Pacers Lose Another on Trip

From swishing a three-point basket to slamming a backward dunk after a 180-degree spin, Chris Webber showed off his offensive repertoire as the Sacramento Kings completed a lost weekend for the Indiana Pacers.

Webber had 31 points on 15-of-26 shooting and Nick Anderson added a season-high 25 points as the Kings defeated the Pacers, 116-113, Sunday night at Sacramento.

Webber has averaged 29 points in his last eight games since missing two because of a strained neck. Anderson had been struggling from the field until scoring 24 points in a loss at Boston on Friday night.

Anderson made all four of his three-point attempts against the Pacers, and added some tough defense on Reggie Miller--who was held to six points in the second half after scoring 13 in the opening half.

“When you go through a shooting slump, it’s so easy to not play defense or to be lazy,” Webber said. “But Nick has been playing great defense against every guard he’s been playing.”

Austin Croshere had a career-high 22 points and Travis Best added 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Indiana.

The Pacers, with the best record in the Eastern Conference, had a seven-game winning streak when they arrived in California on Saturday. But they lost to the Clippers that night, and didn’t lead after the first 41 seconds Sunday.

The Pacers wrapped up a four-day trip that began with a win at Denver on Thursday night.

“You may be able to blame it on tiredness a little bit tonight, but if we’re really the best team in the Eastern Conference, we need to be able to play better on a three-game road trip,” Croshere said.

Corliss Williamson had 23 points and nine rebounds for the Kings and Vlade Divac, playing his first home game since shaving his mustache and beard, added 16 points. Jason Williams had 15 assists.

Minnesota 123, Philadelphia 112--Terrell Brandon had the first triple-double of his career and the Timberwolves made 15 of their first 17 shots at Philadelphia as they cruised past the 76ers for their fifth consecutive victory.

Brandon had 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for his first triple-double in 574 games and the sixth in Timberwolf history.

Six other players scored in double figures for Minnesota as Malik Sealy added 23, Kevin Garnett had 20, Joe Smith 16, Sam Mitchell 14, Anthony Peeler 13 and Radoslav Nesterovic 10.

The Timberwolves put on a shooting clinic right from the outset in building a 20-point lead by the end of the first quarter. Minnesota shot 82% in the period.

The 76ers eventually fell behind by 26 and didn’t rally until the fourth quarter. Allen Iverson scored 37 to lead the 76ers, who had their five-game home winning streak end as they lost at the First Union Center for the first time since Dec. 11.

Seattle 100, Golden State 95--Rashard Lewis made a key go-ahead three-point basket in overtime at Oakland.

Vin Baker’s 30 points and 18 rebounds led the SuperSonics. It was the Warriors’ ninth consecutive loss, including six since Garry St. Jean replaced the fired P.J. Carlesimo as coach.

Lewis finished with 19 points and Brent Barry added 17. Gary Payton had 14, ending a string of 15 consecutive games in which the Seattle guard scored at least 20 points.

Vancouver 107, Toronto 97--Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 29 points, making 15 of 16 free throws at Toronto.

The Grizzlies, 5-6 under new Coach Lionel Hollins, have won three of their last four road games, also beating Miami and New Jersey.

Abdur-Rahim scored 16 points in the third quarter, going 10 for 10 from the line. Vancouver, which made only 10 baskets in the second half, made 40 of 46 free throws.

Around the League

Golden State guard John Starks was put on the injured list because of tendinitis in his right knee. Starks was the second Warrior player to go on the injured list Sunday, joining Chris Mills, who continues to recover from foot surgery. In another move, the Warriors signed guard-forward Jamel Thomas to a 10-day contract. . . . The Philadelphia 76ers activated forward-center Theo Ratliff and put forward Jumaine Jones on the injured list because of an injured left foot.