Martin’s Free-Throw Streak Ends at 29

Guard Darrick Martin, who had made 29 consecutive free throws since Jan. 23, missed two free throws with 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Friday night’s 110-93 loss at Phoenix.

“I guess I’ll just have to start another [streak],” said Martin, who has shot 87.6% from the line this season. “They were both in and out.”

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Coach Bill Fitch didn’t say whether he benched guard Pooh Richardson in Thursday night’s loss at Sacramento as punishment for ripping Fitch to reporters after Tuesday’s victory over the Boston Celtics.

However, Fitch held Richardson out of the game, using Terry Dehere, who had been held out of two of the last three games, to replace Martin.

“Am I [angry] about it? No, I’m not,” Richardson said. “I just go out and play hard and do what I can do when I’m out there.”

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Dehere who is shooting only 37.5% this season, has made only six of 26 shots (23.1%) in his last seven games.

Fitch said Dehere has struggled because he hasn’t gotten consistent playing time.

“It’s tough when you’ve got six guards,” Fitch said. “When you’ve got six guards someone is going to get some rust on them. It’s tough on these kids.”