(My Sportsbook) - The Dallas Mavericks are still undefeated and Shaquille O'Neal is back playing with the Lakers, who are poised for a big run.

Fortunately, after a slow start, the Kings are keeping pace in the West, winning five straight and eight of their last nine games.

Sacramento's most recent victory came against division rival Portland on Saturday.

Sacramento trailed by five entering the fourth quarter, but started the final frame with a 12-4 run to grab an 81-78 lead -- its first since early in the second quarter. The Blazers led by one late before Hedo Turkoglu hit two free throws with 14.4 seconds left to put the Kings up one, 95-94.

At the other end, Arvydas Sabonis missed a hook shot and Derek Anderson failed to sink the follow-up attempt as time expired, preserving the one-point Sacramento win.

"It's just a great win for us," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "It's our fifth in seven nights and fourth in five nights. Our guys really stayed with it mentally. They got up on us early and then the fourth quarter there, we just kept playing. You keep playing, you give yourself a chance to win in the fourth quarter. That's all we kept saying, give yourself a chance to win in the last minute, and that's what we did."

The victory evened the Kings' road record at 4-4 and pushed their overall mark to 11-4. Sacramento leads the Pacific Division by 1 1/2 games over the Seattle SuperSonics. More important, the Kings own a 5 1/2-game cushion over the Lakers, who have won two straight since O'Neal's return.

But like the Lakers, the Kings have been playing without some star power, most notably Mike Bibby (foot surgery).

Bobby Jackson has been a more than adequate replacement for Bibby at the starting point guard position. Jackson is averaging 21.8 points during the five-game winning streak while shooting 52 percent from the field.

"We have a lot of injuries," Jackson said. "We have guys stepping up. Guys like Hedo, me, Gerald (Wallace) and Damon (Jones), guys that are not normally starters, guys who step in and play a significant role. We're capable of doing that."

Peja Stojakovic missed Saturday's game against Portland with a right foot injury, but Adelman hopes the forward will be ready to go Tuesday in Cleveland after two days off. Not in Stojakovic's favor is that the Kings play the second of a back-to-back Wednesday in Minnesota.

After the games against the Cavs and Wolves, the Kings return to ARCO Arena for a three-game homestand hoping to maintain their perfect home mark (7-0).