Banded together by headbands in honor of Brad Miller's absence due to elbow surgery, the Kings put out the Blazers in speedy fashion Friday night 103-86 at ARCO Arena.

The contest took just two hours and three minutes, in what quite possibly was the shortest duration of a home game this season.

With a majority of the team sporting white NBA logoman headbands out of respect to their injured center, the Kings set the tone early by scoring eight points on the fast break in the first quarter and leading by as much as 11.

The fast start was stalled briefly in the second quarter as the Kings were unable to score on the break, but led by 10 at the half. In the second half, the Kings hot shooting continued as Sacramento maintained a comfortable margin in the games final 24 minutes.

“That’s what he had to do especially since we were short-handed on bodies," Spencer Hawes said. "We had to make it a team effort and that’s what we did tonight.”

The Kings shot 56 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range, while the Blazers managed just 42 percent from the field and 13 percent from long distance. The loss was the Portland's sixth in seven games.

Kevin Martin, who left the game in the third quarter and didn't return due to a strained right knee, scored 16 points, tallied seven boards, dished two assists, swiped one steal and blocked one shot, while displaying as strong of a sense of leadership as he has all season. The fourth-year shooting guard gave his younger teammates pointers throughout the game and talked with the coaching staff and his teammates throughout.

While Martin scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half, John Salmons stuffed the stat sheet in the second half. Filling in for Ron Artest who missed the game due to a sprained left thumb, Salmons scored all of his team-high 18 points in the second half to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

“He’s been so effective for us in drawing fouls and especially penetrating to keep the defense on its heels," Hawes said. "He’s so efficient when he has the ball in his hands and makes good decisions whether to pass it or keep it. He’s a great guy to have out there as another weapon on offense.”

Blazers leading scorer, Brandon Roy, didn't have to worry about Artest's suffocating defense, but he finished with just 12 points while shooting 5-of-10 from the field in 32 minutes.

Bolstered by their two starting big men -- Channing Frye and LaMarcus Aldridge -- the Blazers beat the Kings in the battle of the boards 46-39. Frye and Aldridge each tallied double-doubles. Frye finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds while the Most Improved Player of the Year Award candidate notched a 24-point,15-rebound outing.

Seven of the eight Kings players who played scored in double-figures, including another impressive outing by Hawes. Rocking the headband like his mentor has so many time this season, the rookie scored 15 points while shooting 7-of-11 from the field to go along with seven boards, three assists and one steal.

“Tonight, I saw Spencer make himself go to his power hand," Theus said. "I think he shot the ball maybe three times with his right hand with his power move. That’s what we’ve been harping him on the past few months. So I’m very happy about that.”

Francisco Garcia (16) and Quincy Douby (13) combined for 29 points while shooting a collective 11-of-19 from the field, while Shelden Williams tallied seven boards off the bench.

Sacramento won the season series versus their border rival to the north 3-1. It is the fifth straight season Sacramento has not lost a season series to Portland.

“It’s another good win for us," Theus said. "We’ve played well at home most of the year. We just have to continue it so we can end the season strong.”

In the midst of the team's final four games of the season in five nights, the Kings conclude their season series with another Western Conference foe Saturday night.

Be Here LIVE on Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m. when your Kings face the Hornets. Click here to buy tickets. This is where the Sixth Man Happens!

Closing Thought:
Headbands aren't generally something worn with a suit, or by head coaches, but Coach Theus left the door open for the possibility if the team has a better record in the future.

“We’d have to have a lot more wins for me to do that," Theus said laughing.

Speaking of the headband...
“Cisco was asking me why I left him on the bench for so long in the first half," Theus said with a smile. "It was because I didn’t recognize him."

Theus wasn't the only one not showing a sign of solidarity. Beno Udrih, returned to the starting lineup for the first time since straining his lower back and tallied 11 points, three rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes.

“I support Brad, but I’ve never worn one before and I don’t have a bald head like the other guys,” Udrih said. “My back feels great. A little soreness because I didn’t do anything for like three weeks, but there’s no more sharp pain like I had before.”