ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores/Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses





Monday, Jan. 15 3:00pm ET
Mavs lose third straight

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

DALLAS (AP) -- Chris Webber was having a lot of fun -- and flaunting it.

Chris Webber
Kings forward Chris Webber had an MVP-like outing in Dallas, with 34 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

Webber scored 34 points, including 22 in the first half and his final four on emphatic slam dunks, and was full of smiles, gestures and hugs as the Sacramento Kings snuffed a late rally by the Dallas Mavericks in a 116-105 victory Monday.

"We just wanted to make sure we got this win," said Webber, who also had 12 rebounds and five assists.

Although the hot-shooting Kings allowed a 19-point lead to dwindle to six in the closing minutes, Webber hardly seemed worried, even though he was playing with five fouls.

After burying a long jumper over the outstretched arms of 7-foot-6 Shawn Bradley, Webber set up Pedrag Stojakovic on a 3-pointer, then ran back up the court with his arms up and draped himself over Stojakovic's back.

The Mavericks answered with consecutive 3-pointers, but Webber got in the way again. He sandwiched two devastating dunks around another long jumper by Stojakovic, then fed Bobby Jackson for a layup on a fast break.

"The big guy carried us," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "He's so versatile."

Sacramento made a season-best 55 percent of its shots with Scot Pollard, who went 1-for-4, the only player not to make at least half his attempts. Doug Christie, whose 36-percent average is worst among Kings regulars, was 5-of-9 with 14 points. He also had six assists and six rebounds.

Stojakovic had nine of his 19 in the fourth quarter. Jason Williams rebounded from a two-point game Saturday against Houston to also score 19.

"They all made incredible shots from all over," said Dirk Nowitzki, who led Dallas with 28 points and 11 rebounds.

Michael Finley had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Howard Eisley, running the offense in the absence of Steve Nash, scored 23 points.

Nowitzki had the misfortune of trying to cover Webber early. When that didn't work, the responsibility shifted to Christian Laettner. Then Gary Trent. Then Loy Vaught. And Bradley.

It didn't matter. Webber was at his inside-outside best, hitting six of his first 10 shots to force the Mavericks to pay even more attention to him than usual. That opened things up for Sacramento's other shooters and they responded.

The Kings made 64 percent of their shots in the first quarter, scoring a season-high 39 points in the period, and had 65 at halftime. Sacramento wound up with its most points in regulation since a 125-101 victory over Seattle on Nov. 25.

"Not a lot of teams can overcome 65 points at halftime," Laettner said. "We can't."

Dallas started off hot, too, making 12 of its first 17 and even leading by four. The Mavericks then missed 20 of the next 28 and didn't recover until early in the fourth quarter when Webber was on the bench following his fifth foul.

When he came back, Dallas couldn't.

The Mavs have lost three straight for the first time this season, all without Nash and all against teams with better records. Dallas is 0-5 without Nash this season.

Game notes
Playing an afternoon game on Martin Luther King Day, Dallas had its second straight sellout and fourth of the season. ... Sacramento's previous best shooting percentage was 49 against the Los Angeles Lakers. ... The Kings made 45-of-82 shots, including 11-of-21 on 3-pointers. They hit four straight during a 16-4 run in the third quarter that opened an 88-70 lead. ... The Mavs have lost four straight at home. Six of their next eight are at Reunion Arena.
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Sacramento Clubhouse

Dallas Clubhouse

RECAPS
New York 104
San Antonio 82

Milwaukee 101
Washington 95

Philadelphia 84
Charlotte 79

New Jersey 84
Atlanta 78

Sacramento 116
Dallas 105

Boston 107
Minnesota 102

Cleveland 107
Golden State 101

Indiana 89
LA Clippers 74

Orlando 113
Chicago 104

LA Lakers 113
Vancouver 112

Denver 122
Seattle 111

Utah 116
Houston 104


ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.