Jazz 102, Sacramento 97
Jazz Tune Out Kings in Road Victory
http://www.nba.com/games/20040227/UTASAC/recap.html
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 27 (Ticker) -- Whether it was a mechanical
malfunction or Laker letdown, the Sacramento Kings just weren't right
against the Utah Jazz.
The Kings lost at home for just the fifth time this season as they were
outplayed in the fourth quarter of a 102-97 loss to the Jazz, who rode
a big game from rookie Maurice Williams.
Sacramento was coming off Thursday's emotional 103-101 road win over
the Los Angeles Lakers, another chapter in their heated rivalry. But
they had to change planes due to a mechanical malfunction and did not
touch down until 4:30 a.m.
Awaiting the Kings were the Jazz, who had lost 14 of the last 16 meet-
ings. But Utah clearly was the more energetic team, especially in the
final period.
"I think guys were tired," Kings center Tony Massenburg said. "That's
to be expected. You had a tough, emotional game last night that took a
lot out of us - guys played a lot of minutes.
"We come back in tonight and they're playing a lot of minutes tonight
and a very physical team. Most guys probably didn't go to bed 'til the
sun came up. That's just the NBA. I'm not trying to make excuses. That's
just the way it is."
Leading the charge was Williams, a second-round pick who scored 10 of
his 19 points in the fourth quarter. Williams ran Mike Bibby ragged as
he leaked out for layups and got loose for jumpers.
"By far, this was the best game I had as a pro," said Williams, who made
7-of-11 shots as he fell one point shy of his season high. "Hopefully
many more to come."
"Maurice stepped up," Jazz All-Star forward Andrei Kirilenko said. "He's
the player of the game. He did great stuff off the bench and organized
our fast break. He was like a rocket man. I'm just cleaning up sometimes.
I was just saying, 'Give me some, give me some.'"
Kirilenko had 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Jazz, who committed 12
fouls in the fourth quarter and held on through a frantic finish to win
at Arco Arena for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
Bibby scored 26 points for the Kings, who fell to 25-5 at Arco. One night
after making 12-of-23 3-pointers, Sacramento made 6-of-19.
"That's not an excuse for losing a game at home," Kings center Vlade
Divac said.
The Kings led by as many as nine points in the third quarter but just
71-68 entering the final period. Williams had two layups and a jumper to
help the Jazz build an 81-77 lead with 8:08 remaining.
"That's my game," Williams said. "I try to come in with a lot of energy."
A dunk by Greg Ostertag, who had eight points and 14 rebounds, and another
breakaway layup by Williams made it 96-89 with 2:54 to go.
Bibby had a pair of layups that cut the deficit to 98-95 but missed two
free throws in between that could have pulled the Kings closer. After a
free throw by Kirilenko, Bibby sank two more from the line to make it 99-97
with 10 seconds left.
The Kings fouled Raja Bell, who missed both free throws. But Kirilenko
tracked down the rebound and was fouled. He hit 1-of-2 from the line,
giving Sacramento a final chance. But Peja Stojakovic missed a tough
3-pointer.
The Jazz made 22-of-29 free throws while the Kings made 39-of-51.
"We missed some free throws, which I thought was going to make it tough
for us to get the win," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "The guys played
pretty hard to get the win."
Bell scored 15 points for Utah, who had a 53-43 advantage on the boards.
Stojakovic scored 21 points and Doug Christie added 17 for Sacramento.
"This is one of the nights when you think you can turn things on and off
when you want, but it didn't work out in our favor," Divac said. "Everybody
saw it - we missed free throws, we missed layups in clutch time. It's all
our fault, we can't make any excuse."
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Jazz top Kings 102-97
Published 10:20 p.m. PST Friday, February 27, 2004
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/8344908p-9274806c.html
Andrei Kirilenko had 24 points and 14 rebounds, leading the Utah Jazz to
a 102-97 victory over the Kings Friday night at Arco.
Kirilenko scored the final four points for Utah, which snapped the Kings'
four-game winning streak.
Peja Stojakovic missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the closing
seconds, and Kirilenko made a fast-break dunk at the final buzzer. Reserve
guard Maurice Williams scored 19 points and Raja Bell came off the bench
for 15.
Greg Ostertag, who had two key baskets in the final three minutes, finished
with eight points and 14 rebounds.
Reminiscent of their first-round playoff series of a year ago, won by the
Kings 4-1, Utah played a physical game and kept the Kings from operating
its typically smooth offense.
Mike Bibby scored 26 points, Stojakovic had 21 and Doug Christie added 17
points for the Kings, who shot 38 percent. The Kings made 39 of 51 free
throws.
Following a subpar first half, Stojakovic made eight free throws in the
third quarter and scored 11 points as Sacramento took a 71-68.
Bibby scored 11 first-half points, helping the Kings take a 42-40 lead.
Notes: Kings forward Brad Miller, who has missed the last seven games with
a sprained right foot, may return Sunday against Phoenix. ... Utah's reserves
combined for 59 points, while the Kings' subs had 18. ... The Kings lost at
Arco for only the fifth time all season.
-- Associated Press
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