Clippers’ win over Kings is past due

Perhaps the Clippers don’t need Ron Artest after all.

The Sacramento Kings never got back to them after calling last week about a potential Ron Artest-Corey Maggette trade, but the Clippers did just fine Friday night without Artest in ending a 14-game losing streak to Sacramento with a 102-93 victory in front of 18,505 fans at Staples Center.

Elton Brand scored 22 points and Maggette contributed 21 points and seven rebounds off the bench to help the Clippers defeat the Kings for the first time since Jan. 18, 2003.

Of course, the Clippers still have a 17-game road losing streak to the Kings, having last defeated them on their home court in 1997.

But that was something to address on another day after the Clippers had finally defeated the Kings anywhere in a long time.

“We lost to this team 14 times in a row, and there’s no better time to win than right now,” said Brand, who scored 10 points in the third quarter as the Clippers opened an 11-point lead.

“As well as we played last season, we still lost to that team four times. Everyone is comparing us to last season, but this is something that we didn’t do last season.”

And Artest? Well, he played despite a knee injury but wasn’t effective, scoring five points in 33 minutes.

“Losses happen and it is just one game,” Artest said. “You have to improve on it and get better for the next game.”

Artest missed seven of nine shots -- including four attempts on three-pointers -- and had only three rebounds with four turnovers.

“It was a little sore and I banged it up again in the last game,” Artest said of his knee. “As long as I stay in shape and keep getting treatment on it things will be better. I feel real confident about it.”

The Clippers’ confidence is rising for a change.

For the first time since early this month, the Clippers (13-16) have victories in consecutive games, and in doing so move into a fourth-place tie with Sacramento (12-15) in the Pacific Division.

With one game left against the New York Knicks on Sunday, the Clippers remained on track to complete their goal of winning all three games on the homestand before departing Monday on a six-game, 10-day Eastern trip.

And they’re hopeful point guard Sam Cassell will return soon to help them return to .500 before the All-Star break.

But finally defeating Sacramento was a big lift.

“It’s been a while since we’ve beat these guys,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Obviously, it feels great, and hopefully we can continue it on Sunday.

“Again, our energy was better tonight. We seem to be picking it up a little bit better. We had a lot of good play all across the board.”

Cuttino Mobley scored 17 points, Chris Kaman had 14 points and eight rebounds and Tim Thomas had 11 points.

Mike Bibby led Sacramento with 26 points.

Thomas and Mobley each made two three-pointers, and James Singleton, who has played in only 14 games, was active on defense and rebounded well in the third quarter when Kaman left the game because of foul trouble.

“James stepped up,” Dunleavy said, “and gave us a good performance.”

Brand scored eight straight points on jump shots in one stretch of the third, ruining the Kings’ defensive plans.

“He’s playing a little more balanced right now with a little more confidence. Hopefully that continues,” Dunleavy said. “That’s the way he played for us all year long last year.”

jason.reid@latimes.com