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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Lionel Hollins made all the
right moves for the Vancouver Grizzlies.
"It started with the boss tonight," guard Dennis Scott said after the Grizzlies' 102-90 victory over the Sacramento Kings
102-90 on Saturday night.
"I think Train (Hollins) made some crucial decisions that in
games past he didn't make, such as subbing early when he saw there
was no energy. We didn't wait until it got out of hand to make some
changes. I thought that was big."
Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 22 points and 11 rebounds as the
Grizzlies overcame a 16-point third-quarter deficit to improve to
8-7 in their last 15 games. Vancouver is 14-19 under Hollins after
opening 4-18 under the fired Brian Hill.
"I wanted to generate some quickness and some energy," Hollins
said. "When we went small, we had to front. And when we fronted,
they didn't make some good passes on a couple of occasions and we
got steals, which allowed us to run. ... The next thing you know,
our motor is running pretty high."
Kings star Chris Webber had 36 points on 17-of-33 shooting, but
scored only two points in the fourth quarter. Vancouver outscored
Sacramento 52-24 over the last 19 minutes.
"I took some bad shots," Webber said. "I maybe could be more
patient at times late in the game."
Sacramento has lost four straight, six of its last seven, and 10
of its last 14.
When asked if the Kings had hit rock bottom, Webber said, "No.
But if it isn't, I don't want to see rock bottom."
Othella Harrington added 20 points for the Grizzlies, and Mike
Bibby had 19 points and 15 assists -- including a team-record 13 in
the second half. Scott hit three 3-pointers in an 11-point
performance.
Nick Anderson added 18 points for the Kings, who have lost 10 of
their last 14.
Grant Long hit two free throws with 8:14 remaining to give
Vancouver its first lead at 81-79. The Grizzlies pushed the margin
to nine with just under five minutes left on Scott's 3-pointer from
the baseline.
Webber took advantage of the absence of Vancouver center Bryant
Reeves, scoring 12 points in the opening quarter as the Kings raced
to an 11-point lead. Reeves was placed on the injured list before
the game because of a bruised bone on his right knee.
Webber added 10 points in the second quarter to help the
Grizzlies take a 54-46 lead at the half.
Sacramento opened the second half with a 10-2 run to take a
16-point lead. The Grizzlies rallied with a 21-9 run, including a
leaning 3-pointer by Abdur-Rahim at the buzzer, to pull within two
at 75-73.
Game notes Abdur-Rahim pledged his allegiance to general manager Stu
Jackson on Saturday, telling a radio station he would ask to leave
the team should prospective new owner Michael Heisley fire Jackson.
"There is a good chance I won't be here if he isn't going to be
here," Abdur-Rahim said. "To start over again in this situation,
I don't want to do that." Abdur-Rahim is in the first year of a
six-year contract. ... With Reeves on the injured list, the
Grizzlies activated rookie forward Obinna Ekezie, who hadn't played since Jan. 10. Ekezie had two points in four minutes. ... The teams will meet again Tuesday night in Sacramento.
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NBA Scoreboard
Sacramento Clubhouse
Vancouver Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 104 Golden State 88
Miami 98 Washington 88
New Jersey 104 Charlotte 93
Dallas 98 Denver 96
Vancouver 102 Sacramento 90
LA Clippers 78 Atlanta 77
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