Jazz Doing Fine Thanks to Marshall

Karl Malone and John Stockton are the cornerstones of the Utah Jazz franchise, but Donyell Marshall has become indispensable in the team’s quest to get back to the NBA finals.

Marshall and Malone each scored 22 points as Utah moved ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers for the best winning percentage in the Western Conference with a 90-84 victory Thursday night at Portland, Ore.

“Donyell’s been a great addition to this team,” Stockton said. “We have to do it as a whole club. We don’t have five killer guys. We need everybody to contribute every game, and when we do that, we can beat anybody.”

Stockton added 18 points for the Jazz, which won its fourth in a row and ninth in 10 games to improve to 36-16. Utah, which leads the Midwest Division, is one one-thousandth of a percentage point ahead of Pacific Division-leading Portland (38-17).

Marshall, acquired in a trade from Golden State, is averaging 12.8 points this season, but has increased his scoring to 18.5 over his last six games.

Rasheed Wallace had 32 points and 11 rebounds for Portland. Scottie Pippen, who sat out 18 games because of an injured right elbow, scored four points in 20 minutes.

Sacramento 115, Washington 110--With injured King forward Chris Webber sitting out for the fifth consecutive game, Doug Christie matched his season-high with 32 points and Vlade Divac added 27 points and a season-high six blocks to lead Sacramento over the shorthanded Wizards at Washington.

The trade of Juwan Howard and two other players to Dallas left Washington with only eight players in uniform. Felipe Lopez, Gerard King and rookie Mike Smith were waived before the game.

Dallas 98, Boston 91--Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and little-used Eduardo Najera had 12 rebounds to lead the Mavericks to a victory at Dallas.

Charlotte 93, Golden State 91--David Wesley hit a three-pointer with 17 seconds left at Charlotte to help the Hornets give Paul Silas his 100th coaching victory with Charlotte.