With No Time to Think, Eisley Sinks Suns as Late Three Falls

Howard Eisley turned a mental error into a game-winning shot.

The reserve guard swished a three-point basket with 1.1 seconds remaining at Phoenix as the Utah Jazz defeated the Suns, 99-96, Friday night for their seventh consecutive victory.

Eisley got the ball with six seconds to play after Karl Malone rebounded a missed drive by Phoenix’s Penny Hardaway.

Utah Coach Jerry Sloan was yelling for a timeout, but Eisley raced to the three-point arc and calmly made his shot over the outstretched arms of Sun forward Cliff Robinson.

“I didn’t see coach calling a timeout. It was too late,” Eisley said. “I had a good look at the basket and I saw Cliff backup up in the paint, so I let it go. It felt good leaving my hand.”

“You usually expect to call timeout and set up a last play in that situation,” said Malone, who finished with 29 points. “Howard had the nerve to take the shot.”

“That was probably as good a shot as we would have gotten after a timeout,” Sloan said. “You have to have some luck sometimes.”

Eisley had all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter for the Jazz, who have won 12 of 14 since the All-Star break. Bryon Russell had 22 points and John Stockton 17 plus 12 assists.

Hardaway scored 28 points for Phoenix, which had its five-game winning streak snapped and lost at home for the first time in 12 games.

The Suns also may have lost Tom Gugliotta for the season after he hurt his left knee in a collision with teammate Randy Livingston under the Utah basket with 3:09 to play.

“There is very, very strong suspicion of ligament damage,” Suns team doctor Richard Emerson said. “The anterior cruciate is the one we are focusing in on at this point.”

Sacramento 103, Toronto 88--Chris Webber had 25 points and 12 rebounds and Corliss Williamson scored 24 points as the Kings won their fourth consecutive game, defeating the Raptors at Sacramento.

Vince Carter had 25 points for the Raptors, who had their franchise record seven-game winning streak snapped.

Seattle 99, Golden State 85--Gary Payton had 27 points and 16 assists and keyed a 14-0 run in the second half as the SuperSonics rolled to a victory at Seattle and handed the Warriors their fifth consecutive loss.

San Antonio 105, Washington 99--Tim Duncan scored 23 points, tied the score at the end of regulation with a dunk and played a part in two key baskets in overtime as the Spurs defeated the Wizards at Washington.

Miami 96, Denver 88--Alonzo Mourning had 28 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots as the Heat extended their home winning streak to 11 games.

Indiana 95, Cleveland 92--Reggie Miller scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half and made three free throws in the final minute to help secure the victory at Cleveland.

New Jersey 108, Milwaukee 80--Scott Burrell scored 19 points, Kerry Kittles 16 and Kendall Gill 15 at Milwaukee as the Nets sent the Bucks to their 12th loss in 15 games.

New York 82, Philadelphia 77--Patrick Ewing had 19 points and a season-high 21 rebounds to help the Knicks win at Philadelphia.

Boston 104, Chicago 74--Kenny Anderson scored 16 points, Paul Pierce added 15 at Boston and the Celtics won their third consecutive game--one short of their longest winning streak of the season.

Detroit 111, Vancouver 97--Jerry Stackhouse and Grant Hill scored 27 points apiece as the Pistons defeated the Grizzlies at Auburn Hills, Mich., after Joe Dumars’ No. 4 jersey was retired.