SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Kevin Martin scored 22 points and Ron Artest added 18 and a key blocked shot as the Sacramento Kings sent the Boston Celtics to their 19th loss in 20 games, 104-101 Tuesday.

The Kings managed just one field goal and five points in the final 9:37, but still held off the Celtics’ late rally. Brad Miller scored Sacramento’s final points on two free throws with 1:37 to play, and Artest blocked Al Jefferson’s shot under the basket to thwart one of Boston’s several attempts to get closer.

Paul Pierce scored 26 points and Delonte West had 23 before missing a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the Celtics, whose franchise-record 18-game losing skid ended with a win over Milwaukee right before the All-Star break. The Celtics opened a five-game West Coast road trip over seven days with a solid effort, but another loss.

Boston trailed by 11 with 9:37 to play, but pulled within 102-101 on rookie Rajon Rondo’s confident jumper with 1:57 left. Sacramento held on for its 11th straight home victory over the Celtics, who haven’t won at Arco Arena since 1996.

Boston’s Szczerbiak sprains ankle again

Wally Szczerbiak sprained his left ankle during the Boston Celtics’ game against the Kings on Tuesday night, the latest of several injuries to both of the forward’s ankles this season.

Szczerbiak stepped on teammate Paul Pierce’s foot while trying to defend Sacramento’s Kevin Martin near the Kings’ basket with 1:18 left in the first quarter. He limped gingerly to the Boston bench before heading for the locker room, and the Celtics said he wouldn’t return.

Szczerbiak has missed 18 games with injuries this season – including 17 because of sprained ankles. He missed 10 games in the previous two months with a sprained right ankle, and missed five games in early December with a sprained left ankle.

Szczerbiak, who went scoreless with two assists in 8 minutes, missed two games earlier in the month with a sprained left ankle before returning to play 26 minutes in the Celtics’ win over Milwaukee last Wednesday night. That victory over the Bucks, which snapped an 18-game losing streak, was the first game Pierce and Szczerbiak had played together since Dec. 16.

Szczerbiak, an eighth-year pro, has missed significant playing time in four of the last five seasons.

because of injuries.