LOS ANGELES, 13 April 2004 — In jeopardy of losing their Pacific Division throne, the passion returned to the Sacramento Kings on Easter Sunday.
Chris Webber had 25 points and 12 rebounds as the host Kings crowned the listless archrival Los Angeles Lakers, 102-85, in a showdown for division supremacy.
Sacramento had dropped nine of their last 15 games, including the last two. But in the biggest game of the season, the Kings played with urgency and dominated from start to finish, to take a one-game lead atop the standings.
“I really think the energy and the focus was there for 48 minutes,” said Kings guard Doug Christie, who finished with 21 points. “Today, we stayed focused and got it done.”
The Kings, just one game behind Western Conference-leading Minnesota, can clinch the division title with a victory or a Lakers loss in the final two games.
Christie was also responsible for shutting down high-scoring Kobe Bryant. The Lakers’ All-Star forward had scored 34 or more points in the last five meetings, but finished with just eight — all in the third quarter — on 3-of-13 shooting.
“I can’t really take credit for the defense on Kobe,” Christie added. “First of all, it was a great game plan from the coaches. Then, guys were helping me when he was putting the ball on the floor. I was thinking he would pick his time to start shooting, but the guys stayed with me. They did a good job defensively, their strategy was not to let me get a look at the basket,” Bryant said. “They double-teamed me every time I touched the ball.”
Gary Payton scored 15 points while Karl Malone had 13 and 11 rebounds as the Lakers fell for the third time in the last four games.
“I don’t think anybody came to play,” Payton admitted. “We messed up.”
Shaquille O’Neal came to play but blamed referees for keeping the league’s most dominant player on the bench with early foul trouble. “I came ready to play but they took control from the first two calls, and it changed our whole attitude,” said O’Neal, who finished with just 10 points and five rebounds. “They need to let us play, instead of trying to take over the game all the time.” Though the Lakers laid a giant Easter egg, O’Neal refused to give the winners credit, following the blowout win. “I’m not impressed,” he growled: “I’m not impressed.” Webber had been the scapegoat in the Kings’ recent slump. He scored 10 points to give the hosts a 31-15 lead after one, and the jeers quickly turned to cheers from the Arco Arena crowd.
Christie had 17 points by halftime, and led a swarming defense that held Bryant scoreless on one shot, helping the Kings build a 54-35 cushion. “I was waiting for the game to open up for me and attack, but it just didn’t open up today,” Bryant added.”
Finally, Bryant found the mark with 3:51 left in the third period, scoring eight quick points, but the Kings stayed in control, 73-59.
The Lakers pulled to 73-62 on Derek Fisher’s 3-pointer with 10:11 to play. The Kings, however, countered with a 7-0 run that put away the game.
Bulls 114 Raptors 108 (OT): Jamal Crawford scored a career-high 50 points to lead the visiting Bulls past the Raptors in a match-up between two lottery-bound clubs.
Crawford joined Allen Iverson, Rashard Lewis and Tracy McGrady as the only layers to hit the 50-point plateau this season. Jalen Rose led Toronto with 32 points.
Nets 89 76ers 75: Kenyon Martin scored 15 points, and the Nets eliminated the visiting 76ers from playoff contention, while allowing the idle Boston Celtics to clinch the final berth in the Eastern Conference.
Spurs 88 L.A. Clippers 79: Tim Duncan scored 18 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, leading the visiting Spurs to their ninth consecutive victory, while extending the hapless Clippers’ slide to 13.
Warriors 108 Mavericks 107: Jason Richardson had 24 points and 11 rebounds, helping the host Warriors snap a 20-game losing streak to the Mavericks. Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 14 rebounds for Dallas, which had not lost to Golden State since April 10, 1999.
Suns 89 Memphis Grizzlies 83: Amare Stoudemire scored 23 of his 29 points in the first half, helping the Suns leapfrog over the Clippers and out of the Pacific Division cellar. Shane Battier scored 18 points for visiting Memphis, which remained tied with Dallas for the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoff race.
