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Saturday, Dec. 2 7:30pm ET
Chamberlain's mark safe -- for now

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Vaguely aware that Karl Malone was trying to make history, the Charlotte Hornets didn't want it to happen against them.

Karl Malone
Karl Malone shoots over the Hornets' P.J. Brown in the first half Saturday.
David Wesley scored 30 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 57 seconds to play Saturday night, to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 94-89 victory over Utah, snapping the Jazz's six-game winning streak.

Malone, trying to pass Wilt Chamberlain for second place on the NBA's career scoring list, finished with 14 points on 5-for-13 shooting. He needs eight points to pass Chamberlain's mark of 31,419.

"Someone mentioned that he was closing in on the mark before the game, but we didn't really care too much," Wesley said. "P.J. (Brown) did a nice job on him to keep him from getting there."

Brown, known throughout his career as a defensive stopper, limited Malone's good looks at the basket.

"I knew about the scoring record and I decided I just didn't want him to have a ferocious night on me," Brown said. "If he had got the mark, I would have shook his hand like a man and told him congratulations.

"But I do prefer the way it happened."

Malone, who came into the game needing 22 points to pass Chamberlain, didn't attempt a field goal until the 5:39 mark.

Malone's first points came on two free throws with 33 seconds left in the first half, his lowest point total in one half of the season. His first field goal didn't fall until his sixth attempt, a 17-footer on Utah's first possession of the second half.

"I've seen everything everyone has, so it wasn't something P.J. did that stopped me," Malone said. "I took 13 shots and didn't make half of them. You can't be Superman every night."

The Jazz took an 87-84 lead on Malone's two free throws with 1:21 to play. Wesley tied the game when he took a pass from Brown at the top of the key and drained a 3-pointer.

"We had the opportunity to get the rebound, we didn't, and the ball somehow got back to David Wesley, who was hitting his shots," Malone said. "We didn't box out one time and they made us pay."

Jacque Vaughn missed a 3 at the other end and Brown got the rebound.

Baron Davis then ran the length of the court as Charlotte coach Paul Silas was frantically trying to get a timeout. Silas went unnoticed and Davis was fouled by Bryon Russell as he drove to the basket.

Davis hit both free throws to put Charlotte up 89-87 with 31 seconds remaining.

"I guess Baron was the hero," Silas said. "He drove to the hoop and got the free throws, which was a huge play for us."

Utah failed to tie it on its next possession when Danny Manning's off-balance jumper hit the rim and Jamal Mashburn got the rebound. Mashburn was fouled and converted two free throws to give the Hornets a 91-87 lead.

John Stockton hit a layup with 10 seconds to go to make it 91-89. Mashburn was fouled and made another free throw to stretch it to 92-89. Stockton's desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer fell short.

"Charlotte outworked us all night," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "They were a lot more physical than us and we settled for too many shots on the perimeter."

Mashburn finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte. Jamaal Magloire had 12 while playing a career-high 28 minutes.

Russell hit five 3-pointers and led Utah with 24 points. Stockton finished with 11.

Game notes
Malone's season low is 13 points. ... Utah's John Starks scored seven points to pass the 10,000-point mark. He passed the mark on his first basket of the night, a 3-pointer in the first quarter, to give him 10,006 for his career. ... Mashburn has scored in double figures in 13 straight games. ... Russell played in his 500th career game. ... The Hornets have won three of their last eight games against Utah.
NBA Scoreboard

Utah Clubhouse

Charlotte Clubhouse

RECAPS
Atlanta 101
Milwaukee 94

Charlotte 94
Utah 89

Philadelphia 112
Cleveland 78

Orlando 95
New Jersey 74

New York 100
Minnesota 90

Miami 93
Washington 90

Portland 96
Houston 85

Denver 103
Seattle 92

Dallas 97
Golden State 78


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