Cavaliers Deliver the Final Blow

Karl Malone and Shawn Kemp renewed their rivalry at power forward, though after sustaining a near-knockout blow from Malone, Kemp will have to watch the replay to truly appreciate Cleveland’s victory.

Kemp had 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers over the Utah Jazz, 106-101, Sunday night at Cleveland, recovering from a violent collision with Malone in time to put away his old nemesis from the West.

“He got me somewhere good. I’m still trying to figure out where,” said Kemp, led to the locker room in a stupor after catching an elbow in the head from Malone in the fourth quarter. “I didn’t have it all together, that’s for sure.”

Malone had 24 points and 13 rebounds and Kemp missed only a couple of minutes and returned to carry his new team to victory.

“I knew I hit him, but I didn’t know what happened,” said Malone, who then took issue with the officiating. “I guess there were a lot of people that didn’t see a lot of things out there tonight.”

Cavalier rookie Derek Anderson had 23 points, including 17 in the first half, and made all 16 free throws. Anderson made all 12 of his free throws in the second quarter--two short of the NBA record.

Vancouver 88, Portland 86--Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored nine of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Grizzlies rallied for a victory at Vancouver.

Trailing, 68-62, after three quarters, the Grizzlies came back to end a three-game losing streak.

Isaiah Rider had 19 points and Arvydas Sabonis 18 points for Portland, which made only six of 22 shots from the field in the final period.

NBA Notes

The Portland Trail Blazers placed forward Jermaine O’Neal on the injured list because of a strained left calf muscle. Center Alton Lister was activated to fill O’Neal’s roster spot.