Spotlight on Hornacek as Jazz Extends Streak

Unassuming Jeff Hornacek recorded his 15,000th point Wednesday night, scoring 15 to help the Utah Jazz defeat the Boston Celtics, 96-86, at Boston for its seventh consecutive victory and 14th in a row over the Celtics.

“We’re always looking for athletes in this business and he destroys all that,” Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan said. “Talk about a guy who knows how to play basketball and he’s it. If you’re a young guy and you want to be a good basketball player, I’d follow him around every minute.”

Karl Malone scored 27 points for Utah, which overcame season highs of 36 points and 12 rebounds by Antoine Walker. Boston lost its third game in a row since Paul Pierce suffered a sprained ankle and has not beaten Utah since Dec. 20, 1991--before Larry Bird retired.

Hornacek, a 6-foot-4 guard from Iowa State who was the 46th player taken in the 1986 draft, has 15,011 points--the 84th player in NBA history to break the milestone. Two of those are now on his team: Malone and John Stockton.

“You set your goals for this team to win,” said Hornacek, who played six years with the Phoenix Suns and 1 1/2 with the Philadelphia 76ers before coming to Utah. “But when you cross those milestones, it feels good.”

Sacramento 109, Vancouver 106--Chris Webber scored 21 points, including the go-ahead basket with 23.8 seconds to play at Vancouver, Canada.

Predrag Stojakovic added 17 and Darrick Martin 15 as the Kings ended a two-game losing streak.

Mike Bibby scored a season-high 26 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost 15 of 16.

San Antonio 83, Houston 77--Tim Duncan scored 20 points to lead the Spurs at San Antonio.

David Robinson added 14 points for San Antonio, which has won three of its last four games.

Steve Francis had 24 points for Houston, which has lost five in a row since Charles Barkley suffered a season-ending leg injury Dec. 8.

New Jersey 111, Cleveland 101--Keith Van Horn scored 27 points at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Nets ended a six-game losing streak against the Cavaliers.

Stephon Marbury added 23, Kerry Kittles had 17 and Kendall Gill 16 as the suddenly hot Nets won for the fourth time in five games after opening the season by losing 15 of 17.

Shawn Kemp of the Cavaliers had a season-high 36 points on 15-for-23 shooting.

Charlotte 103, Minnesota 98--Eddie Jones scored seven of his 19 points in the final minute to lift the Central Division-leading Hornets at Charlotte, N.C.

Jones broke a 96-96 tie with a three-point basket with 48.1 seconds to play, then added four consecutive free throws to cap the Hornets’ season-best sixth consecutive victory.

Milwaukee 116, Orlando 99--Ray Allen scored 29 points and Glenn Robinson had 25 as the Bucks built an early lead at Orlando, Fla., and were never threatened. The Bucks scored 14 consecutive points after falling behind, 2-0, and held a double-digit lead the rest of the game.

Philadelphia 93, Toronto 91--Allen Iverson scored 37 points, including eight in the final four minutes, and the 76ers erased a 17-point deficit at Philadelphia. Iverson also had seven rebounds and seven assists while making 13 of 34 shots, two shy of his career high for attempts.

The Raptors had a chance to tie the score or win, but Vince Carter missed a 21-foot jumper from the corner at the buzzer.

Indiana 102, Chicago 91--Austin Croshere scored a career-high 21 points at Indianapolis as the Pacers won for the eighth time in nine games.