Stojakovic Lifts Kings to Triple-Overtime Win

Predrag Stojakovic had too much time invested to let this one slip away.

Stojakovic scored a career-high 39 points and made a three-point basket with 45 seconds left in triple overtime as the visiting Sacramento Kings defeated Toronto, 119-118, on Friday night.

“It was the longest game in my career and I wanted that game so bad,” said Stojakovic, who was playing in front of a big crowd of Serbian fans that included 10 relatives. “We won the game and I’m glad we brought them a little bit of joy.”

Stojakovic also had 12 rebounds.

Doug Christie, playing in Toronto for the first time since the Raptors traded him to Sacramento before the season, added 20 points and seven rebounds as the Kings won their third in a row.

“Once they started booing, the game began to mean more to me than it did at the beginning,” said Christie, who pumped his fist every time the Kings hit a key basket down the stretch.

The Raptors were playing their first game since trading Mark Jackson and Muggsy Bogues to New York, and Corliss Williamson, Tyrone Corbin and Kornel Davis to Detroit on Thursday.

With the Kings down, 118-116, Stojakovic hit a three-pointer from the corner to give the Kings the lead with 45.2 seconds left.

“It was an exciting game to watch but a tough one to play,” said Vlade Divac, who scored 25 points. “Predrag is our best player now [without injured Chris Webber] and he took charge.”

The Raptors had one final chance with 2.6 seconds left, but Charles Oakley missed a three-pointer.

Toronto’s Vince Carter, who played all 63 minutes, had 38 points and 10 assists. The 63 minutes are the most by a player this season, breaking the mark of 58 set by Chicago’s Ron Mercer.

“I’m tired. I can’t believe I was out there that long,” said Carter, who had three ice packs on his legs after the game. “We fought hard, we just didn’t win. I think we should hold our heads high that we took a team like Sacramento to triple overtime.”

Utah 96, Seattle 84--Karl Malone scored 23 of his 33 points in the second half at Seattle as the Jazz won its fifth in a row and seventh consecutive on the road.

The Jazz improved its record to 37-16, best in the West. Utah has won 10 of 11.

Phoenix 88, New York 84--Shawn Marion scored four of his 19 points in overtime and blocked Charlie Ward’s final shot at New York as the Suns won their third in a row on the last stop of a four-game road trip.

Latrell Sprewell scored 26 points and Marcus Camby had a career-high 23 rebounds.

San Antonio 100, Boston 82--Derek Anderson scored 20 points and Tim Duncan and David Robinson each had a double-double at San Antonio as the Spurs ended a two-game losing streak.

Duncan finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Robinson added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Minnesota 122, Golden State 83--Terrell Brandon had 27 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 16 assists at Minneapolis as Minnesota snapped a five-game losing streak.

Houston 105, Orlando 95--Maurice Taylor scored a career-high 34 points and Cuttino Mobley added 23 at Houston as the Rockets won their fourth in a row.

Indiana 92, Cleveland 90--Austin Croshere made two free throws with 1.9 seconds left and Reggie Miller scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter at Cleveland as the Pacers won their third in a row.

Milwaukee 93, Vancouver 81--Ray Allen scored 29 points and Sam Cassell had 18 at Milwaukee as the Bucks won their third consecutive.