Kings Cling to Slim Hopes

Peja Stojakovic scored 31 points Monday night as the Sacramento Kings kept alive their slim hopes of winning the Pacific Division by beating the Vancouver Grizzlies, 110-100, at Sacramento.

The victory, which tied a franchise record for most wins in a season, put the Kings (55-26) in a first-place tie with the Lakers in the Pacific. The 1963-64 Cincinnati Royals also had a 55-win season.

The Lakers close the season tonight at home against Denver and the Kings travel to Denver for a season-ending game Wednesday. If the two teams finish in a tie, the Lakers will have the second playoff seed in the Western Conference because of a better head-to-head record against Sacramento.

Cleveland 80, New York 78--Andre Miller scored 19 points, including the winning free throws with 58 seconds left, as the Cavaliers dropped the Knicks 1 1/2 games behind Miami for the third playoff seed in the Eastern Conference at Cleveland.

Milwaukee 101, Orlando 89--Glenn Robinson scored 19 points to lead six Bucks in double figures in a playoff preview at Orlando, Fla.

The Magic will be the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, cementing a first-round matchup against the Bucks.

Dallas 110, Golden State 101--Juwan Howard scored 30 points at Oakland to lead the Mavericks to a team-record 25th road victory.

Charlotte 106, Atlanta 83--Jamal Mashburn scored 31 points at Charlotte, N.C., to help the Hornets clinch at least sixth place in the Eastern Conference by winning their third in a row. Charlotte trails fifth-place Toronto by a half-game.