|
|
 |
 |
|
| |
Friday, Jan. 28 8:30pm ET
Kings spoil Brand's career night | |||||
|
| ||||||
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
 GAME FLOW
CHICAGO (AP) -- Who do you stop in this entertaining show of basketball talent? The Sacramento Kings can score from anywhere, they throw passes from all angles, they can power the ball to the basket or shoot it from way out. "They've got some offense, they're tough to guard," Chicago rookie Elton Brand said Friday night when the best game of his young career wasn't enough to stop the Kings. "You guard one guy well and then somebody else gets open shots." Chris Webber scored 24 points and had 12 rebounds before fouling out, Vlade Divac had 15 of his 19 points in the second half and the ultimate showman, Jason Williams, added 19 points and nine assists as the Kings beat the Bulls 102-90. Brand scored 30 points and had 18 rebounds, both career highs, but Kings cut off a late rally and scored the game's final nine points for their ninth win in 11 games. They are 2-1 on an eight-game road trip. "Sometimes we start out a little bit slow on the road, but we're working on it," Webber said. "We need to win our games on the road. That will be the true test of this team. We're starting to gel." Webber's versatility, Divac's power and Williams' sometimes startling assortment of no-look and behind-the-back passes not only make the Kings go, it makes them fun to watch. "I can't compete with Jason on the passes, he's the wizard out there," said Webber, who will throw some unconventional passes of his own. Williams also bantered with the crowd and blew a kiss when the Kings had wrapped up the victory with their final flurry. "I talked to the crowd? Yeah, I did," Williams said. "I liked these fans, they're friendly." Sacramento took an 85-72 lead early in the final period after Williams hit back-to-back 3-pointers. But back came the Bulls once more as Ron Artest hit a pair of baskets and Chris Carr sank a 3-pointer to make it 93-90. Webber then hit a turnaround jumper and Williams made a breakaway layup with 1:35 to go after the second of two steals by Jon Barry. Nick Anderson's 3-pointer with 36 seconds left put it away for the Kings and spoiled a great effort by Brand. "I just tried to go at them regardless of who was guarding me. I'd definitely trade the career highs for a win," Brand said. "Around the basket, Elton is just tough," Anderson said. "But we forced him away from the easy shots in the second half." Chicago was shut out in the final minutes as Brand missed two free throws and Toni Kukoc was off on a 3-pointer and a shot inside. The Kings took off on a 16-6 run opening the second half behind Webber, who had a reverse follow dunk on the break, made a behind-the-pass back to Divac for a stuff and then dropped in a basket after a Williams 3-pointer didn't hit the rim. That opened up a 63-54 lead, and the Kings built it to 12 later in the quarter. Chicago's Dickey Simpkins was ejected with 6:04 to go in the quarter for a flagrant foul that knocked Divac to the floor as he was driving to the basket. Brand was too strong for Webber and the Kings to handle in the first half, scoring 20 points -- 14 in the first quarter -- and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Bulls took a 48-47 lead with a late 10-0 run. Game notesThe Kings have scored at least 100 points in 11 straight games. ... The Bulls had won the six previous games against Sacramento. It was the teams' first meeting since Feb. 28, 1998.... It's likely the Bulls will sign Chris Carr for the remainder of the season and the move would be a a no-brainer. Carr's second 10-day contract expires on Sunday. He scored 16 Friday night on 6-for-11 shooting. ... Bill Wennington, who played on three championship teams with the Bulls, has been on Sacramento's injured list since Dec. 21 with a sore back. Wennington, in street clothes Friday night, ate dinner in the media mess hall. He has played only four minutes all season. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Sacramento Clubhouse Chicago Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 91 Phoenix 88
Sacramento 102
  | |||||