The Sacramento Kings' streak of eight straight postseason appearances will end this season, but they're hoping to extend a different impressive run on Monday.

The Kings go for their 12th consecutive home victory over the New Orleans Hornets when the teams meet at ARCO Arena.

New Orleans (37-43) and Sacramento (33-47) are 10th and 11th in the Western Conference, respectively, and are both out of postseason contention with two games remaining. The Hornets will miss the playoffs for the third straight year, while the Kings failed to earn a berth for the first time since 1997-98.

New Orleans has won two of three meetings between the teams this season, including a 110-93 victory in their last matchup on Feb. 14. Sacramento has won 11 consecutive home meetings, though, with the last loss coming Jan. 12, 1997, when the Hornets franchise was located in Charlotte.

Sacramento plays both of its remaining games at home, where it is 20-19 this season but has dropped seven of its last nine. The Kings finished 13-28 on the road following a 105-100 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Ron Artest recorded 15 points and a career-high 10 assists to help Sacramento win for only the fifth time in its last 20 games overall.

"They were just doubling me coming down, so I just got rid of it and my teammates hit shots,'' said Artest, who is averaging 19.5 points in his last two matchups with New Orleans. "I'm always able to set my teammates up. I haven't had a chance to do it this year, but in Indiana I was in a situation where I was able to pass the ball a little bit more.''

Francisco Garcia added 16 points off the bench, including four 3-pointers, while starting point guard Mike Bibby scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting for the Kings, who hit 10 of 22 attempts from beyond the arc.

The Hornets also shot well in their last game, connecting on 54.2 percent (45-for-83) of their shots from the field Saturday, but still fell 123-112 to the Houston Rockets. David West tied his season high with 33 points on 14-of-19 shooting in the defeat.

Chris Paul recorded 20 points and 15 assists to boost his season averages to 17.3 points and 8.8 assists, but was more focused on failing to lead his team to the playoffs in his sophomore season.

"I am very disappointed that we didn't make the playoffs,'' Paul said. "We stuck together and never gave up.''

The Hornets are 13-26 on the road, where they are playing the middle contest of a season-ending three-game trip. New Orleans may again be without center Tyson Chandler, who has missed five straight games with an injured left big toe, while Kings forward Corliss Williamson could miss his sixth in a row because of a sore right heel.