Jazz Proves Relentless for the Kings

Karl Malone scored 30 points and had 10 rebounds Tuesday night as the Utah Jazz won their eighth straight game, 105-100, in overtime over the Sacramento Kings.

Malone scored on consecutive drives to the basket early in the overtime, erasing a two-point Kings’ lead and putting the Jazz ahead for good. Fastbreak layups by Greg Foster and Bryon Russell gave Utah a 103-97 lead with 1:25 left.

A three-point basket by Predrag Stojakovic pulled the Kings to 103-100. Sacramento missed two three-pointers in the final minute. Two free throws by Jeff Hornacek sealed the victory for Utah, which rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth period.

Russell made five three-pointers and had 24 points for Utah. John Stockton had 12 points and nine assists. Hornacek also scored 12 points.

Corliss Williamson scored 22 points for the Kings. Vlade Divac had 17 points and 13 rebounds. Chris Webber added 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Stockton, who missed a shot with one second left in regulation, tied the game at 95, making two free throws with 11.9 seconds remaining. Webber had given the Kings a brief lead, converting a short jumper for a 95-93 advantage.

Utah center Greg Ostertag committed a flagrant foul against Divac at 7:04 of the third quarter and was ejected from the game. Webber and Williamson both confronted Ostertag after the play and received technical fouls.

Before Ostertag’s ejection, he and Divac had pushed each other following a basket by the Kings.

Sacramento scored the first six points of the fourth quarter, taking the game’s biggest lead at 83-70. The Jazz responded with a 15-3 run, cutting the lead to 86-85 with 5:28 remaining.

Sacramento dominated the third quarter that was slowed by four technicals. Jason Williams, who made three three-pointers in the third quarter, started an 11-0 run with a long three-pointer. Webber ended the spurt with five points as the Kings took a 73-68 lead with 2:04 left in the period.