Heat of Battle Favors the Suns

Jason Kidd was so ill, he felt like throwing up on the court. Joe Kleine’s nose was so battered, he needed plastic surgery after the game.

But after beating the Utah Jazz on their home floor, the Phoenix Suns never felt better.

Kidd had 19 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds as the Suns, spurred by a series of physical confrontations with Karl Malone, beat the Jazz, 99-85, Monday night at Salt Lake City.

Utah lost at home for only the third time this season, while the Suns, who still have a chance at the fifth playoff spot in the West, won their third in a row.

With 1:03 left in the first quarter, Malone drove to the hoop for a shot, and Kleine intervened. In their collision, Malone hit Kleine square in the mouth with his elbow.

Kleine, holding his hand to his bleeding face, followed Malone to the other end of the court and shoved him in the chest, leaving a bloody handprint on Malone’s jersey. He left the court to change uniform tops, while Kleine went to the hospital for 30 stitches and minor plastic surgery.

“I don’t know--what happened to Joe Kleine?” Malone said. “He stuck his nose in there. What am I supposed to do, not shoot it? . . . I’m not going to go up soft. I’ve been playing that way for 14 years.”

Kleine was to rejoin the Suns at the team plane, and it wasn’t immediately known whether he would miss any games.

Portland 93, Denver 77--Walt Williams scored 28 points, including four three-point baskets, as the Trail Blazers clinched the Pacific Division title with the victory at Portland.

New York 91, Charlotte 84--The resurgent Knicks boosted their playoff hopes with a victory at Charlotte, N.C.

Latrell Sprewell came off the bench to score 21 points for New York, which moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Charlotte for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Charlie Ward had 15 points.

Miami 90, Cleveland 65--Pat Riley moved into a second-place tie with Bill Fitch for career NBA coaching victories as the Heat rolled to an easy victory at Cleveland.

Riley earned victory No. 944 in his 1,345th game with ease. No. 1 in coaching victories is Atlanta’s Lenny Wilkens with 1,148.

Milwaukee 99, Washington 91--The Bucks got 31 points from Glenn Robinson--including eight during a late 15-0 run--in the victory at Milwaukee.

Dallas 101, Chicago 93--Michael Finley scored 28 points, including eight during a decisive 18-2 fourth-quarter run as the Mavericks rallied to win at Dallas.

Golden State 114, Sacramento 89--John Starks had a season-high 25 points and Antawn Jamison matched his season-high with 23 as the Warriors won at Oakland, breaking the Kings’ five-game winning streak.