Mashburn, who scored 12 points and faced constant double teams "It's just difficult. They play good defense. They're exceptional. They pass the ball well, share the ball well."