Bucks Do Just Enough to Hold Off the Kings

Ray Allen’s heart sank as Predrag Stojakovic, the Sacramento Kings’ sharpshooter, pulled up for a wide-open three-point shot at the buzzer that would erase the final scraps of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 16-point fourth-quarter lead.

“Overtime,” was all Allen could fathom as Stojakovic released the ball and a hush swept through the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

But Stojakovic’s shot stayed left Tuesday night and the Bucks held off the Kings, 112-109, in a freewheeling game between division leaders.

“I think he was surprised how wide open he was,” a relieved Allen said.

King Coach Rick Adelman slammed his fist on the sideline table three times before walking off the court dejected.

“You can’t play from behind on the road against a good team and expect to win,” he said.

But the Kings had come close.

“We didn’t make stops. We thought we had the game under control,” Buck Coach George Karl said. “And we were fortunate. I mean, that last shot could have gone in and broken our hearts.

“I don’t know if we could have won in overtime.”

Especially with Chris Webber doing his thing.

Webber, who missed the morning shoot-around because of a stomach virus, had 39 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Kings, whose loss moved the idle Portland Trail Blazers into first place in the Pacific Division.

“We made a valiant effort,” said Webber, who scored seven points in the final 35 seconds.

The Bucks made a slew of uncharacteristic turnovers in the fourth quarter and missed five of eight free throws in the final 23 seconds, one by Glenn Robinson that would have secured the victory with 4.9 seconds to play.

The Central Division-leading Bucks got 29 points from Sam Cassell and 28 from Allen. Milwaukee led almost the entire game, trailing only at 36-35.

The Bucks led, 93-77, to start the fourth quarter but they didn’t have the victory in hand until Stojakovic missed at the buzzer.

Phoenix 97, Chicago 80--Jason Kidd and Cliff Robinson ignited a third-quarter outburst at Phoenix that carried the Suns and sent the Bulls to their 16th consecutive loss.

The Bulls were without Coach Tim Floyd, suspended for the game and fined $10,000 for intentionally making contact with referee Greg Willard in the Bulls’ loss to the Clippers on Monday night at Staples Center.

Miami 102, Indiana 89--Anthony Mason, an all-star for the first time at age 34, scored a season-high 29 points to lead the Heat at Miami.

Detroit 94, Denver 83--Jerry Stackhouse scored 24 points at Auburn Hills, Mich., to help the Pistons end an eight-game home losing streak.

New Jersey 90, Atlanta 84--Keith Van Horn had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

Orlando 109, Charlotte 83--Tracy McGrady scored 26 points at Charlotte, N.C., to lead the Magic to its fifth consecutive victory.

Around the League

Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets said he will not seek a trade or his outright release from his contract, which runs through this season and pays him $16.5 million. Olajuwon previously had asked the Rockets to either trade him or give him a release so he could play the rest of the season with another team, possibly the Miami Heat. . . . Guard Kendall Gill of the New Jersey Nets underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, and the team said there is no timetable for his return.