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McGrady's 38 help Rockets end skid
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-04 11:42 The Lakers have lost five straight.
Utah Jazz forward
Andrie Kirilenko of Russia, left, blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers
guard William 'Smush' Parker, right, during the first half of their NBA
basketball game Tuesday, January 3, 2006 in Salt Lake City.
[AP] | Deron Williams added 19 points, including
seven straight as Utah pulled away in the final 5 minutes, and Mehmet Okur
finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
The Jazz improved to 16-16, returning to .500 for the first time since
falling to 4-4 with a 73-62 loss to the Knicks at home Nov. 14. The five-game
winning streak is Utah's first since March 2003, when the Jazz won six straight
— back when Karl Malone and John Stockton were still with the team.
Lamar Odom led Los Angeles with 25 points, but was the only Lakers player in
double figures. Odom also led the Lakers with eight rebounds — twice as many as
any of his teammates — and the Jazz won the rebounding battle 39-28.
Los Angeles pulled within 69-68 on a jumper by Devean George, but the Jazz
outplayed the Lakers the rest of the way. Devin Brown made two free throws with
7:35 remaining, Okur scored off a pass from Williams and Kirilenko added two
more free throws to put the Jazz up 77-70.
The Lakers got within 81-75, then Williams took over.
The rookie hit a 3-pointer, leaped into the front row under the Lakers basket
to save a ball from going out of bounds, came back and made a 20-foot jumper,
then drove for a layup over Luke Walton that kept the 19,013 fans on their feet
and roaring.
After Utah fell behind 54-46 on a 3-pointer by Smush Parker, Kirilenko led
the Jazz on an 11-0 run to regain the lead in the third quarter.
Kirilenko made a 3-pointer to tie it at 54-all during an 11-0 run. Gordan
Giricek added a layup off a pass from Kirilenko and Okur made a free throw after
George was called for a technical.
Webber triumphant in return to Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Chris Webber had 20 points and 16 rebounds against his
former team, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Sacramento Kings 111-98 Tuesday
night.
It was Webber's second game in Sacramento since being traded by
the Kings last February. He is still fondly remembered, evidenced by the
standing ovation he received from the Arco Arena crowd when introduced.
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