Jazz Teaches Kings Lesson, 117-87

The Sacramento Kings have much to learn about playoff basketball, and the Utah Jazz was happy to teach them.

Inside, outside, on both ends of the court for 48 minutes--the Jazz was all over the Kings. Karl Malone scored 21 points and Jeff Hornacek added 18 Saturday as Utah opened a 17-point first-quarter lead, increased the margin in each quarter and trounced Sacramento, 117-87, in the first game of the best-of-five series at Salt Lake City.

“They jumped on us and never got off,” King center Vlade Divac said. “They showed why they can be the toughest team in the league.”

As they sputtered to the regular-season finish with a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, Utah looked tired and out of sorts. But as they opened their 16th consecutive playoff season, the Jazz were back--and the Kings were overwhelmed.

“They took it to us every which way,” said Sacramento Coach Rick Adelman, whose team had won five in a row and 10 of 11 to close the regular season. “This team, they’re on a mission.”

The Kings, in their second playoff series in 13 seasons, never figured out how to stop the Jazz, who began the game with a 12-2 run and led, 24-8, less than seven minutes in. Runs of 9-0, 8-1 and 6-0 gave the Jazz a 24-point lead early in the third quarter.

The Jazz was 24 of 39 from the field in the first half and eventually outshot the Kings, 57%-37%. The 30-point margin of victory was Utah’s largest lead of the game.

Sacramento’s young stars had games to forget. Chris Webber got in foul trouble early and didn’t score until the final minute of the first half, and rookie point guard Jason Williams had 11 points but was benched in the fourth quarter after an afternoon of wild shots.

“We got to the open court. . . and got some easy baskets, and we didn’t have to rely on the half-court offense,” Utah Coach Jerry Sloan said. “They helped us by missing a lot of shots.”

John Stockton won his duel with Williams, scoring 17 points. Stockton and Hornacek combined for 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.

Greg Ostertag continued his late-season surge for Utah with a career playoff-high 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots. He also outplayed Divac, who had dominated Ostertag during the regular season.

Portland 95, Phoenix 85--On time and on top of his game for the Trail Blazers at Portland, Ore., Isaiah Rider made up for his no-show late in the regular season.

Rider scored 25 points and Portland pulled away in the latter part of the fourth quarter in the first game of thebest-of-five series.

It was the first time in seven years that the Trail Blazers won a Game 1, and they beat the Suns for the fourth time this season.

Rider was a non-factor for the Trail Blazers in their final games, scoring five points against the Lakers Wednesday and three the night before against the San Antonio Spurs. Against the Spurs, Rider didn’t start for the fifth time this season because he was late for the team shoot-around.

Rider got hot early against Phoenix and stayed that way, making 10 of 17 shots. His 18-foot jump shot put Portland up, 79-75, with 3:32 remaining, and his two free throws made it 83-75 with 2:35 left.

Brian Grant had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Arvydas Sabonis added 12 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three blocks for the Trail Blazers, who are trying to make it out of the first round for the first time since advancing to the 1992 NBA finals.

Jason Kidd had 17 points and seven assists for Phoenix, and George McCloud nearly brought the Suns back in the fourth quarter with seven of his 15 points and two steals.

Atlanta 90, Detroit 70--The Hawks were the NBA’s best defensive team during the regular season and held to form against the Pistons at Atlanta.

Atlanta held Detroit scoreless for 7 1/2 minutes in the third quarter.

Steve Smith led the Hawks with 19 points, and Dikembe Mutombo had a dominating game with 17 points, 19 rebounds and six blocked shots.

During the Pistons’ scoreless streak, the Hawks reeled off 13 consecutive points to take a 64-48 lead.

Atlanta led, 73-54, at the end of the third, limiting Detroit 11 points in the quarter--the fewest ever scored by an Atlanta opponent in a playoff game. The previous team record was 12.

The Hawks, who gave up 83.4 points a game during the regular season, have a way of coming up with memorable defensive performances in the postseason. Last year, they tied the then-playoff record for fewest points given up in a game with a 96-64 victory over the Charlotte Hornets in the first round.

Grant Hill scored 26 points for Detroit but was held to eight in the second half.