Sacramento 105, New Orleans 91
Kings Clobber Hornets, Who Clinch Playoffs
http://www.nba.com/games/20040406/NOHSAC/recap.html
SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 6 (Ticker) -- A win over the New
Orleans Hornets was a microcosm of the Sacramento Kings'
season so far - a super start and a flat finish.
The Kings saw a 26-point first-half lead reduced to four
points early in the fourth quarter before holding on for
a 105-91 victory over the shorthanded Hornets that kept
them on top of the Western Conference.
"We made it a lot harder than we had to," said coach Rick
Adelman, who collected his 300th win with the Kings. "We
were just very casual with the ball."
"Sometimes you get a little complacent when you get in the
lead, which is not excusable," Kings guard Doug Christie
said. "I think we need to focus a little better."
Peja Stojakovic scored 26 points and Chris Webber added 24
for the Kings, who won 45 of their first 60 games but are
just 9-8 since, battling injuries, attentiveness and a
lack of defense.
"I think sometimes we try to do too much," said Webber,
still playing his way back from knee surgery. "Guys really
have just got to keep playing their roles. Every pass doesn't
have to be a spectacular pass. So I think we'll settle down
and hopefully get those turnovers down. That will help."
Sacramento (54-23) shot 54 percent (39-of-72) from the field
as it moved one-half game ahead of Minnesota (54-24) atop the
West. It also opened a 1 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles
Lakers (53-25) in the Pacific Division.
The Kings took advantage of the Hornets, who were missing
injured guards Baron Davis and David Wesley and forward
Jamal Mashburn. New Orleans also found out moments before
tip-off that it had clinched a playoff berth in the East
with Cleveland's loss to Toronto.
"I don't like to make excuses," said Hornets guard Darrell
Armstrong, who scored 21 points. "They're a very good
passing team. When you're playing against them, you can't
relax."
Webber scored 17 points and Stojakovic 16 in the first half,
repeatedly knocking down jumpers as the Kings opened a 60-34
lead late in the second quarter. The Hornets committed 17 of
their season-high 24 turnovers in the first half.
"Our turnovers hurt. I might have had five by halftime,"
Armstrong said.
The Hornets used a 24-8 run to get back in the game. They
made their first six shots of the fourth quarter, including
a drive by Shammond Williams that cut the deficit to 81-77
with 7 1/2 minutes to go.
The Kings awoke as Brad Miller scored on a drive, Christie
had a 3-pointer and dunk and Webber made two free throws for
a 90-77 bulge with 5:32 to go.
Miller returned after missed three games with elbow bursitis.
He had 20 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
"We've just got to get that killer punch and beat a team by
like 40 before this season's over, like we've done earlier
in the season," he said.
---------------------------------------------------------
Miller's return triumphant
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/
8786155p-9716874c.html
Published 9:37 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Brad Miller had 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first game
back from an elbow injury, and the Kings stayed atop the
Western Conference with a 105-91 victory over the New
Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night.
Peja Stojakovic scored 26 points and Chris Webber had 24 for
the Kings, who still can't find the poise and chemistry they
've lost since Webber's return from a knee injury.
Sacramento led by 26 points in the second quarter, but the
undermanned Hornets chopped the lead to 81-77 in the fourth
before Doug Christie started a 9-0 rally with a 3-pointer
and a dunk.
The Kings (54-23) moved a half-game ahead of the Minnesota
Timberwolves (54-24), who visit Sacramento on Thursday.
All-Star Jamaal Magloire had 20 points, 13 rebounds and eight
turnovers before fouling out for the injury-plagued Hornets,
who clinched a playoff berth despite losing for the 12th time
in 13 road games. New Orleans made a season-high 24 turnovers
but still came close to the franchise's first win in
Sacramento since Jan. 12, 1997.
Playing without top three scorers Baron Davis, David Wesley
and Jamal Mashburn, New Orleans (38-40) finished a five-game
West Coast road trip by dropping into sixth place in the
Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Miami.
The Hornets also fell two games below .500 for the first time
this season, but Cleveland's loss to Toronto put them back in
the postseason. Darrell Armstrong had 21 points and eight
rebounds for New Orleans, hitting four 3-pointers while
starting in Davis' place.
Miller, a two-time All-Star, had missed the last three games
with bursitis in his right elbow. Christie scored nine of his
15 points in the fourth quarter.
Sacramento already had a 15-point lead in the second quarter
before a 13-2 run. Before New Orleans scored the final seven
points of the first half, the Kings had outscored the Hornets
33-12 in the second quarter.
But the Kings haven't been themselves since Webber returned
and top reserve Bobby Jackson went on the injured list with
an abdominal injury in early March. Their struggles reached
a peak last week when the Kings lost four of five games and
briefly fell out of first place in the Pacific Division.
Though Jackson missed his 23rd straight game, he could return
at any time _ and the Kings will have no shortage of
motivation for their next two home games against Minnesota
and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Notes: The Hornets had three assists and 17 turnovers in
the first half. ... Kings coach Rick Adelman got his 300th
victory in Sacramento. ... Vicente Escobedo, the lightweight
representative on the U.S. Olympic boxing team, attended the
game in a Kings jersey. Escobedo is from nearby Woodland,
Calif. ... Vlade Divac played just 12 minutes and didn't
score.
-- The Associated Press
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