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NBA

Pippen helps Blazers roll past Magic again

©Associated Press
February 5, 2003

Pippen had his first double-double of the year with 25 points and 17 rebounds, both season-highs, and added seven assists in the Trail Blazers' 96-89 victory over the Magic.

"Yeah, I turned (the clock) back a little bit," Pippen said. "The atmosphere and just playing in this type of climate just wills a team. For me, it was just good to go out and feel good playing again and feel like your legs are there. Just one of those nights I enjoy playing."

Portland coach Maurice Cheeks won't be surprised if Pippen, 37, produces repeat performances during the season's final stretch.

"I don't think that people underestimate him that much now," Cheeks said. "He's still got a lot left in him. I didn't know, and I think a lot of people didn't know, how much he had left overall."

Rasheed Wallace added 15 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots as Portland defeated Orlando for the eighth straight time. Bonzi Wells and Ruben Patterson had 12 points each.

A 15-foot jump shot by Wells at 5:08 in the second period broke a 31-31 tie and the Trail Blazers kept the lead the rest of the way. Portland has won 13 of 17.

Wells and Ruben Patterson contained Orlando's Tracy McGrady, whose streak of scoring at least 30 points ended at eight games. He scored 24, but six of his points came on consecutive 3-pointers in the game's final 31.4 seconds.

Orlando's Mike Miller had 20 points but was 5-for-17 from the field. He has hit 24 of 81 field-goal attempts over his past five games. Pat Garrity had 15 points and reserve Darrell Armstrong added 10.

KINGS 110, MAVERICKS 109: Keon Clark's high-flying dunk off a missed 3-pointer with 16.5 seconds left gave visiting Sacramento the win and capped a thrilling showdown between the Western Conference division leaders. Michael Finley's 3-pointer with 57 seconds left put Dallas, which had trailed by 16, ahead 107-106. After Mike Bibby and Dirk Nowitzki traded jumpers, the Mavericks led by one. Hedo Turkoglu missed a long 3-pointer and the rebound went straight up. Clark caught the ball and slammed it through in one motion. The Mavericks, who had won four in a row and seven of eight, had one possession left, but Nowitzki missed a 10-footer in the lane. Bibby led Sacramento with 27 points and Stojakovic had 24 and tied his season-high with 14 rebounds. Nowitzki, who missed his first eight shots, had 28 points, 16 rebounds and five assists.

LAKERS 97, PACERS 94: Kobe Bryant scored 35, Shaquille O'Neal fought off foul trouble for 19 points and 12 rebounds and Devean George hit a key 3-pointer for visiting Los Angles. It was the first game between the teams since Reggie Miller and Bryant fought after a Los Angeles win last March at the Staples Center. The Lakers led by nine with 2 minutes left before Indiana reeled off six consecutive points to trail 94-91 with under a minute left. Then George -- a 30 percent 3-point shooter -- drilled one to make it 97-91. It proved to be a big shot, as Brad Miller, Indiana's All-Star center, made a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to make it 97-94 with 30 seconds left. Bryant misfired on a jumper and Reggie Miller missed a 35-footer as time expired. Jermaine O'Neal had 23 points and 20 rebounds for Indiana.

WOLVES 103, ROCKETS 89: Kevin Garnett scored 23 and Rasho Nesterovic added 19 and played tough defense against Yao Ming for host Minnesota. Garnett also had 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Timberwolves, who lost by 20 at Houston on Friday. While Garnett narrowly missed his fourth triple-double of the season, Nesterovic held his own against the 7-foot-6 Yao and provided timely baskets for Minnesota. Nesterovic was 9-for-14 from the floor, including several hook shots over Yao. Steve Francis led Houston with 31 points on 11-of-21 shooting. Yao, who had his 14th double-double Friday against the Wolves, scored 12 on a 4-for-7 performance.

KNICKS 105, CLIPPERS 92: Latrell Sprewell broke the record for most 3-pointers in a game without a miss, going 9-for-9 from behind the arc for host New York. Sprewell broke the record of 8-for-8 held by Jeff Hornacek, Sam Perkins and Steve Smith, and had a season-high 38 points. Allan Houston added 20 points and Howard Eisley 11 for the Knicks. Quentin Richardson scored 19, Elton Brand 16 and Marko Jaric 14 for the Clippers as they lost their fifth straight on the road.

RAPTORS 98, BUCKS 95: All-Star Vince Carter scored 25, two shy of his season high, and blocked the potential tying shot by Ray Allen just before the buzzer for visiting Toronto. Antonio Davis added 16 points and Morris Peterson 14 for Toronto, which has won four of five since Carter's return from a knee injury. Michael Redd scored 24 and Allen had 21 for the Bucks.

WIZARDS 93, CAVALIERS 84: Michael Jordan scored 27 in 43 minutes as host Washington beat Cleveland despite the absence of leading scorer Jerry Stackhouse. Jordan also had eight assists as the Wizards held off a stubborn challenge by the league's worst team. Stackhouse, who is out with a groin injury, is expected to return after the All-Star break.

Williams trial called off

NEWARK, N.J. -- Jayson Williams' trial for Feb. 18 was called off when an appeals court agreed to consider dismissing manslaughter charges against the former NBA star.

An appellate panel is to hear arguments March 12 in Trenton from his lawyers and the prosecutor's office. The ruling was filed without elaboration by two appellate judges.

Williams' lawyers, Joseph Hayden Jr., and Billy Martin, contend the office's grand jury presentation was flawed and the grand jury never should have been told Williams exercised his right to remain silent after limousine driver Costas Christofi was shot to death at his mansion last Feb. 14.

They also accuse prosecutors of introducing rumors connecting Williams to organized crime while leaving out evidence that he was distraught after the shooting and tried to help the victim.

If the appeals court dismisses the indictment, prosecutors can present the case to a new grand jury or appeal to the state supreme court.

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