Malone’s Stamp on Game 1: 50 Points

The shots came easily for Karl Malone. The deafening ovation was harder to control.

Malone scored a career playoff-high 50 points, breaking a 16-year-old franchise record as the Utah Jazz beat Seattle, 104-93, Saturday in Game 1 of the best-of-five series.

Yet as the final horn sounded, Malone didn’t want the spotlight. He waved his arms and vainly urged fans to forget one of the best performances of his 15-year career.

To Malone, the cheers were tempered by his pursuit of another goal.

“Do it when I’ve done something,” he said, recalling what he shouted at fans. “If we win a championship on this floor, be as loud as you want.”

Malone made 18 of 32 shots, 13 of 14 free throws, and had 12 rebounds in 43 minutes.

“The thing that’s the most disconcerting is that he didn’t seem to be any hotter than he usually is,” Seattle Coach Paul Westphal said. “I think he could go for 50 any time he wanted to.”

Afterward, Malone emphasized that it was a team effort. He also worried that the celebration would motivate the SuperSonics for Monday’s second game at the Delta Center.

“I’m not in this business to embarrass any other player or any other team,” Malone said. “I’m in it to win a championship. However it comes about doesn’t matter to me.”

Malone tied his career playoff high of 44 points with two free throws with 4:59 remaining. One minute later, he made two more free throws to match Adrian Dantley’s Jazz playoff record of 46, set in 1984 against Phoenix.

Then with 2:29 to play, Malone made an 18-foot jump shot over Vin Baker to complete a personal 13-point run that gave the Jazz a comfortable 100-88 lead.

“He’s the greatest power forward to ever play the game,” Baker said. “He was on one of those rolls. I have nothing but respect for the guy. He comes out, plays hard and if anyone gets in a zone like that, it’s hard to stop them.”

Shammond Williams made a three-point basket that trimmed Utah’s lead to 100-91 with 1:38 to play. But ultimately, the only drama as the clock ran down was whether Malone could reach 50, which he did with a turnaround jumper from the left side with 24.2 seconds remaining.

“They were trying to get me the ball,” Malone said. “I wasn’t trying to rub anything in. Those were shots I was taking all night.”

Jeff Hornacek had 13 points and John Stockton had 10. Utah also got seven points and 10 rebounds from reserve center Greg Ostertag, who tied a Jazz playoff record with five blocked shots in the second quarter.

“Greg really had a tremendous game,” Utah Coach Jerry Sloan said. “He was effective in blocking shots and intimidating guys. It was great to see him have a game like that.”

Gary Payton led Seattle with 24 points. Williams had 23, Brent Barry had 11 and Baker 10.